What is a Nursepreneur?
I can define Nursepreneur by first defining the word "Entrepreneur." The term entrepreneur applies to someone who creates value by offering a product or service and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. By profession I am a Nurse and by heart I am also an Entrepreneur. How do I cultivate wisdom of a Nursepreneur? I observe simplicity in my lifestyle.
Simplicity is not the rejection of money and possession. Simplicity is an inner reality based on knowing the proper place of money and possession in one's life.
10 Ways How to Practice the Value of Simplicity
1. Be a smart spender.
Shop around. Wait for really good deals. Keep in mind that you don’t get what you deserve. Rather you get what you negotiate. Ask questions. Never put your money into anything you don’t understand.
2. Beware of things that can produce addiction in your life.
Whatever controls your life becomes your God. You should be able to say NO. Periodically abstain from things that can produce addiction in your life. By doing this you will be able to master self discipline. Be the captain of your own – a captain who is in control.
3. Forget last year.
Don’t fall in love with your one year figures, no matter how excellent, have little bearing on how a stock will perform this year. Look for long-term stability. Fast-rising stars can fall – sometimes in flames.
4. Learn to let go and give away things.
Share anything that you don’t need to give space for new things and adapt new values and standards. Be a cheerful giver and never say ripe! A Nursepreneur is an eternal student – open minded and always hungry for wisdom.
5. Enjoy things WITHOUT owning them.
Borrow books, cd`s, dvd`s, movies and leverage other people’s money to invest. Use them as a vehicle to meet your desired promise.
6. Cultivate appreciation.
Part of simplicity is discovering free alternatives. Spend a quality time with your family and friends. Appreciate nature, stop and smell the flowers literally. This is cost effective and environmental friendly.
7. Buy things for their usefulness rather than trends or brands.
Do not buy something to impress others or that is trendy. Fashion changes drastically or else you will end up being a fashion victim.
8. Be sceptical of all “buy now pay later” plans.
This is a trap! Choose not to be a victim by educating yourself. Feed your mind.
9. Kill credit card debt.
Credit cards are useful but when abused can be a double edged sword. An annual balance of $2, 500 can cost over $500 in interest alone. Don't treat your money as a financial laxative (Nursepreneurs, sounds familiar?). Just spend less than you make and manage your money.
10. Think that you can be extremely rich and achieve financial freedom by being kind, courageous, patient and down to earth simple person.
A Nursepreneur has a different point of view with regards to wealth. Wealth is a way of thinking, not a dollar amount in the bank. After reading personal finance books and being educated on how money really works. I knew I had the rare opportunity to choose a direction for my life. Rare because most people just go with the flow semi-conscious and blindly as they go to work.
WHY DO I WANT to BUILD WEALTH?
Who wouldn't want to be rich and build wealth? The question is, do you have what it takes to be wealthy? Either as a Nursepreneur or any other business venture you need to have faith, discipline and focus. Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die. Everybody wants to be rich but nobody wants to fail.
Many people would ask me, “Why do you want to build wealth Sherrylyn? Aren’t you contented of what you have right now, a decent good paying job." I started this Nurseprenuer because there are things that I want and I don’t want in my life.Let’s start with whatI DON’T want…
1. From my childhood experience
My mother missed many important occasions in my life (together with my brothers and sister) such as graduations, birthdays and nursing capping because she was always busy working. There was no one to blame we were trapped in a RAT RACE (poverty mindset) and the sad part was - we were not even aware of it.
2. I cringe whenever I receive my pay check (it's not that I am ungrateful for blessings, but I simply have the realization that being employed - trading hours with dollars won't build wealth as I planned. The after tax deduction is almost always half of what I earn.
In Canada, Income tax system is “progressive tax system” which means the more you work the more tax government will deduct. Although the government utilize the money to fund healthcare system, improve roads and subsidize many government programs. I have no problem with this transparency but I still believe that as tax payers we need to be informed and educated. That is why I decided to become a Nursepreneur because I firmly believe that financial education is the foundation of creating wealth.
3. I don't appreciate the fact that my ability to be creative in life is only limited to the pay check I receive.
I know deep in my gut that I can be more than that. As a Financial Advisor, I learned that there are 2 different kinds of income; passive income and active income, and there are actually various legitimate tax saving strategies that you can use. You are responsible to find these strategies neither the bank nor the government sadly to say will not spoon feed you this information. As a Nursepreneur this is my mission to help and advocate for others.
4. I don’t want to work for money all my life. I want money to work for me. Passive income and cash flow are my goals.
If you can’t manage and control your money, money will control you and enslave you in your life time. Life is far more than work. Work is just a small part of my life. Work is NOT my entire life. Faith, Family and Friends these are my life. Life is being alive, interacting and enjoying relationships. I’ve met nurses who work 3 part time jobs and pay thousands of dollars during tax season. Do you think it’s worth it?
5. I don’t want to be an employee all of my life.
Although being a Registered Nurse is my greatest passion. Owning my own business as a Nursepreneur gave me the balance I so desired. This is the choice I consciously made 3 years ago while reading the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki. I wanted to own my business, now I do as a Nursepreneur. Owning my business gave me different set of rules to play. My husband and I enjoys many benefits of owning a business such as the ability to write off numerous business expenses like, gas, food, travel, utilities etc. Don’t get me wrong, I have bunch of friends who are employees and I love them dearly. That doesn’t make them or you a bad person. But if being an employee makes them happy and they love the security that their job brings, I respect that. However right after I’ve witnessed this massive lay offs brought about by the current economic recession. I came to a conclusion that there is no such thing as a secured job.
6. I choose not to be a bitter victim.
When I first came here in Canada as a fresh graduate and newly Registered Nurse I was unaware of “how money really works”. We were never taught about this matter by our parents, at home or in school. An insurance agent offered me an insurance, He said,” This is an insurance with an investment.” I said, “okay, sounds good.” Then I signed some bunch of documents unaware of the details of my policy.
After 3 years of paying monthly premiums, I contacted the insurance company and told them that I want to terminate and surrender my policy. This is because I moved to a different province to work. They told me that they will charge a surrender charge or deferred sales charge. And I said, “fine with me.” Then I asked, “So since this is a Universal Life Insurance (Insurance plus Investment), how much is my cash surrender value (CSV)?” I asked feeling smart by applying what I’m learning from books and our insurance review sessions.
During this time, I was starting to learn to become a financial advisor. After a moment of silence, she finally said, “it’s negative, you actually owe us a hundred dollar.” I was caught off guard I felt my face flushed. “Your monthly premium is just enough to keep your insurance active nothing goes to your investment. “ she added. In between heavy sighs I managed to say, “How come my insurance agent did not even get back to me and inform me that hey, sherrylyn the investment side in your insurance is not and will not grow because your premium is not enough?” To make the story short I surrendered my policy and I refused to pay the one hundred dollar amount I “owe” them. I was so bitter that I wanted to sue the company for E&O or errors and omission (This is like “malpractice” for healthcare professionals). But in the end I chose to be better, I took that incident as a negative motivator for me to understand insurances, pass my license as a financial advisor and advocate for other people.
I WANT…
1. To be free to travel the world and live in the lifestyle I want. To be young when I do this. I want to simply be free.
2. Control over my time and my life.
3. Money to work for me, not me working for money.
4. To help and support Christian missionaries to proclaim God’s love and kingdom worldwide.
5. To liberate my self from fear because when I liberate my self I also liberate others.
6. To correct the misconception that “money is evil” and “money is not important”
7. To emphasize that it’s not about how much your income is, but how you manage your cash flow.
8. To highlight that time is money, our “brain” is powerful. Law of Intention and Power of Focus.
9. To help people get out of the Rat Race, that there are alternatives to achieve financial freedom.
10. To make a difference in other peoples lives as a Nursepreneur – spiritually, health wise and financial wise.
"It`s foolish to spend your life working for money and to pretend that money is not important. Life is more important than money, but money is important for supporting LIFE." -Robert Kiyosaki- "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"
After being a Nursepreneur, I became more observant of the people that surrounds me. Often times, I would ask my co-workers. "Is this your last day out of your 5 days stretch?" And they would respond. "Oh yes! thank heavens It's over!" with a gleaming voice, sparks in their eyes and a beautiful smile.
Think about it, take a moment for yourself and reflect. Hear the little voice inside your gut. If you're passionate about something you can't get enough of it. You're so excited and wishing you have more time because you just love doing it. That's what I feel when I'm writing and buiding contents for this website as a Nursepreneur. All I know is that life is bigger than myself.
How about you? What are you passionate about?
Can you see yourself as a Nursepreneur or something else?
Life Isn’t Just About You
I choose to think and grow rich because if I don't
a few things will need to stop...
I support a young boy from Uganda. That will stop.
I finance a few missionaries. That will stop.
I provide help to fight AIDS in Africa. That will stop.
I finance seminary students. That will stop.
As much as I want to give in secrecy. The above mentioned are the very reason why I’ve chosen to grow, to increase, and to become more courageous and creative because I want to bless the world more.
"The only thing that will change you from where you are today to where you will be five years from now are the people you meet, the dreams you dream, and the books you read." Lou Holtz -Coach
Suggested Readings of a Nursepreneur:
These books discuss Wealth and Personal Finance. They are powerful books that changed my way of thinking and my life as a whole.
As a financial advisor, these books taught me the Power of Focus, Legal tax saving strategies and the Debt conversion strategy essential to assist my clients effectively.
The Smith Manoeuvre: Is Your Mortgage Tax Deductible?
Personal Finance, Self-Help and Real State book
Inspirational Books:
Here you go, these are my thoughts as a Nursepreneur. I hope I encouraged you in some ways to live your life to the fullest.
Do you want to be a Nursepreneur? Only you can answer that simple but thought provoking question. My friend, as a current or future Nursepreneur don't forget to pray and choose wisely!
Have fun, be free, love and serve others!
May all your dreams come true, Sherrylyn Vivero
Nursing Avenue.com
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