Suzanne
Hicks-Nichols

Hard Work Pays Off

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I am a mother, a sister, an auntie, a friend and hopefully in my future, a life partner.  I am also a preschool teacher of 21 years and the owner of Fancy Artifacts, an Interior Design Company. 

 

I was born a Philadelphian (Pennsylvania) on May 14th 1955 to two African American Parents.

My father is from Alabama and my mother a native Philadelphian. While my parents were strong  advocates of education, their own levels of education were very different. 

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My father completed the 8th grade and left school in order to work to help feed the family of 13 children.  My mother completed high school and then amazingly went back to college after raising 5 children and graduated magna cum laude from the prestigious Saint Joseph’s Prep!

 

 My journey with money has been long and hard.

 

Growing up Catholic and poor played a large part in my perceptions about money. In church and school I was taught that money was evil. At home money was never discussed but I got the impression that we didn’t have enough of it.  We relied on food stamps, government cheese, carnation dry milk every day to survive.  This was something that was never to be shared with the outside world. 

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These experiences shaped my mindset about money for years to come.  Looking back I have had a love-hate relationship with my money. Whenever I had it, I spent that and more.  I have had lots of credit card debt, a failed business and my poor money habits contributed to constant tension in my marriage, but in my heart of hearts I was scared of money! 

 

As a suggestion from my  close friend, Kim, who was aware of my struggles, I attended a meeting about finances and I was so relieved to learn that I was not alone and that  fear and anxiety around money are very common.  Now, I am learning that my negative emotions play a key role in why I have not been able to make the best financial decisions.

 

Today, with the help of my wonderful Mentor and financial advisor, Lisa Margulies and my WWOW Sisters, I have been able to make a mindset shift,  More and more I can recognize my negative emotions and approach not only my financial decisions but all of my decisions  with a calm mind and with a focus on my  goals of wellbeing, fulfillment, and joy.

 

What a blessing and gift I have been given, I am so grateful for this journey!

 

Come and join us!