Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny

For 2017, I decided to mix reading books for PropelHer’s Book Club with money-focused books. I wanted to demystify the good ones from the not-so-good ones. In the world of coaching the idea of being a six-figure woman is discussed often, so I thought I would give Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life a read.

Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life is a result of Barbara Stanny interviewing over 150 women who earn in excess of $100,000. Barbara expected as many would, to find lots of “investment bankers, financial advisers, doctors, and lawyers who were making big money” but she was amazed to find women with varying levels of educations, working in all industries were able to reach six figures. As a result, Barbara truly believes that reaching six-figures isn’t an exclusive club and that woman can achieve that if you know and follow the rules.

After all of the interviews, Barbara identifies eight secrets to her interviewee’s wealth.

1. Financial success is possible in almost any field, and lack of education doesn’t have to hold you back
2. Working hard doesn’t mean working all the time
3. Focus on fulfilling your values rather than financial gain
4. Loving what you do is much more important than what you do
5. Feel the fear. Have the doubts. Go for it anyway.
6. Think in terms of trade-offs, not sacrifices, to find a workable equilibrium
7. Sometimes you just have to shrug it off and have a good laugh
8. Appreciate abundance

Barbara didn’t just interview wealthy women. In fact, to be able to really understand how women can achieve wealth she also interviewed underearners. From those discussions, she found nine traits that underearners possess including: underestimating their worth, being lousy negotiators and believing in the nobility of poverty.

Barbara outlines 7 strategies for breaking the six-figure barrier:

• The Declaration of Intention
• Letting Go of the Ledge
• Get into the Game
• Speak Up
• The Stretch
• Seek Support
• Obey the Rules of Money

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny. Whilst this isn’t practically telling you how to make money, it provides a good overview of the characteristics and traits of six-figure women. For those who have consistently been an underearner, it is also a great book to expose that mindset and help you shift for the future.

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Want to know more? Buy a copy of Secrets of Six-Figure Women for yourself.