Design by Sawyer Pennington
Our banter may start with two sisters, but it’s getting families, friends, and even classrooms talking.
| When my husband got fired, I was scared. Not just for me, but for my family. Why? Not only the obvious reasons, but having to deal with personal finance for the first time (during a crisis, no less) was overwhelming. Especially because I thought you needed a finance degree to figure it out. I knew we were in a huge financial mess, not because of the specifics of our situation, but because neither my husband nor I knew where we stood. How could two highly educated people be so clueless about their finances?! It may be human nature to fear the unknown, but feeling you have to face things alone makes it even worse. I knew my husband wasn't going to be much help, so I turned to my sister, the one with the M.B.A., hoping that she'd tell me what to do. Instead, she insisted that I had to learn to do it myself, not only for my own good but so that I could then "teach" my daughters. Luckily, she guided me step by step, although the last thing I ever expected was that she was keeping notes and would turn my crisis into a bestselling book! (She thought it would make a great sitcom!) |
| What are big sisters for? Anyway, fast forward to the first time I remember hearing the term "financial literacy." It was when we were asked to "teach" it at KIPP Houston High School, and although they explained it as understanding money and personal finance in order to make smart financial decisions, I did not like the term. It immediately made me think that the opposite of being financially "literate" is being "illiterate," which has a negative connotation of being uneducated or ignorant when, in reality, it is a function of never having been exposed to the subject matter and/or recognizing its importance. Red and I are perfect examples. She had been a straight-A student who went to a prestigious college yet managed to avoid learning about money and personal finance until she was almost 40. My situation was even more extreme. I have an undergraduate degree in Economics and an M.B.A. in International Finance, yet did not apply what I learned about money (on a macro, or big picture, level) and corporate finance to my finances until I was almost bankrupt. |
assets.rebelmouse.io 
Black assets.rebelmouse.io THE CONVERSATION STARTERS
- Why do financial matters and topics seem so daunting?
- Have you or your family been affected by financial literacy issues or challenges? If so, how have they impacted your life?
- How is it possible that Red and Black, both highly educated people, could be "so clueless" about their own finances?
- Red mentioned the ripple effect of being able to teach her daughters. Are there other ripple effects?
P.S. – You might be interested in this animated video on Personal Finance we did as part of a soft skills series for The Greater Houston Partnership's UpSkill Houston initiative.
Design by Sawyer Pennington
Our banter may start with two sisters, but it’s getting families, friends, and even classrooms talking.
| You’d think by now I’d have learned. I know that once upon a time, when my life was simpler, my “To Do” lists were easier to keep under control. Not to mention they were much “prettier”. I had a basic system for keeping things organized and, although nothing close to your extremely organized lists, it fit my needs. But after my “crisis”, my lists seemed to multiply, especially as the girls got older and we got busier with Red & Black. And before you say anything, yes, you’ve definitely helped me a lot over the years, but my lists have gotten out of control again! Now I’m overwhelmed not only by the number of tasks but because everything seems to be high priority. |
| Are you finished? First thing is to stop thinking you can have perfect “To Do” lists. Second, as I have told you countless times over the years, is that you have the process backward … you are too focused on making lists versus deciding what you need to do and then creating lists. Imagine you are starting with a “clean slate” or blank piece of paper. Identify your overall goals or objectives, then list what tasks are required, starting with the most important ones. Make sure the tasks are specific and feasible. And, do not clutter the list with things that take only a few minutes or little effort. Do not overcomplicate this process. Especially as lists are supposed to help you — not overwhelm you. |
THE CONVERSATION STARTERS
- Do "To Do" lists help you accomplish things or hurt your productivity?
- Do you currently use "To Do" Lists? If not, why not?
- If you use (or have used) "To Do" lists ... What worked well? What didn't work?
Design by Sawyer Pennington
Our banter may start with two sisters, but it’s getting families, friends, and even classrooms talking.
| I know vacations are supposed to be a way to escape stress, but there's always stress associated with planning them, getting ready to be away, and then, ultimately, having to pay for them. Years ago, I learned the value of staycations but would take it a step further and check into a local hotel since I knew I needed to get out of the house. In many ways, one of the last “real” vacations was when the girls were young, and we’d try to get away every August to the Hyatt Hill Country, although it was only a few hours away. Now, most of my travel is to visit them where they live. So, while the destination may have changed, the purpose hasn’t — spending quality time together without everyday life interrupting. |
| It sounds like you identified "why" you wanted a vacation, and what you wanted to accomplish. For me, I realized escaping to a great hotel with a first-class spa did not require getting on a plane, although there was a time when my vacations were based on golf courses I wanted to play, shows I wanted to see, or friends I wanted to visit. The key is knowing your objective. And, the same logic applies to business trips. Virtual meetings have shown us that not every out-of-town meeting requires a trip. Sometimes being there is critical. Sometimes it is not. |
THE CONVERSATION STARTERS
- Before you travel, do you take time to think about the purpose or objective of the trip? Why or why not?
- Are there different ways to achieve the same objectives? What are the pros and cons of each?
- How do you decide when traveling is worth the time, expense, and effort?