When Barbara went into graduate school to study journalism, even her professors warned her that she had chosen a low-paying field.  Never mind, she thought. She was fueled by a passion to make a positive contribution to the world through her writing.

 Like many writers, Barbara got her start by writing stories for free, just to build her file of published clips.  She worked in a San Francisco corporate office by day, writing her freelance stories during lunches, evenings and weekends.

 About seven years into her new career, long after the novelty of seeing her byline in magazines and newspapers had worn off, Barbara started to feel left behind.  Her best friends were vacationing in Hawaii and looking at houses to buy, while Barbara could only afford weekends camping and living in low rent areas with roommates.  Even though she had become the editor of a weekly magazine--at which she worked up to 70 hours a week--Barbara was earning about the same salary as that of a fast food restaurant manager.

 When we first met, Barbara said she was trying to "make peace with her poverty." I introduced her to Moneymax®, the money personality questionnaire I developed, and it transformed her mind set.

 "I was brought up to believe that the world is made up of the haves and the have-nots," Barbara said. "It never occurred to me money was something I can control.  But now I see everything differently and feel hopeful about my financial situation--for the first time!"

 What Barbara realized after learning about her attitudes about herself and money was that she, her self-esteem and her beliefs about money were detracting from the rest of her life.  "How we deal with money is just part of the whole package of who we are and who we think we are," she said. "It wasn't until after I learned about my money personality that I realized how money was robbing other areas of my life. I can't tell you how excited I was to learn that money is something I, the quintessential 'starving artist’, can control."

 Barbara most closely identified with the Producer personality group, one of nine money personalities identified by taking the Moneymax questionnaire.  She learned that there is nothing wrong with having a high work ethic, but she also needs to work smart.  She needs to apply the same ambition and stamina that propels her through her journalism career to her finances.  This means educating herself, developing an attainable savings plan, investment and earning goals, and taking ownership of her money.

 Results won't happen overnight, but Barbara is already extracting the same level of pride from working at her finances as she does from working at writing.  And she says that she's glad she doesn't have to sacrifice her values and integrity to achieve more wealth, for she learned money isn't "dirty."

 Instead, she followed the Money Action Plan in her report and now enjoys making better use of her money personality.  And just as fulfilling is her newfound financial optimism.

 Perhaps Barbara's retired parents, who instilled the Producers' hard work ethic in her, offer the best example of a Producer personality gone unchecked; exhausted from a lifetime of long hours and hard work, they now live in a veteran's home on little more than their monthly social security checks.

 For Barbara, the turning point came when she realized she was entitled to more money, something Producers aren't apt to see on their own.  Knowing she deserves to earn more, Barbara has set out on a job hunt with more financial self-confidence than she had ever experienced.  She is amazed at how differently people treat her.  Her new attitude has already brought her exciting new prospects in her field--at considerably higher salaries.

 "Just thinking I'm worth more automatically makes it true in other people's eyes," she said.  "It's wonderful. Suddenly there's a whole new world of options open to me."