Keys to Surviving During Times of Financial Stress by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

I’m sure you’ve known people who seemed to have it all together. Great marriage, great physical shape, financial success, etc. Then tragedy struck. Whether they had a health challenge, lost a job, divorce, or worse…their spouse died. Their “perfect life” seemed to unravel and not long after they seemed destitute. 

 

Of course, it is necessary to grieve the loss of a loved one, a job, or anything else. Yet, proper planning can help a tough time, by giving you one less thing to worry about. 

 

 

Are you getting married soon? Several of my former students have just gotten married and next month another former student will be marrying his sweetheart. Whether you are single, married, divorced, or your spouse has passed away you need a plan in place for your financial future to protect you and your family. 

 

When I was engaged to be married, my Momma, Romayne Leader Frank, who was a lawyer specializing in Family Law and Real Estate, was getting ready to give a speech to the local Women's Club on "Financial Success".

Mamma had clients who were widowers, widowed, divorced, and single who suddenly had no money or credit in their own name. The credit card and bank accounts were in their deceased spouses name, their divorced spouses name or in their parent’s name which meant they did not have any money or credit in their own name and were unable to pay their bills and take care of themselves and their families.

 

My Momma asked me to listen to her speech to see what I thought of it! Momma spoke of the need for women to have credit in their own name, not in their spouse’s name, their former spouse’s name or their parents name but in their own name.

 

On that particular day Momma was talking to the Women’s Club. When she spoke to other organizations she said “Everyone, meaning both men and women, should always have their own separate checking, savings and credit card accounts in their own name so they would never find themselves without a way to support themselves and their loved ones.

 

I have over the years called our families’ accounts yours, mine and ours. The same name as the Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda Movie "Yours, Mine and Ours". 

In the movie the title referred to children though not to money. Over the years, I have shared my Momma's wisdom with many others. Her speech was well received by me and the Women’s Club and has stood the test of time. 

 

What are the secrets my Momma, Romayne Leader Frank taught for women and men to be financially independent?

 

1)    Open a savings account that is free or low fee in your name at a secure bank or credit union that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and start immediately to put your money in it for your  nest egg. Also open a free or low fee checking account in your name insured by FDIC. 

2)    Get a credit card in your name at a very low interest rate and begin to use it immediately and pay your bill as soon as the statement comes in to establish your credit. Do not carry a balance. (Some credit cards now have an extra fee 2-3% surcharge added just for charging the bill.) The benefits of establishing credit are easily muted by paying 30% interest when you spend more than you can pay off! 

3)     If you own a home or are planning on buying a home make sure your name is on the title.  (Consult a recommended real estate attorney.)

Shop for mortgages. Rates change daily…and we are not likely to see a 3% mortgage rate again. Make sure you have a locked in ,fixed rate mortgage.

 If you buy a house make sure your name is on the title and before purchasing your house have a professional title search done to make sure there are no  liens or prior owners of the house.

4) If you are paying a mortgage on your house pay the bill on time. If the interest is too high, talk to the holder of your mortgage and get it moved down. Always get a fixed rate locked in mortgage.

5) If you choose to purchase a car and finance it, please be responsible. Too many people only focus on the payment instead of the total of payments. With very rare exceptions, cars always depreciate. Purchase a reliable vehicle at a price you can afford. Don’t worry about what your friends are driving…they won’t worry if you can’t make the payments on your shiny new car. 

 

If you buy a car make sure the title is in your name. If you are paying the car off each month pay the monthly charge on time. If the mortgage on the car is too high, talk the mortgage company into lowering the rate. Make sure you have a locked in fixed rate mortgage. 

 

The most important thing is to educate yourself on money matters. Whether you are 16 or 60 years old, never stop learning, yearning, or earning. © 2025, 2024,2019, 2010

 

 

 

Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, John Maxwell Team Member, conductor, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business". Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book“Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. If you need a speaker or video speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

 

 

Good Sportsmanship is Hard to Beat! by Madeline Frank, Ph.D

 Have you ever been to a sports event where the athletes competing against each other behaved respectfully in a caring manner to their team members and to their rival team members?

 

My family and I attended a world class Rodeo at the Utah Pioneer Days in Ogden, UT. These daredevil athletes treated us to a night of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, women riding two horses at a time while standing, and even a World Champion Bull Jumper!

 

I have great admiration for people who are committed to riding a bucking horse or bull (which can weigh up to 2000 pounds or more). As the gate opens and the animal explodes from its confinement, doing everything it can to throw the rider off. Yet the rider is committed to staying on.  At this point, it is a matter of will, commitment, endless hours of practice, and many bumps, bruises, and scrapes along the way. 

 

8 seconds doesn’t sound like a long time, unless you are trying to stay mounted to your bull or horse!

 

While each of the riders were in competition with one another, there was a tremendous amount of camaraderie. At the completion of each act, the performers were patting each other on the back, throwing a hi-5, and congratulating each other.  During each performance, other riders were perched on either side of the horse or bull, at the ready to pull the person out of a dangerous situation if necessary. 

 

This group of extraordinary men and women cared about the welfare of each other. Positive attitudes are contagious and make everyone perform better. The Master of Ceremonies introduced each athlete and praised them before and after. The audience was very enthusiastic and applauded and praised everyone loudly. 

 

While most don’t experience the adrenaline rush of a rodeo every weekend, it serves as a great reminder that there are positive environments and activities which surround us every day if we choose to look for them. There are examples of great dedication and commitment to one’s profession or hobby…if we look for them. 

 

That same weekend on TV, July 19, 2025 was the U.S. Classic, presented by Saatva, U.S.A. Gymnastics, at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. We watched these marvelous young women athletes do their amazing floor routines, balance beam, and parallel bars routines. These athletes were encouraged and supported by their team members and coaches with smiles, hugs, high 5’s helping each of them to do their best work. Coaches spotted on parallel bars to keep them safe. It’s all about caring about others!

 

 Imagine if the members of Congress and the Senate worked together for the best results with the best intentions for the health, happiness, and success of their constituents. What a winning combination it would be!

 

 

Look for the good experiences and embrace them! 

 

Madeline Frank, Ph.D., DTM, John Maxwell Team Member, and Certified World Class Speaking Coach is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Businesses”. Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter “Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips Blog” and a monthly radio show “Madeline’s One Minute Musical Radio Show”. She has just published her new book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” available in print or as an e-book. To contact Madeline for your next speaking engagement: mfrankviola@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stop Flapping Your Gums and Listen by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

Sometimes silence is golden! (Just like watching a movie at the local theater!)

 

When was the last time you discovered that your perception of a situation or person was not exactly as it seemed? It is easy to make a quick read of people and situations, but often times, there is great benefit to digging deeper to get a better understanding of the situation. 

 

Instead of flapping your lips, stop talking and just listen!

 

I was picking vegetables at the local grocery store recently when older man with sleeves of tattoos stood beside me and started talking to me. The wrinkles on his face and the fatigue in his eyes made me think that this gentleman had been all over the world. Whether he was greeting memories or regrets, the mileage of his life’s experiences fit him like a glove. 

 

Instead of walking away, I listened!

 

He shared that he was a retired Military officer with an ill wife. He just needed to talk and share what was on his mind. I just quietly listened for a few minutes. As we concluded the conversation, I could tell that he was more relaxed. We smiled and wished each other a good day. He just needed someone to listen. I nodded while listening to him!

 

If you want to connect with others, you have to listen to them, care about them, and be concerned about their welfare. Zig Zigler said it best; “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.”

 

Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said “Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, ‘Make me feel important.’ Never forget this message when working with people.” Think of a young child who insists that their parent proudly display their latest coloring masterpiece on the refrigerator. That need for recognition never goes away. 

 

Mike Robbins, speaker and author says, “By listening to others, you show them respect. You let them know that you care about what they’re saying and that you value their perspective.” 

 

Dale Carnegie’s second principle is “Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say, “You’re wrong.”

 

 Drs. Ken Blanchart and Spencer Johnson, authors of The One Minute Manager Knows, “Catch them in the act of doing something right.”

 

Bob Burg, “Verbally acknowledge it and them. Make sure everyone knows about the recognition.” (The Art of Persuasion, p118, by Bob Burg)

 

By acknowledging positive behavior, it gets repeated.

 

It’s about the beginning of building relationships. 

 

Bob Burg’s father, Mike Burg defined “Tact as the language of Strength.” 

 

 We have all experienced people who have rolled their eyes at a simple request, making us feel unimportant. On the flip side; Bob Burg shares a story of how a little bit of empathy can go a long way. 

 

“It was several years ago while I was in the fantastic city of St. Louis, Missouri. After being seated for lunch, the waiter made his initial approach to our table with a bit of an…attitude. He was coldly polite and acted as if he’d rather not be there at all. One could say he literally looked “pained” to even be there.”

 

“And, indeed, he literally was, as indicated by his pronounced limp as he walked away. So, when he came back, my friend and colleague Dixie Gillaspie — kind and thoughtful as she always is — acknowledged his obvious discomfort and asked what happened.”

“He explained that he’d been hit by a car and was in fact in extremely significant pain. We didn’t ask him why he was there at work or in any other way pry; we just let him know how badly we felt for him and that we’d try not to bother him too much with needless trips back and forth.”

 

“You wouldn’t believe (or, maybe you would) how polite, solicitous, and friendly he then became. In fact, he made so many trips over to check up on us that we had to try and keep from getting his attention.”    

                 

“Dixie simply verbalized her concern and showed him she cared. Not only was she not offended by his attitude, but instead valued him enough as a human being to focus on *his* situation. Consequently, he went above and beyond in trying to please us.”

 

Burg’s “Key Point: As human beings, we have a need to know that people care about us. And, when people show us they do, even — perhaps especially — with no obligatory reason to, we will go out of our way to make them happy.”

 

“It’s just another of those “Laws of Life.” as reflected on by leadership guru, John Maxwell. Maxwell recommends asking 3 questions every time you interact with someone:

 

1. “Do you care about me?”  

“Think back to when someone has done that for you. Did you feel yourself change in your thoughts and feelings toward them? When you’ve done that for others, what were the results you noticed? I’m guessing it changed them, and that you felt pretty darned good yourself.”

 

The world does not revolve around you. Challenge yourself to be more empathetic when encountering someone and see what happens. 

 

2) “Can you help me?”

 

Everyone desires to have an experience they can rave about. 

Since the dawn of time, people have been writing about solving problems rather than listing the features of their products or services. 

  

Who would you rather do business with?

 

·       The broker who tells you about how long his company has been in business, or the broker who assures you that he will help guide you through life to create a comfortable retirement.

·       The dentist who tries to upsell you on every additional service they offer at every visit, or the dentist whose office calls you the evening after a procedure to check in and see how you are doing. 

·       The carpet salesman who just sells you the flooring and installation, or the salesman who stops by on his way home from work to drop off some spot cleaner because he recognized you had a pet and wanted to make sure you were prepared “just in case”.

No one cares what you do. They only care about how you can help them.

 

3)“Can I trust you?” 

 

This is the biggest element. We have all been burned by someone who we thought we could trust and that often times makes us shy away from new relationships and opportunities. 

 

Heartbreaks happen

Disappointments happen

Failures happen

 

You can either assign blame to the person who you feel harmed you and never expand your circle of influence, or you can realize that challenges are part of the game of life, and adding and trimming from your circle is essential to continuous growth. 

 

Are you ready to stop flapping your gums and start listening?

 

 

 

Madeline Frank, Ph.D., is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, concert artist, and parent. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business”. Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold. Contact Madeline Frank for your next live or zoom speaking engagement at mfrankviola@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Management Techniques for Your Business Success by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

What are 5 management techniques that would instantly improve your business? How do you solve your problems at your company?

 

Maxey Jarman was a red headed, shy young man who was intrigued by science and raised to be a devout Baptist. He enjoyed working with radios and cars while attending a public high school in Nashville, Tennessee that had a program in engineering and technology. Maxey also helped start the first radio station in Nashville, WSM. After high school he became a student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, in electrical engineering. As he was finishing his junior year at MIT, Maxey’s father, James Franklin Jarman, asked him to come home to Tennessee and help start a new shoe store, eliminating his previous partner who had done unethical things.

 

His father had Maxey work, for a year as a laborer, in the Nashville plant to learn the shoe business from the ground up. Later Maxey worked in the shoe store of the new Jarman Shoe Company. After 9 years learning the shoe business, Maxey Jarman became President and his father became the Chairman of the company.

 

Maxey saw an opportunity for expanding their shoe business and decided on a logical step-by-step plan of how to do it. He changed the Jarman Shoe Company name to General Shoe Company during the depression and moved into retail. In Michigan, Maxey, “bought a tanning plant”, produced shoeboxes, and supplied his manufacturing plants with chemicals, cement, and finishes. He purchased other companies increasing his shoe line to include children’s and women’s shoes and apparel. He increased profits by selling his products through retail stores General Shoe Company purchased.

In 1959, General Shoe Company changed its name to Genesco, Inc. By 1968, Maxey’s Jarman’s Genesco, Inc. had reached a billion dollars in sales with 83,000 employees worldwide.

Maxey Jarman, President and CEO of Genesco was a devout Baptist who pursued many philanthropic Christian causes. For many years Mr. Jarman taught Sunday School Classes at his Baptist Church.

 

Fred Smith, Sr. came to work for Maxey Jarman at his General Shoe Company when he was 20 years old. Maxey became his mentor and friend for over 43 years. Fred Smith, Sr. became the mentor of Zig Ziglar and Dr. John Maxwell.

 

What are 5 of Maxey Jarman’s leadership lessons that you will want to remember?

1) Maxey Jarman “listened respectfully” and “stressed” clarifying ideas by putting them down on paper. When a problem comes up, write the problem down, and write a solution for solving it! When Fred Smith had been working for Mr. Jarman for 3 months, he came in with a list of problems that he saw at the company. Mr. Jarman said after listening to Fred’s list, “Fred, I want you to take the next three weeks and write out solutions for each and every thing you found wrong.” When Fred returned to see Mr. Jarman, 3 weeks later, he had no solutions to the problems. Fred Smith said, “Mr. Jarman stuck his long finger in my face and said, “We want you here and we want your suggestions, even criticisms, but don’t you ever criticize anything until you have a better way worked out on paper to prove what you say and improve the condition.” Bacon said, “Writing makes an exact man.” Mr. Jarman worked on his personal development by making a list of the things he wanted to work on each year. He would put it in writing so it was specific and clear. In his company he said, “Emergencies were the evidence of poor planning.” He had few emergencies. He was reading to gain new knowledge every day and developing his mind.

 

2)    Mr. Jarman was driven by responsibility, discipline and for getting results. You could always count on him. Mr. Jarman’s ” favorite story was how Jeb Stuart would sign his reports to General Robert E. Lee, “Yours to count on”, (YTCO). When Jeb Stuart wrote it he meant it and so did Maxey Jarman.

3)    Mr. Jarman was always looked for opportunities for the future. He said, “Be grateful for all things.” He told Fred Smith, Sr. “It’s not the plants we have built, but the people we have helped develop that makes me the proudest.” Mr. Jarman was always helping others. He said, “Don’t try to strengthen people in their weaknesses; it’s less productive than utilizing their strengths.”

When someone said something about another executive saying, “He acts like he owns the place.” Maxey responded, “I’m glad he believes that, and I wish everybody here believed it and acted that way.” Fred Smith said, “He wanted everybody to have a genuine sense of ownership because he knew the motivation that develop”.

4)    Before he made a decision he was open-minded. Once he made a decision he was decisive. Fred Smith said, “Mr. Jarman would quickly review a decision when he thought it involved a moral mistake. Once he had the books opened just to give an employee a $2.85 refund because “The question isn’t how much trouble, but do we owe it?” Mr. Jarman was honest, filled with character, and integrity.

5)    Mr. Jarman did not believe in wasting time. He always stayed on the topic at hand and liked people to get to the point and be clear and decisive. His conversations were always business like and stayed on the topic.

What was Maxey Jarman’s mission statement for his company?

“Genesco’s mission is to become the most customer-focused company in the footwear industry, with consistent performance in the top quartile as measured by market share, sales growth, return on assets employed and operating income.”

By following Maxey Jarman’s 5 lessons on leadership you will have a stronger company with happier employees. (C) 2025, 2015 Madeline Frank. 

If you need a speaker/ video speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com

Building Your Solid Foundation for Success by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.

Many years ago, my husband and I purchased a beautiful 2 story home with white shutters, and 4 colonial columns adorned the front of the house.This home was built in 1974 had lush greenery surrounding the drive, and was accented with a lake off the backyard. It was in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Virginia. 

 

This home was not only aesthetically beautiful, but it was going to be the place where we were going to raise our children and create fantastic memories. My family owned a construction company for years, and my husband and I realized that we needed to take care of several issues with the home, but it was going to suit us well. 

 

We bid accordingly, and the sellers accepted our offer. 

 

The outside looked lovely and well maintained. As we walked down the hall, we noticed the floor of the house was not level. As we continued through the kitchen we noticed the floor shifting down slightly. If you dropped a ping pong ball at the refrigerator, the ball would accelerate until it came to rest in the corner of the kitchen. 

 

On the second floor, the closet and bedroom doors didn’t work smoothly. There were also several cracks in the walls and doorways. I knew this all pointed to one problem…the foundation.

 

As we were descending into the damp crawlspace under the home with one of the contractors we were interviewing to repair our foundation, with flashlights in hand and sweat dripping under our hard hats, we recognized the severity of the issues. Many of the posts that were under the support beams were too short and rotted. 

 

Essentially, our house didn’t have the strong bones necessary to hold itself up. If we didn’t take action quickly, our house would be degraded beyond repair. The work that needed to be done wasn’t a beautiful new mantle we could show off to visitors…it was in the bowels of the home. 

 

The company we hired let us know that the repair process would include a bit of short term pain. It would be messy, loud, and expensive…but in the end, our home would be able to withstand the test of time. The company cleaned out all of the bad items that had been there for decades. 

 

One crisp October morning, four strapping young men who looked like body builders worked for five full days rebuilding the foundation. All with the goal of creating the right support necessary to last long after we are gone. 

 

Every day as we walked across floors we felt them becoming more level.

 

     Each step of the way we checked the work with our outside expert to see if we could feel the changes in the structure by walking across the floors and checking under the house each day. You could feel the floor rising and evening out. The doors to the closets and bedroom were now easy to open.

 

It took 5 days to replace the foundation of our 45-year-old house. The parallel between our broken foundation and the foundation of American government is striking. The work reminds me of our sagging government.

 On April 30, 2025 it was President Trump 100th day of office. He gave the Commencement speech for the graduating students at the University of Alabama

 

President Trump said, “that the University of Alabama’s spring graduating class is the first of “the Golden Age of America,”  .. the students could become “the greatest generation” of Americans.”

 

 “You’ve done a lot of winning. Winning is a good thing to do,” Trump told the class of 2025 at the university known for its powerhouse athletic programs. “But today I’m also asking you to look forward to something very, very bright and more promising.”

 

President Trump shared with graduates what he and his team have accomplished in 100 days. Whether it was closing the invasion at our Southern border, protecting women’s sports, rebuilding the military, or repairing the morale of various law enforcement organizations which had been prevented from keeping their communities safe; America was back. 

 

The president was introduced by legendary former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. Trump’s address marks the first time in 18 years that the University of Alabama has brought in a commencement speaker for graduation festivities.

 

The commencement address was not a mere campaign speech. He shared stories, life lessons, and wisdom from others. He spoke about the importance of Common sense.

"President Trump offered almost a dozen pieces of life advice during his Thursday evening commencement speech to graduating students at the University of Alabama.” He inspired and motivated his audience to build and develop themselves and others to help develop and strengthen their country!

 

 President Trump “ suggested to the students not to waste their youth, because success can come at a very young age. “I was 28 when I took my first big gamble to develop a hotel in midtown Manhattan, the Grand Hyatt, and it worked out incredibly well. But I was very young at the time. I was like a very young person in sort of an old-person business.” He also recounted other successful people in business and politics, including Steve Jobs, who founded Apple at age 21, and Walt Disney who founded Disney at age 21.

 

“James Madison, James Monroe, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, they were no older than 25 when they began the journeys that etched their names into the history books for all time,” he said. “So, to everyone here today, don’t waste your youth. Go out and fight right from the beginning from the day you leave this incredible university.”

 

 “I know a lot of people that thought small. They’re very smart. I know others that weren’t nearly as smart, but they had a better picture of the big picture, because it’s just as hard to solve a small problem as a big problem, and it’s just as much energy and everything else except the result is going to be a smaller one.”

 

However, Mr. Trump cautioned the 2025 graduating class not to lose their momentum. 

He told the sad tale of a fellow real estate developer, William Levitt, who became successful and decided to retire too early, sell his business, but later went bankrupt.

 

He recounted talking to Mr. Levitt at a party about what had happened to him.

“I went over and talked to him, and I said, How are you? He goes, ‘Donald, I’m not well.’”

 

“I said, ‘so can you come back?’ He said, ‘No, son, I lost my momentum. I shouldn’t have done it. I lost my momentum.’ And I never forgot that expression. He lost his momentum. If he would have kept going instead of selling and relaxing, he probably would have been three times bigger than he was, but he lost his momentum,” the President concluded.

 

“Other pieces of advice Mr. Trump gave the class of 2025 University of Alabama students were: have the courage to be an outsider, trust your instincts, think of yourself as a winner, be an original, and never give up.”

President Trump shared life lessons through true stories, common sense, doing the right thing, asking questions, and learning from others. He also said be a builder and developer.

 

If you could talk to the 23 year old version of you, what would you say?

Have you let the doldrums of life snuff out the sparks of passions and ideas in your world? You are never too old to reignite them. Embrace the uncomfortable, and get in touch with the 23 year old version of you with their whole lives ahead of them. You do have your whole life ahead. Make it count. 

 

 

 

 

Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, concert artist, and parent. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Business". Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget" is available everywhere books are sold.  Contact Madeline Frank for your next live or zoom speaking engagement at mfrankviola@gmail.com