The 9 Steps To Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying

In this presentation, I will consider the book entitled The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying. This is a book written by financial guru Suze Orman. *Although printed many years ago, I think reviewing this book now is timely given the current financial environment and the fear associated with it among the general public.

Also, please go to “The Word Is…” on my website for an audio presentation on “People first, then money, then things” which is a mantra of Suze Orman.

In the book, Suze writes extensively about financial matters such as retirement plans, insurance, and investment choices. As indicated in the title of the book, there are 9 steps. Some are more practical such as Step 3: Being Honest With Yourself where you are asked to look at your cashflow; what comes in and what goes out on a monthly basis. I am not a financial expert and do not intend to critique the financial issues which are discussed in the book. I want to add, however, it is important that you improve your financial literacy and strive to keep up to date with financial issues as they appear to be changing quickly.

Other steps include Step 6: Trusting Yourself More Than You Trust Others and Step 7: Being Open to Receive All That You Are Meant To Have. In these steps, Suze asks you to have a positive attitude towards money and to take charge of your money so you are less dependent on others to handle your money.

I think the most important steps to your financial foundation are the first 2 steps on her list; Step1: Seeing How Your Past Holds The Key To Your Financial Future and Step2: Facing Your Fears and Creating New Truths. There are some people who have a positive attitude towards money and there are some people who feel negatively towards money. The first step helps people understand why one feels one way or another by looking at what Suze calls “money messages.” Although taking action steps to deal with any fears one may have about money is necessary, having the insight to know why the fear is there in the first place will add another tool to fight the fear. Suze gives several accounts of her own life throughout the book. But, the most moving and eye-opening is that of an early childhood experience that involves her father which is in the opening chapter What Do Yo Want From Your Money? This story allows for a greater understanding of the meaning of money in her own life and was the basis for an epiphany when she later became a stock broker (pp. 3-4):

I was rich, richer than I could have imagined. And I realized I was profoundly unhappy; the money hadn’t bought or brought me happiness. So if money wasn’t the key to happiness, what was? It was then that I began a quest, which has taken me deep into the meaning of life-and the meaning of money.

Suze’s quest brought her to understand that we are inherently of value. As she states in Step 9: Recognizing True Wealth: (p.281)

True financial freedom lies in defining ourselves by who and what we are, not by what we do or do not have. You are the person you are right now. We cannot measure our self-worth by our net worth.

Thank you. May this book be influential in your life on your own road to success. Please contact me if there is a particular book that you would like me to read and review.

*Note this review is based on the 1997 edition of the book.