Speaking Engagement

I’ve just been approved as a guest speaker to present my “Equip and Edify” project. Date is in January, time to be determined.

Social Networking Webinar Successful

I’m pleased to announce that my recent webinar, “Financial Practice Building with Social Networks- Worth it?” was a success. Being both well attended and favorably commented upon, I am gratified. Follow up materials will be made available to attendees on Tuesday, 02/02/10. (Attending financial conference in NYC on Monday)

Thanks to all for their support and participation.

Social Networking Webinar Announced

I’m excited to be announcing my presentation of a new webinar on the topic of Professional Practice Building using Social Networking sites. The viewpoint will be appropriate for those who are unsure if the effort is worth the time. It is being sponsored by New York and National Long Term Care Brokers as a service to their brokers. It could be of equal interest to people in other professions outside of financial services. There are many areas of overlap between service providers from various disciplines.

Being efficient with the investment of your time is the key. Entry level information will be offerred. Of the networks available, Linked In will be the main one featured. So you might want to get yourself registered on the free level of Linked In prior to the webinar. TIP: Set a time limit on yourself when first logging on. You don’t want to get carried away on your first visit.

Date: 01/24/10

Time: 2PM EST

Length: 1 Hour

To Register, email bob@nyltcb.com

Simpleology Confirm

I’m evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they’re letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I’ll let you know what I think once I’ve had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it’s still free.

Hello world!

The first thing you may be wondering about is what kind of name is that for a weblog?

Psilva is short for my name, Paul Silva. The chfc part is one of my professional designations, it’s short for Chartered Financial Consultant. This blog will focus on how financial matters impact our lives.

We can be haunted by feelings of inadequacy, fear and all sorts of stressful stuff because we haven’t learned how to escape the effects of money issues.

OR, we could be liberated from the distractions caused by a flawed relationship to money, and be free to pursue our true passions in life. The thrill I get from helping people in this way is indescribable.

Do you have something you’d love to being throwing your life at with unbridled enthusiasm? Would you be more likely to jump out of bed in the morning if you weren’t dreading some part of your life?

If you answered yes, it’s imperative that you find someone to help you think through the issues that keep you from the life you are supposed to be enjoying.

(I love the saying, “Life is a song to be sung, not a sentence to be served.”)

I’m not the guy for most people. My concentration on the financial aspect of life limits my usefulness to those who are limited by their improper orientation toward money.

The people who get the most out of reading my stuff are those who value the application of wisdom to practical daily living. Most people don’t spend much time thinking about how the lack of foundational truths in their decision making process hinders them.

I started pursuing truth early in life. It lead to a philosophy degree, with no intent to ever focus on business or things financial. Funny how your life gets molded by your experiences, isn’t it?

My financial life was always a wreck by way of being ignored. The ensuing meltdown got my attention. Eventually I recognized the need to pay attention. I became equipped to help others by my own suffering.

On the question of discovering your calling, or purpose in life, I once heard  a very wise man say something that stuck with me. “Just look at what makes you cry.”

Think about it. Do you know anyone about whom you can say, “they are obviously doing what they were intended to do”? I know a lady who works in the developmentally disabled services field who is loving her life. I know a guy who’s calling is to guide young people toward a more successful higher educational experience.

You know the people I’m talking about, don’t you? The child abuse activist; or a  missionary for any number of kinds of relief.

What makes you cry is the clue. Your sensitivity to an issue and the suffering it causes can point you to a more satisfying life. The other key is that your energy be poured into others. Seeking your own happiness is futile.

A survivalist worldview leads to focusing on getting what you need. Helping others get what they need goes much farther toward your fulfillment, as well as your provision. 

A worldview with abundance as it’s core assumption frees us to think of the good of others.

You will be provided for. Your creator promised that. Fear may cause us to doubt it. Mismanagement, or disobedience can interrupt the flow of that provision. That doesn’t mean the resources don’t exist. It just means we’ve gotten out of touch with what we were designed to be doing.

If you have kids, you’ll know what I mean shortly. You want them to be happy. When they fight over a toy, instead of sharing, you observe the absence of happiness. It grieves you. If only they’d stop putting themselves first, you say to yourself.

But what about our adult lives? “Hey, I’ve got to make a living, you know.” Self reliance is an obstacle, not a solution. One foundational truth is that living for others just works better. It’s no accident that the business world is filled with aphorisms like …

“Help enough others get what they want, and you’ll get what you want.”

“Find a need and fill it.”

The trick is purity of motivation. Building a better mousetrap doesn’t guarantee ample provision for you. Starting a business, or pursuing a career just for money doesn’t “get it”.

I know someone blessed with the mind of an inventor. He wants to market any of his ideas to make himself a lot of money. The motivation is toward himself. Do you think he’ll succeed? When he discovers that the true and proper use of his gifting is to help others, his motivation will be moved toward others.

“Find a need and fill it” works best when the need you are addressing is one about which you have an intense emotional involvement. My friend can raise more money for Autism, (because he’s seen it cause suffering in his extended family), than any other “cause” he might try to benefit.

If you are already doing your “thing”, please respond in the comments section. If you are intrigued by the idea of finding how to get money “out of the way” of your being who you were meant to be, please comment.

More about where ageless truths come from next time.

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