Life Survival

In working at my brother-in-law's accounting business this year I have heard a lot of heart-breaking stories. Last night a young couple came in telling us about the tragedies they faced this past year with their house burning down and losing their job. Another couple, too young to retire, told of her diagnosis of cancer and his job loss. There have been more unemployment forms this year than ever. Of course there have been customers who have phoned and asked if there were special papers they needed to bring to file taxes jointly with a spouse who had passed away in the past year.

Hearing the stories of these people and assuring them that we would pray for them has caused me to "get out of my own skin" a little more. I think we have all had hurdles this year. Some have had more life-changing things happen than others but we have all learned lessons.

For Me:

Lesson #1

God cares and will either deliver me out of this or bring me through it.
Lesson #2

There are things more important than money.



Lesson #3

Enjoy people and love them.


There are many more but I want you to read the interview I did with Author, Nicole B. Simpson.



She is a 9/11 Survivor and a financial expert. Her books are much needed in our day and time.

1. My name is Nicole B. Simpson and my book titles are Planning for a Reason, A Season, and a Lifetime, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events, and Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose

2. I would want people to know I am a survivor and I believe if you are breathing, capable of reading this interview, you have an opportunity to achieve greatness.

3. I don't know if I ever desired to become a writer. I simply had a story to share with the world about my experience on September 11th. As a World Trade Center survivor, I felt that the emotions of the survivors who lived through the actual experience was visibly silent. I wanted my family to know how I felt emotionally, and the challenges my family faced in the immediate aftermath.

4. I believe most people who read anything I write, would state they feel as if they are having a conversation with me. The simplicity in my writing allows them to absorb the message I am attempting to deliver. They feel very comfortable and because two of my books require self reflection, they are more willing to pause and follow the instructions. I do recognize that is a gift for which I am grateful I possess.

5. I do enjoy reading whenever I have the time. However, having been in school for the last five years, most of the books I read are theological in nature. I do love self-help and inspirational material.

6. I am currently reading Drawn to Destiny by Yvonne Capehart-it's excellent.


7. At the present moment, I just completed my third book titled Dare 2 Dream. I believe that everyone experiences catastrophic events or trauma. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. I am beginning the research for my next publication which will be release in 2011. I am not certain of the title but the concept is to identify ten individuals who were effected by the tragedy of September 11th, 2001 and see where they are ten years later. How has the experience affect their life, what lessons have they learned and what is their "new normal".
8. My biggest obstacle in writing now is facing a deadline and not having any inspiration. Since I wrote my first book years ago, my focus was on the story itself and not writing. However, I've been fortunate because people ask me to contribute to magazine publications, guest blog, and complete interviews. People may laugh, but now I will play the computer game Majong Titans while I think. I do some of my best writing in the middle of a game, late at night. Even my family recognizes when I am in a zone but sometimes it can take hours.
9. Planning for A Reason, A Season and a Lifetime

How would you feel if you were terminated from your company as a result of "downsizing"? What would you do if your spouse died unexpectedly and you learned afterwards that the insurance proceeds had been left to their parents or even their former spouse? Can you afford to be on extended disability without worrying about your home facing foreclosure? Planning for a Reason, a Season, and a Lifetime identifies the importance of having a financial plan in place before life circumstances dictate you require one. The author is a certified financial planner who concentrated on doing "her job" until the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. Then it became personal. Using her personal experience as a World Trade Center survivor, a wife and mother of two children as an example, the author identifies the potential vulnerabilities we all face in our lives financially. This book will assist you in determining what areas you must address to become financially free. It will outline why it is critical to address unknown variables and the steps you should take to protect the ones you love.

The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Event

Can you survive financially during your wilderness experience in life? According to certified financial planner, senior adviser, and 9/11 survivor Nicole Simpson, most of us unconsciously focus on survival from day to day. In her new book, The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events , Simpson illustrates through her own traumatic experience the need to create a financial plan of action to combat life's inevitable disasters. Through simple, engaging stories, The Ultimate Plan lays out strategies your family can incorporate to avoid total devastation when faced with unexpected death, disability, natural disasters, etc. The Ultimate Plan: A Financial Survival Guide for Life's Unexpected Events is your guidebook to being prepared when disaster strikes. Dare 2 Dream: Pushing Past Your Pain to Pursue Purpose a dream is destined to have two potential, extremely contrarian outcomes. It can maintain its abstract nature, never given the consideration or opportunity to evolve into something real. Or it can be pursued diligently with the stated objective of being fulfilled. When you dare to dream, you give yourself permission to imagine life from a best case scenario. You become the author of your fate, not allowing your circumstances to dictate your reality. Certainly, you will have to confront the very real issues of life, but your willingness to operate pro-actively is far more advantageous instead of being led by your finances, fear or insecurities. Dare 2 Dream will take you on a journey that takes your abstract thoughts and feelings and compels you to explore your dreams becoming a reality. It takes into consideration the hindrances and pitfalls you’ve encountered during your childhood. It will encourage you to face your fears and move forward in spite of uncertainty. This book will help unlock the hidden, innermost secrets you’ve housed for years and move toward liberation of all dream-killing hindrances. You will be refreshed and renewed. You will be motivated and productive. Most importantly, you will be free to DARE 2 DREAM again! 10. Anyone who desires to learn more about Nicole B. Simpson, can log onto my website www.nicolebsimpson.com . Through the site, they can follow my blog journey. They can interact directly through facebook which I actively utilize daily. Finally, please review my author's page on www.amazon.com.

Who is Nicole B. Simpson?
*One of the MOST INSPIRING AND MOTIVATING ORIENTATION SPEAKERS
*2 page feature in Black Enterprise

*Appeared on Money Matters with Lynn Doyle
*Profile to Success award recipient by BET.COM
*Recognized Disaster Planning Specialist
*Host of The Power of Gospel http://www.thepowerofgospel.com/
1-877-78 PLAN A • www.NicoleBSimpson.com • Nicolebsimpson@aol.co