How to Ask Family for Money to Reach Your Goals

When I was trying to go back to school to get my Master's, I was in a rough place.

I was working 3 jobs and waking up at 3AM to study for the GRE. I had no idea when I was actually going to take the GRE….. because I couldn't afford it. I was exhausted, but still determined.

I just kept studying.

A close friend of mine asked me when I'd be taking the GRE because I had been studying for over two months. I responded ‘I have no idea, whenever I get the money’. Immediately, she pulled out her iPad and her credit card and said "Pick your date. I'll pay for it." #wow

After I took the exam and applied to school with a free voucher, I received an acceptance letter that said that in order to hold my spot, I'd need to come up with $1,000 in two weeks. #stressing

Needless to say….. I didn't have a dollar to my name.

I decided to call up friends and family and asked them for $50, $100 or whatever they could spare. I promised that I would pay them back as soon as I graduated and got a job.

Guess what? Within 48 hours, I had $1,000 to go back to school!

Related Content: How to Guarantee Grad School is Worth Your Time & Money

I graduated with a job making more than triple what I was making before. And now I was only working one job instead of three. #happydance I called Every. Single. Person. on my list so that I could pay them back...

... and every single one of them refused to take my money. #blessed

I graduated. I'm now living my dream. That was more than enough for them.

Asking people for money, can be scary and shameful, especially when you’ve always been able to take care of yourself. But here is what I did to make it a little easier:

I called my friends and family and personally asked them.

I drove to them to pick up the money.

I had already did 90% of the work.

I ONLY asked for what I needed to get to the next step.

I am more than happy to pay it forward where it makes sense and when it's truly genuine. If a close friend asks for a small contribution…… I'll be the first to whip out my card.

The people who did it for me, made the difference between me going into debt and eating the free leftover sandwiches from my receptionist job for dinner and me now being able to live my best life.

I'm more than happy to do the same for others.

Don’t be afraid to make the ask, and don’t forget to pay it forward.

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

How to Win at Peer to Peer Mentoring

Peer to peer mentoring can be a very rewarding experience that often leads to lifelong friendships and bonds. Great mentors have the ability to build relationships with people, ask uncomfortable questions and share their insecurities. They help people reach their goals in many different areas of life. Not-so-great mentors struggle to create an emotional bond with their mentee and their relationships can fizzle out pretty quick.

These tips will make sure you're a great mentor.

REACH OUT TO THEM PERIODICALLY

My goal was to use my experiences to help others move forward in their life, reach their goals and then reach for even bigger goals. It’s very easy to get bogged down with all the little things in life like work, school, errands, personal care, health, family, friends, vacation, religious obligations, and the list goes on.

It may seem like you don’t have time to be a mentor.

As an adult, one of my greatest learnings was to take time out for other people. Show them that you care about them by picking up the phone giving them a call. Ask them how their day was and take an interest in what's going on in their lives. Do the same for your mentee. Reaching out to them shows them that you are genuinely interested in their life and their success.

It opens the door of communication and invites them in.

Invite them out for lunch or coffee or happy hour. This gives the two of you time to connect personally and get to know each other a bit outside of a business or an educational setting. Simply picking up the phone to give your mentee a call or shooting them an email out of the blue will put a smile on their face and keep you connected as time goes on.

MAKE NOTE OF THEIR SPECIAL DAYS

Don't take the time that you have with your mentee for granted. Instead, when your mentee tells you that they're going to MIT for the summer internship (like my awesome mentee did #goalgetter) make a note of the date. When the time comes around, send them tips relevant to their new journey.

If they are starting a new job, make a note of the date so you can send them "new job" tips or share a story from your first day at work. Send them a congratulations or a ‘you got this’ text.

Make it your job to know when their birthday is and how old they'll be. If you're 30 and your mentee is 25, you can share stories with them from your mid-twenties. You can share the lessons you wish you knew at 25. You can help them better prepare for the new challenges ahead of them, whether it's business or personal.

KNOW WHAT THEIR GOALS ARE

As a mentor, you are utterly useless if you can't help your mentee move up in their life. If you make a conscious effort to understand your mentee's goals, you are in a much better position to help them actually achieve them. Encourage them. Keep them accountable. Check in on their progress. (side bonus: you’ll be more motivated to crush your own goals while you help other crush theirs).

Related Content: How to Set the Right Goals in All Areas of Your Life

Help them network in order to reach their goals. If they are in a different field as you, you can help them expand their network and learn new skills by introducing them to your network. If you are in the same field, you will be able to help them potentially land internships and jobs through your own connections.

USE THE GIFT OF FORESIGHT (OR AT LEAST TRY TO)

If your mentee is in school, make a note of when the mid-term and final exams are at their school. This way you will be able to send them inspirational confidence-boosting emails right before they start taking their tests. If your mentee is in an internship or job, help them prepare for evaluations, mid-year reviews or negotiations. Try to account for every stumbling block your mentee could encounter on their journey and make it your job to help them through it, using your experiences as a guide.

In order to be successful at using foresight, you need to really….listen. Sometimes we have so much experience to share, we forget to be good listeners. You won’t be able to know what they really need if you don’t listen to what their saying.

SHARE YOUR FAILURES WITH THEM

Though many people don't want to admit it, we have all failed at something at some time in our lives. On the bright side, those failures usually teach us life’s greatest lessons and allow us to grow incredibly for the better. We are given the gift of our struggles because once we get through them, we now have a roadmap that we can provide to other people in order to help them rise out of their biggest problems in life.

The greatest gift you can give your mentee is to share these stories. The most painful stories of your life have likely taught you more than all of the times you triumphed with minimal effort. These are the lessons that hold great value for your mentee. These are the stories that will propel them forward when they reach hard times.

GET A GOOD MENTOR

A great way to learn to BE a good mentor, is to HAVE a good mentor to learn from. Seek out someone you admire and ask if they’d be willing to mentor you. Ask someone who is 1 or 2 jobs above you to teach you their ways.

Being a mentor is one of the most rewarding ways to spend your time. Share your knowledge with others. It doesn't help anyone if you keep all that wonderful experience to yourself. :-) Your story is meant to be shared.

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

---

About the author

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

If You Want To Be Happy, Try Journaling

A few years ago, I was incredibly depressed.

My finances were spiraling out of control. I had a huge amount of debt. I ended up doing a voluntary repossession of my car, AND I moved back in with my parents…. after 6 years of living on my own. #thiswasnthowIplannedmylife

Related Content: Eight Powerful Lessons You Gain When You Lose Everything

It was a very low point in my life, but there was one thing that kept me going. That one thing, was waking up every morning, grabbing a cup of hot tea, and journaling about anything and everything that was on my mind.

For many people, journaling is therapeutic, but for me it was life saving.

Related Content: 5 Things to do Instead of Committing Suicide

Many of the benefits I got from journaling are things you may not see, but that will end up making a HUGE difference in your life.

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

In everyday life, we spend time worrying about our boss, our bills, our family and friends. If you're a parent, that worry and devotion to others is multiplied tenfold as the free time that you do get, usually goes to your children.
Taking a moment to journal gives you the opportunity to check in with yourself. It gives you the opportunity to ask yourself what you want out of life today, and every day going forward. It also gives you a moment that is for you and only you.

TAKE STEPS TOWARDS ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS

Studies show that peole who write down their goals accomplish more than those who don't.

With a journal in hand, you have a daily reminder to think about your goals. Write. Them. Down. By constantly thinking about what you want, and actually putting it it in writing, your goals will be at the forefront of your mind during your everyday life. Subconsciously, your goals will start pushing you forward every day.

HELP YOU FOCUS

Have  you ever felt like you have too much on your brain? That's probably because….. you do.

Journaling gives you a space to unload all the little things on your brain that you think about. Sometimes unloading them can help you to prioritize them. And having a clear focus on what you need to accomplish, will reduce stress in your life.

REMIND YOU OF YOUR GROWTH

If you can make a daily habit of writing in your journal, over the years you will have a log of all the things that you thought about, all the things that you wanted out of life, and all the struggles along the way. As you accomplish your goals, take a look back through earlier pages. It will show you just how much you have grown and accomplished over time. It may surprise you how much you can grow in just one year.

HELP YOU CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

Journals are also associated with mindfulness and reflection.

In my journal, I go a step further and add an affirmation every day. In the lowest times during my life, finding a new affirmation for each day would give me a theme for the day to strive for. It was a positive reminder that I could accomplish anything that I put my mind to and that I could turn this ship around.

Related Content: Why Every Struggle You Overcome is a Gift

Related Content: Top 10 Quotes Guaranteed to Inspire a Kick Ass Day

As I wrote in my journal each day, I realized that even if today didn’t turn out so good, it would NOT define the end of my story. Slowly, but surely, I stopped thinking about how many things were going wrong. I started asking myself how could I fix them, and I started seeing the good in each day.

If you allow it to, journaling can be a great tool to help you reflect on your past and on the goals you have set for your future. In more ways than one, your journal can help you reach those goals and change your mindset. #goalgetters #mindsetreset #rise

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

---

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!

Are You Over-Planning? It's Time to Accomplish Your Goals.

Any well-executed project starts with a good plan.

Many people want to go back to school, start a business, or maybe even retire early. Spending time mapping out a solid plan will definitely help you reach all of those goals.

But what happens when you spend too much time planning?

Is It Possible To Overplan?

Yes! Definite Yes.

I have a friend who wants to some day own his own physical therapy clinic. He listens to podcasts about how to start a business, how to grow your own physical therapy company, and how to get clients. EVERYDAY, he visualizes his big goal and how he will make it happen.

He spends SO much of his time looking through programs, and analyzing the costs and benefits of each program. He is certain of what his passion is and has clear goals in mind.

There's just one problem……. He’s been researching “next steps” for 3 years.

He has spent more time planning out his future than he has actually acting on his plan to get there.

He doesn't have the credentials to be a licensed physical therapist. He hasn't gotten his doctorate (which you must have in order to be legit). He hasn't even started studying for his GRE (a test required to get into many of the best physical therapy doctorate programs).

But... I Want To Be SUPER Prepared To Succeed!

While planning is the first step of any successful project or goal, it can also be the part that many people fail.

It is easy to convince yourself that you’re making steps forward because you are planning towards your goal, but you also have to set time aside to actually make things happen.

Planning is nothing without execution.

Also, all the planning in the world won’t prepare you for everything you encounter once you actually get started. (Just ask any women who’s been pregnant. Birthing plan? Ha!)

Most of the time, you have to get started on the path towards your goal and just start learning as you go.

How Do You Know It’s Time To Start?

YOU’RE RESEARCHING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER

How many times do you have to google “how to get started” before you get started? If you’ve googled this a few times, it may be time to quit researching and start doing.

YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT A SUBJECT YOU CAN EXPLAIN IT TO SOMEONE ELSE

Have you ever met someone who knows literally everything about real estate but they’ve never bought their first home? If you are that person, than you need to start walking the walk. Consistent action will get you so much further than endless planning.

YOU CLEARLY KNOW THE FIRST STEP

All you really need in order to start….. is the first step. If you’re writing a book, pick up a pen. If you’re going back to school for your Master’s, apply to a program. If you want to get a new job, revamp that resume! If you want to start eating healthier, make a meal plan for the week. If you want to start working out, block off some time on your calendar to take a class.

Once you know what the first step on the path is to reach your goal, you have enough information to take a tiny step. Steps will soon turn into miles.

YOU’VE MOVED YOUR END DATE MORE THAN ONCE

Next year, I’m really going to start that meal plan. Like, for real this time.

The only way to really fail is not to even start. Take a chance on yourself and start that big goal. Your dreams are in good hands….. the best hands even - yours.

xoxo

Want To Start Planning Your Vision Board Party? 

1. Download the FREE vision board party planning checklist.

2. Craft your inspiring vision board workshop talk with our FREE High Impact Storytelling Journal Prompts. 

3. Plan, promote & host your first (or next) professional & profitable vision board workshop with our signature course, Sold Out Vision Board Parties.

---

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cyrene is a fun and accomplished workshop facilitator, learning and development guru and Human Resources professional. Being at the helm of Thrive Lounge has been a long-time dream. Through vision board workshops she plans to accomplish two-way learning. Sharing her vast years of knowledge to motivate and encourage others; while simultaneously getting the reward of great energy, ideas and questions to ponder back from each group. A super win-win. Please join our Thrive Lounge community so you too can benefit!