A conversation with Nancy Taylor, founder of Taylor Educational Advocacy. Nancy has helped thousands of families create and implement effective plans to ensure their children succeed.
In this episode, I speak with Nancy Taylor, founder of Taylor Educational Advocacy, a former school psychologist, and a dedicated coach for parents and families. Nancy shares her powerful midlife reinvention story—from working within the stressful school system to creating her own business that allows her the freedom, balance, and autonomy she values most.
Nancy opens up about the importance of redefining success as a woman in midlife, shifting from external validation to pursuing autonomy, creativity, and meaningful impact. Her story offers inspiration for women navigating life transitions, whether that’s a new career, an empty nest, or rebuilding after divorce.
If you’re ready to step into the next chapter of your life with courage and clarity, this episode will give you the insight and encouragement you need.
Nancy Taylor is the founder of Taylor Educational Advocacy, where she helps families create effective, personalized plans so children can thrive in school and beyond. With more than 30 years of experience as a school psychologist and administrator, Nancy has guided thousands of parents, students, and educators through complex challenges. In midlife, she courageously transitioned out of the traditional school system to launch her own advocacy practice—allowing her to design a career aligned with her values of balance, autonomy, and purpose. Today, Nancy combines her expertise with her passion for coaching, helping families, young adults, and women in transition discover strategies that work and pathways that inspire.
Key takeaways:
💡Redefine Success on Your Terms: Midlife is the perfect time to evolve your definition of success—from chasing external validation or job titles to prioritizing autonomy, creativity, and joy in daily life.
💡 Your Past Doesn’t Limit Your Future: Even if you started in a stable but unfulfilling career, you can pivot in midlife. Nancy’s story shows that it’s possible to transition from a traditional system into building a meaningful business that aligns with your values.
💡 Balance Matters More Than “More”: It’s not always about earning more money—it’s about wisely balancing money, time, and energy to create a life that truly reflects what you value: health, family, and meaningful contribution.
Get in touch with Nancy:
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Get your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook: Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.
Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.
Laura Rotter: [00:00:00] What does it really mean to evolve financially, professionally, and personally throughout life's many transitions? My guest today, Nancy Taylor, has lived that evolution in a way that will truly resonate with so many of us in midlife. With over 30 years of experience as a school psychologist, administrator, and now educational advocate and coach, Nancy has built a career rooted in helping children and families thrive.
But just as importantly, she's made tough decisions to step away from roles that didn't serve her health or her joy, bravely reinventing her professional life to align with her values. In this conversation, Nancy shares her reflections on money. The lessons about work and integrity should absorb from her parents and how she and her husband learned [00:01:00] to balance ambition with family commitments.
She opens up about the exhaustion that came with climbing the ladder, why she ultimately chose autonomy and flexibility, and how she defines success today. Not by titles or possessions, but by meaningful impact, time with loved ones and space to nurture her own wellbeing. If you are a woman in midlife contemplating your own next chapter, whether that's a career change, retirement, or reclaiming your time, Nancy's story will inspire you to see new possibilities and remind you that it's never too late to evolve into a life that feels both purposeful and sustainable.
Please listen.
narrator: Welcome to Making Change With Your Money, a podcast that highlights the stories and strategies of women who experienced a big life transition and overcame challenges [00:02:00] as they redefined financial success for themselves. Now, here's your host, certified financial planner, Laura Rodder.
Laura Rotter: Welcome Nancy to the Making Change With Your Money podcast.
Nancy Taylor: Thank you. It's nice to be here with you and get to get to talk in this format.
Laura Rotter: Yes. I'm looking forward to our conversation. I will start, as I always do with the question, Nancy, what was money like in your family growing up?
Nancy Taylor: So, um, um, for those listening, uh, in full transparency, this isn't the first time I've heard Laura ask this question, um, because we have, um, we found each other in, um, a group of women and, um, have had lots of opportunities to have.
Long conversations. Um, and as I thought about preparing for this podcast, a big word for me is evolve. Um, that I [00:03:00] think, um, I, um, is gonna be, I hope, a theme through what I say today. Um, so when, when. Um, I first thought about this question. Um, I, I thought about the fact that I came from a family that financially didn't have a lot of money.
Um, and, um, and that seemed really to stand out to me because, but, but we really, we didn't have food insecurity. We always had a nice warm home. I always had. Cute shoes from Stride. Right, right. Oh my God. And, uh, El Tears was the store where I grew up. Um, and, um, you know, so I, I don't think that we were, and I think now we know that, you know, the cost of living differences when we were growing up we're just kind of different in terms of people could live more comfortably on less money.
Um, but we didn't have a lot and we didn't [00:04:00] have fancy vacations and we didn't, um, you know, we al I always worked, but when I look back on it, there was so much of value that was going on that wasn't necessarily just about money. We had, I had a wonderful extended family. I had. Um, lots of fun experiences in life.
I learned how to do things. I still look at a, you know, large plastic container and decide, do I have a use for it, be before, before I throw it out? And I, and I don't think that I, I don't really feel like I suffered that much. Like I, I feel like there were times, um, I think it shaped. Decisions that I've made, and there may have been times in my life and that's why that word evolve is in there where it, it put me in a position of making different decisions, but I'm not sure that's where I'm at now.
Thank
Laura Rotter: you. I mean, even from that one answer, Nancy, so much [00:05:00] comes up. First thing I've been thinking about is, again, how comparison. Is a human trait and instinct. So nowadays I'm not so sure that it's necessarily so much more expensive to live, but we're aware of the great amount of wealth that's out there.
And so in comparison, it's hard to feel, um. That were wealthy. And so my question to you is, were you aware now you're looking back and you're reflecting, but at the time were you surrounded by people that had more wealth than you, so you were aware of? You know, having less than others? Not
Nancy Taylor: relative, perhaps some, but not to the extent of, I mean, I grew up in a rural community in, um, Western New York, and so I wasn't in Manhattan or something where I, you know, um, I was perhaps seeing more difference.
But, um, when I went to [00:06:00] college is when it became very apparent to me when the. Girl. Um, I of course worked multiple jobs through college to help pay for it and to make money, um, to do the things that I wanted to do, have the clothes I wanted. And the girl next to me had a picture on her door of a, this was in the eighties of a $250 coat that she wanted and that said, you know, mommy, buy me this before.
Um, and, and that certainly was not. My experience. But now I do have nicer things and I, you know, sometimes what I find is, um, having made those investments, like I don't need to make another one. I keep them, I have a coat, beautiful wool coat that I bought. I, I think I wore in both my pregnancies and my oldest child is 32.
Like, and it still, it still looks lovely. Like no shoulder pads that you had to take out? Oh, no. Maybe it's a little younger than I thought it was, but, um, um, but you [00:07:00] know, you, um. You, you know, I, I've never been someone who has, um, been motivated by, um, I'm fascinated by the Birkin culture. Um, it's not something I've ever been interested in spending the money on.
Um, we could all make choices and buy whatever, you know, buy things and then not have something else. But it's not something that, it's not something that attracts me.
Laura Rotter: Thank you. I, um, so I hear of course, that you went to college. Was education something you always knew would be emphasized?
Nancy Taylor: Yeah, I, that's certainly my parents, um, neither of them had the opportunity to go to college and it was very much, um, um, sort of not even a given, not even a, a question that that was what we were preparing for.
Um, I was, um, a good student. Um, and, and have always loved learning. So the [00:08:00] opportunity, I, I don't think I, I ever thought about not going to college.
Laura Rotter: So you and your siblings were first generation college?
Nancy Taylor: Yes. I had, I had other relatives, um, um, aunts and uncles who'd had that opportunity, but my parents had not.
So, um, and they were, um. You know, both in their own way, um, very self-made. Um, my father ran his own business and, um, he worked in the trades. He taught himself how to do all those things. Um, he was, um, you know, probably not quite as rough around the edges as some of the other people in that work. Um, and I mean, I mean, I meet a lot of lovely people who I always love when they come to my home.
Now I sit and visit with them. Um, um, and my mother, um, always. Had lots of responsible positions. She was at an early age or the, in her twenties, worked in a pharmacy and in the, when she was working in a pharmacy, she was [00:09:00] doing things that a pharmacist would do today. Um, she was an executive secretary for and a company.
Um, and then she, um, you know, probably the week she died, was still working on my dad's books. So they, we were very much taught the value of work and we were taught, um. You know, to, I think to do things well is the other thing. We were taught to do things well. Those are values that have, um, my mother, um, whenever we had to do a speech in school would say, you, you write it up nicely and you put it in a folder and you hold the folder when you speak.
So, you know, I, I think that's something that's carried through. I mean, I, I have notes prepared for this because you, when you do something, you prepare.
Laura Rotter: I love that. And I, I, I also hear in that, um, that your mother was encouraging you to take pride in your work. That there's [00:10:00] no task that's too little. Um, or too negligible to do well and to prepare for,
Nancy Taylor: yes.
I'm not sure it was necessarily pride, um, that you were supposed to be walking around full of yourself, um, after you accomplished it. Um, but maybe more to feel, um. The joy and pleasure of a job well done. Um, and, um, you know, that, um, that there was, there was fun to be had from working and, and, um, you know, doing things well, doing things for
Laura Rotter: others, bring others joy.
I love that. And I, I just wanna say to our listeners, because Nancy, I do know you well. You are someone who. Doesn't even think twice about doing something for others and lending a hand and lending words of encouragement. So something I very much That's
Nancy Taylor: so nice. My mother would be so proud to hear that.
Laura Rotter: [00:11:00] So Nancy, before we move on, how did you pay for college?
Nancy Taylor: So, um, I received a, a generous scholarship, um, because of my academic success. Um, and, um, I received, uh, financial aid because of my, um, you know, my parents' income level. Um, and I worked. And I took out loans. Um, so, um, I, you know, I had the responsibility of, um, you know, buying my own books and my spending money, um, um, you know, and, um.
My toiletries. I mean, I took care of myself really once I went to college. Now, I don't wanna say my parents didn't help because they certainly did like, you know, there were things that were paid for. Um, but, um, I, I was pretty [00:12:00] financially independent in managing that. Um, I did for graduate school. The first time I went to graduate school, I did live at home.
Um, so my parents, you know, paid for, supported me and gave me a car to use at that point in time. Um, but I took out more loans. Um, and I, um, you know, I, I, I mean, I, I worked hard and paid them. I paid them back early. Honestly, the interest rate was high. I didn't like that. So I, I committed to it. And, you know, we've always lived.
Pretty well within our means, or at least in a plan A. There was a lot of home equity loans. Hmm. I remember, um, at a time that we were, um, fixing up houses and, and moving houses and it was a good way to you. There was always kind of a financial plan
Laura Rotter: for that. So I'm hearing that you and now, um, you and your husband are very aware, um, of your [00:13:00] finances and very, um, involved in making sure that you're being responsible with your money, which is not something I always hear.
Uh, and, and I feel like that's tied to the lesson that you got from your parents and your mother specifically. You know, I'm imagining sort of an open folder with the, with the numbers and understanding how much is the interest expense and, and what impact that has. And so how you want to use your money, um, and allocate it between your different needs.
So do you feel like that was true about you at a young age?
Nancy Taylor: Yeah, definitely. Um, and I didn't choose a career that paid a lot. Um, so I worked as a, you know, in schools. Um, and my husband got a, we, I married young, um, and we had children young. My husband got a PhD in a field that he didn't end up working in, so he kind of had to build up.
He works in, um, in tech. He has a [00:14:00] PhD in medieval studies. Um, interesting. And he, um, has parlayed that though there's a lot of language in that, there's a lot of logic in that field. Um, and he's also very mathematically gifted. So he has parlayed that into, um, using his communication and his logic skills to be, you know, a real benefit, um, at work.
Um, you know, we, we chose to have a family young for a variety of reasons and, um, you know, we didn't have a lot, so we had to be careful. Um, you know, I was a good bargain shopper. We bought what we needed. Um, we bought, you know, we might've bought an l ll Bean. Um, um. Jacket for a child, but the second child wore it too.
Um, so, um, and I, and I, part of the reason why for me, the, the [00:15:00] school continued to be compelling was, uh, the schoolwork continued to be compelling in addition to liking what I was doing. What is it? Was that it, it, you know, it allowed me to have summers with my children. And, um, with my husband and I sort of working together on schedules and, um, you know, as you know, you become successful in jobs, not school so much, but other jobs, you have a little bit of flexibility sometimes on start time to be available for our children.
So, you know, I think the, that's why I'm saying money, money is a piece, but money has not always been the driver of the decisions because. Um, the acquisition of things was not as important as, um, you know, the, the balance of, of how we wanted to spend our time.
Laura Rotter: Exactly. As I often say, we have, um, in my mind three scarce resources and money, time [00:16:00] and energy, and we are always choosing the trade-offs between.
Three. So, um, thanks for sharing how you've made your decisions. I'm curious how you made the decision. If you could share with our listeners what you meant by, you know, you first started to work in schools, what exactly were you doing? And I feel like did that choose you?
Nancy Taylor: Did you It kind of choose me. Um, I graduated college and I, um.
Um, had not thought enough ahead about what I was going to do, and, um, I found other work that I hated. I, um, and I, there was a new program in school psychology starting up in my local area. Um, and so I. I pitched myself, um, and they were kind enough to give me a scholarship and let me start late. So I worked mighty hard to get through on time.[00:17:00]
Um, you know, taking an overload of courses to make that happen, um, which is always easy when you're young and strong and single.
narrator: Yes.
Nancy Taylor: But I was also someone who was always drawn to children. Um, I. Always had younger cousins that I first started out taking care of. I did a ton of babysitting. I taught Sunday school.
I was always very drawn to, um, to children and I. I was also very drawn to complexity of ideas and, and school psychology really allows for that in a way that is, um, was compelling to me because I, I was, I was doing diagnostics. I was figuring out what was going on with kids and what interventions would work for them that would solve things.
And so the, the work that I now do privately is really. You know, [00:18:00] such an extension, both of the work, first as a school psychologist, and then, um, as I looked for ways to have more impact, I, I became a, a leader in schools. Um, I took an administrative position so that I had a chance to sort of have a larger impact.
Um, so the, so the benefit of. I was always the kind of person who was kind of like stepping back and looking and thinking, what's, what's going on here? Like, what's the hidden agenda here? What are we, you know, are we, does this actually work? If this doesn't work, what should we be doing? Um, so I continued on that path.
Um, um, but it was exhausting. Um, and I continue to kind of, uh, you know, pursue what I consider the American dream and rise in the ranks. Um, and I [00:19:00] found it not. I mean, I found it wasn't good for me. My blood pressure was very high. Um, I, I didn't, I wasn't enjoying it, so I made the decision. Um, and I think there's people who are wonderful at it.
They're wired differently than I am, and they're, you know, there's, there's many people who do a beautiful job of it. Um, but. When I left being a school psychologist, one of the Spanish teachers came up to me, Barbara, I was thinking about her this morning and she said to me, I'm really mad at you. And I was like, why?
And she's like, because you're so good with the kids. And I looked at her and, and I mean, I was inside. I was thinking like, well dude, it's my life. Like, you know, I get to pick. Um, but you know, full circle, I have come back to the kids. I think more in a way that. Um, you know, and I also had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in that role with the adults.
I mean, I always had a lot of interaction with the adults. Um, the [00:20:00] difference in a school. If I could, can I keep, is this all right if I just kinda keep Yeah.
Laura Rotter: I'm curious Actually, I was gonna ask, when you say it was exhausting, I don't know if the, the role of psychologists was exhausting or working within.
A system, and I know
Nancy Taylor: about this, I think it's the, the psychologist role was not, um, necessarily, um, as exhausting as the administrative roles, kind of all consuming. Um, and I still had children at home and, you know, I. I wasn't necessarily taking as good care of myself because I was working 12 hours a day and driving to work 45 minutes and it, it left no time for any quality of life and, and my body was beginning to say to me, what are you doing?
And, you know, I, I think it continues to speak louder to us until we listen. So I, I left without really a, a solid plan of what I was doing and, um, had, had a friend suggest that [00:21:00] I pursue the kind of work that I'm doing now. I took that leap of faith. Um, and about how long ago was this? Nine or 10 years.
Thank you nine years, um, took that leap of faith and started with that person as a referral partner, which was very helpful. Um, and, you know, have really built something that I, that I enjoy. Um, I, I started with just doing, um, just the school advocacy piece and kind of had a framework by which I did that, that I felt was really.
Um, I've always had that, as you talked about in my bio, um, that, that, you know, we have to not only make the school do what we want, but we have to, as a parent, understand and, and engage the child. The research on motivation is so compelling that we, um, if we don't engage children in being part of the [00:22:00] process.
Um, we don't get their help to solve the problems. They're, they're their problems and we don't get their voice. Um, you know, we can do a lot of dumb things to kids if we don't ask their opinions.
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[00:23:00] So, um, I heard a number of things. You've said many times that you enjoy working with children. Now children encompasses a wide diversity of ages. So is there. Number one, a specific age group. And then as you answered that, you're talking about advocacy. And I, I kept hearing when you said it was exhausting.
Um, I wasn't sure if the politics of school systems was exhausting or just the pure administrative task, and so. And now you're doing advocacy, which says to me probably both. Probably, probably a, probably both.
Nancy Taylor: It's, I think it was the, I think it was also, I was in a position where the, um, superintendent was a little unreasonable.
Um, um, having spoken with, you know, knowing what my boss who'd been in the role I was in before had accomplished over 10 years. There were some unreasonable expectations I had. You know, I, I'm the child of someone who ran their own business and. I'm not necessarily the biggest traditionalist. [00:24:00] So I, you know, I was saying to myself before that in life, do I really want to be in the system my whole life?
Like, is that really how I see my story? And this has allowed me to expand. So my favorite age is, you know, it is, I do like children. Now that I am, um, you know, not a, a, a young person myself anymore, um, you know, I think that that age range has expanded, um, because, um, you know, there's lots of people younger than I am, um, that I've been through the experiences that they have.
Um, and my, and my coaching work really, um. Is, um, for, um, like I start that upper elementary, but I even, I do have adult clients as well who are either there interesting for adults, um, or who are there for, for parenting. Suggestions? Maybe a little bit of both. I have some young adult work that I do.
Advocacy work is all ages. Um, and it isn't even really [00:25:00] just advocacy. There's a lot of advising, so I help families with really. Not just, so when, so advocacy is not a protected term. Anyone can say they're doing it. Um, so oftentimes parents will come and say, this is what I want, and then the person will go and get it for them and or try to get it for them.
Not necessarily think they do, but um, I help them figure out do they want the right things? I love that, you know, and again, certainly it still remains their choice, but you know, I have the experience. In schools to help them understand what's gonna move the needle. You know, how do we look at your child at 18 and their readiness?
What are their goals? I was on the, um, texting with a mom of a, a young man I work with today. And, um, my compelling comment to him last week was, um, you know, I'm worried that as you look at your [00:26:00] classes for next year, are you going to be frustrated if you don't take the rigor that your siblings did? You know, I, I think sometimes as an adolescent it's hard to have a perspective outside ourselves and understand our decisions and the consequences of, um, a greater world.
Um, so it's helpful to have someone, you know, it's not my decision to make, but he looked at me, he is like, no, I wanna be able to do what my siblings are doing. I'm like, okay. So let's think about how we get there.
Laura Rotter: You mentioned, Nancy, that of course your experience being in the school system helps you as you advise.
Children, parents, different age groups, um, and a help them advocate for themselves. What other skills particular to you both help you enjoy this work and as you enjoy the work, do it? Well,
Nancy Taylor: I mean, I definitely think it's the, it's the knowledge. I think it's the, um, I have kind of an [00:27:00] agile mind at looking at lots of information and.
Putting it together and finding the important pieces. Um, I, I think so. I've started meditating and, um, um, I, um, for anyone, um, I have no stake in the game in this other than to share, um, what, what's something that makes me happy? I do the Sam Harris Waking Up app.
Laura Rotter: Oh, me too.
Nancy Taylor: And I do it, I think I sent it to you.
Um, and I pitch it to everybody. Not to say you're not important, Laura, but I, I do think it's helpful and, and share it with friends. 'cause you can send a free month to people. And one of the kinds of meditation he talks about is meta meditation, which is sending good energy out into the world. And I, and I was like, uh, okay.
I kind of try and do that all the time. Like, I, I don't people do that. Um, so I, I think I [00:28:00] just appreciate, I like, I like I, you know, lifting other people up. That, that brings me joy. Um, one of the things is I've gotten. Um, older that I've, I'm mindful of, um, is making sure that I include myself in that group of people that I, I do things that, um, you know, I take time to stop and appreciate that and do it for myself as well.
And not that it doing for other people does it, but also. To take time to, you know, walk my dog or, um, I have a pretty pond to sit out this morning and look at it and, um, you know, appreciate the blue heroin when he comes to visit, um, walk with my husband in the woods. So, I, I, I, I, I don't know, I don't know if I answered like, I mean, I, I just enjoy it and I, I think people can tell I, I'm a big aficionado.
Um. When I wrote my [00:29:00] master's thesis, or not my thesis, excuse me, my, my qualifying exams. One of the questions that they ask is, now that you've taken this coursework and you've done the practice work, what do you see as your approach to counseling? And I said that I was a Ian rational emotive therapist, which if there's anyone who's has the, the understanding of that, they're laughing hopefully because they're sort of contrary.
Um, but the way I put them together was. Um, I try and be genuine, show, be trustworthy, and show unconditional positive regard. That's the Rogerian piece. Um, but the rational motive therapy piece is that, um, you know, I I, in that format, I call 'em like I see 'em. Um, and, um, so I, I try and do it and certainly there's a time and a place for that, but, um, I, it doesn't mean I just sit and [00:30:00] listen.
I, I have, I have ideas and things to help you move forward.
Laura Rotter: Yes. And what I'm hearing is as you guide people to make the right decisions for themselves, you are. Pointing out things they can appreciate about what is already transpiring for them. If, if that was the first piece, right, the positives as opposed to going in, and this is very true in my field of like, fix, fix, fix, fix.
Like this is broken licks, fix it. Obviously they're coming to you because they feel like something needs to change and be fixed. And yet. It's important to make them aware of what is already working. Is that, am I understanding that
Nancy Taylor: correct? Well, I think it's the positive way the, the Rogerian piece is more of your presentation in the positive way that you present to them.
Um, but I think that we all have to, yes, there can certainly be. When we look at [00:31:00] problems, um, you know, the re the research is, is that solutions come from strengths. Um, our, our compensatory skills, um, come from finding strategies that work for us. So, um, you know, and, um, and you know, research based, I mean, there's strategies that work for everyone, um, but certainly we always customize them for ourselves.
Um, but. Um, you know, it doesn't work from, um, I don't, um, hand write everything because my handwriting is not great. I type because people can read my typing, so, you know, there is no sense in continuing to spend time on my handwriting. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's not a good use of time. So I'm often saying to parents, at this point in time, I'm honestly saying to parents, I'm interested in your child learning to voice type, because I think that's really where we're all headed.
narrator: Hmm. [00:32:00]
Laura Rotter: Very, very true. You're reminding me of Strength finders, right? Which is a test one can take to see what your strengths are because of the idea that you just shared, Nancy, which is. Identify your strengths and then work on those to make them even stronger as opposed to looking at your weaknesses. And at some point, you're, it, it, that's not, it's, it's often going to continue to be a weakness.
You may sharpen it, but really working on your strengths is a good use
Nancy Taylor: of, and, and you can. And you have to go back to sort of the underlying task. So I was thinking, I don't want anybody to think who doesn't lift weights that I think you can't, um, go to learn how to lift weights if you can't do it now, you know?
Um, it's the underlying skill. So back to the. Uh, penmanship, communicate, uh, computer. The underlying skill we're trying to really accomplish is communication. [00:33:00] Exactly right. So you have to, it's really helping people focus on what's really the goal versus what's the, the manner in which we accomplish it, which sometimes people don't.
They, they don't under sort of, under, they can't differentiate that. There's a lot of, that comes from instructional design and curriculum development, kind of thinking about things that way. What's, what, what are you really trying to accomplish?
Laura Rotter: Thank you. So, Nancy, if there are listeners, um, or thinking, you know, I really could use some help, um, either myself or with my child.
What else do you think is important for them to know about you? Certainly all, all your links will be in the show notes, but about you and your work and who it's best for.
Nancy Taylor: I mean, I, anyone who's invested in working on helping their child. Improve. Um, and I think there needs to be some kind of issue that you're concerned about or is [00:34:00] the, you know, that's usually what brings people to me is their child has some kind of learning difference or attentional issue or social skills issue that they're concerned about them managing.
Um, and, um. You know, I, I take on a number of, of, I, I have clients who, who seek me out and stay with me for varying amounts of time. Um, I have some people who dip in, um, I heard from a mom last week. You know, her, her daughter. Had dys, has dyslexia, uh, we were able to get her extra time, which significantly in high school, which significantly reduced her anxiety.
narrator: Hmm.
Nancy Taylor: Um, improved her grades. She's gotten into the college she wants to get into. Her grades are all a's, that's pretty much all it took. Um, um, but when they'd gone to the school themselves, it had worked interesting. [00:35:00] Um, I have, um, kids I work with over time who, you know, I, I advise their families and help them understand about schools, um, because it, there are issues that require sort of ongoing support.
Um, and, and the schools are, there's many people in schools are good, but the. The demands are high, the resources are low. Um, and, um, you know, often parents say to me, how does anybody do this without you? Like, how do you do this alone? Because I didn't understand half of what they just said. And then the kids that I work with and, and young adults and adults that I work with over time, I mean, I think it's really about.
You know, we're identifying the, the goals that, um, first are the initial problems of practice and then we're sort of looking over time, um, develop both [00:36:00] development wise and what are the next skills to accomplish. Um, so, um. You know, I've got a family that I work with, with a child. We've been working together since kindergarten and we, um, very, very bright, some learning issues and, um, we've done a lot of parenting, um, work on how do I, um, not parent the way I was parented because I didn't like it, and how do I learn the skills and how do I manage that moving target?
That children, um, as you know, um, um, Laura, um, as a mom, as you know, they certainly are that they evolve and there's, um, you know, you just get them figured out and something else happens. Yes. You're like, wait, now what do I do? So, um. So, I mean, I, I think, I think that's, [00:37:00] you know, and, and, and I, you know, I, I, I keep busy.
I'm, I'm, I'm, I keep busy, but I have time to walk my dog and talk with my friends and, um, you know, um, work out and meditate and enjoy life.
Laura Rotter: So I'm hearing you say, Nancy, obviously it still stuck with me when you first started the business, that the woman who recommended became a referral partner. So you didn't go into this entrepreneurial part of your car career with, you know, like, oh, it will just all work out.
You had, you had a plan, you thought about who could help you build the business. 'cause I'm saying that out loud for, um, our listeners who may be thinking about. You know, taking a similar leap of faith, and I'm also hearing that. It has, it allows you to have a, a work life [00:38:00] balance that you didn't have before.
Nancy Taylor: And it allows me autonomy to, um, create a business. That's the, that's the vision that I wanted to be. I've been blessed. Um, I'm gonna, um, my assistant Indy, 'cause I adore her. Um, I won't say her last name 'cause she. She'd yell at me. Love you Indy. Um, very fun. Um, you know, who, um, we're, we're very aligned in our values.
Um, I share, you know, I always share the successes with her because, um, it's, you know, she's so happy to be doing this work for being part of this work for families. Someone every once in a while, someone who I don't know will say to me, gee, can you teach me how to run your, like, they'll just cold email me and say, can you show me how to do what you do?
And it's like, no, I, I mean, I'm sorry, but I, that's not a business model for me. And I. I don't really have the life energy to do it. Um, [00:39:00] what I've started saying to them is that you need to remember that you're running a business. And I, we haven't really talked about that because we've talked about sort of the, the focus of the work.
But, you know, there is a business being run. Um, you know, there's accounting to be done. There's payroll, um, there's, you know, incorporation to be managed. There's, we had a new. Business form that I fi, I don't know. I think we didn't end up having to file, but I filed 'cause I was tired of waiting. And there are these, you know, you're working with clients, so you are, you know, you, you're establishing what your routines are so that you support your clients.
Well there's, there's many pieces to, as you know. Yeah. Um, you've done this as well that are. You know, I, I've tried to be as thoughtful as I can, um, in developing a business as well. Um, and I, and I do, I think I probably say that with a little back to your word of [00:40:00] pride. I do take a little bit of pride in that because I'm certainly not making, you know.
Seven figures in what I'm doing. Um, um, but I'm, I'm, you know, my business is doing well. Um, and it's, it's at the right scale for me, um, and what I want. Um, and we're, and we've continued to do it with integrity. Great word.
Laura Rotter: It's a good word. I'm hearing Nancy, and this is a through line that. You could, as, as I, as I know, running a business, you've put systems in place, processes.
Um, you said you had notes for this conversation, so I'm not surprised that you are aware of the nuts and bolts of running a business where some people may feel, and this is, you know, there's nothing wrong with it. It's true of a lot of entrepreneurs that you're like, I'm just gonna hang out a shingle.[00:41:00]
And I'll meet people and I'll have clients. And that's true at the beginning where you get a handful of clients. But then when you have a prospering business, you need more than that. You need an assistant that you could depend on. You need, um, to be or
Nancy Taylor: referral partners who value you and remember you and appreciate you.
You know, you, you're, my work is, I don't do any marketing. Like it's all. People hearing about me from other parents or, or other, um, you know, clinicians. So, um, you know, it's, um, you know, it's, it's not a, I, I, I haven't, I, I have done things where I've done that and I'd love to do more, um, outreach. Um, it's always like, you know, time as you talked about.
Yes. We only have so much time. Exactly.
Laura Rotter: So as we get towards the end of our conversation, [00:42:00] Nancy, um, I'd like, I always like to explore how your definition of success. Have shifted. I've heard a little bit of it in your comments and, and perhaps even your definition of financial success.
Nancy Taylor: I think it was being successful in an organization, um, and, um, being a good bureaucrat.
Um, that at a certain point, um, and I, I have proudly let that go. Um, and I, and now I define success as more autonomy, creativity, um, flexibility. I have a very, um, millennial Gen Z definition of success. I feel like. Um, and I think they're so wise to look at all of us who. You know, are sitting comfortably in these big houses, we don't want to leave.
And, [00:43:00] um, you know, and saying, I mean, do you really need that much space? You know, um, and, and is that what I wanna be doing with my life? Um, I, um, I want time. I want time to relax. I think that's success. I want time. Um, I am, I may, um, um, he'll never listen to this so I can safely say my son won an award at work the other night, and I was very proud of him.
And success to me was that at 10 30 at night when he called me, I didn't have to say I have to get up at five 30 to get to my big job. Uh, I was able to stay up with him and talk and sit and think about it afterwards and, you know, um, not have, like have I have the time for that? I think success is continuing to find something I'm doing that has value for [00:44:00] people.
I, I was out for coffee with a friend who. You know, we talked about someday when I don't wanna work. She was pitching nonprofit ideas to me that I could do, and I said to her, well, maybe I could do that now. And she lovingly said, no, I don't think you can. Oh, I, I think that, I think that you don't have time and I, I think that would, you know, I know you want to, but I don't think you have time.
So I, um, you know, but I, I. I want to continue to contribute and have value. I think being, being, I think that's the thing. Um, I don't know if you have this thought as we age, like, you know, am I just gonna be sitting in my house doing nothing? Um, is how do I continue to, um, you know, um, I, I, there's a lot that I have to share at this point in time.
How do I continue to, um, both. Have the [00:45:00] opportunity to give it to people and, and help them and have the pleasure of doing that, that that will be what success and, and be to be healthy, to balance that with being healthy.
Laura Rotter: Yeah, so much of what you just said resonates with me. I think we are both lucky to have skills that really help others and the challenge.
Um, that we both have, uh, that maybe you're managing a little bit rather than me, is to, um, also carve out time for oneself so that as we age we can continue to do this work. And whether that's from, you know, where I am, which is learning to delegate better, um. Learning to say no to opportunities that come our way or having friends that say no for us in your case, um, [00:46:00] because the skillset is needed.
Um, in your case, advocating, helping people. Um, deal with struggles and challenges in academics and other learning areas. In my case, helping people deal with the challenges of aligning finances with who we are and, and what we wanna achieve in our lives. And so that's, it's, it's, it's nice to have a skill that is useful.
Nancy Taylor: And, and to, and just to give another idea too, for, for you and anyone else who's sort of in our stage of life. Um, you know, I've, I've taken over the, um, role of, um, I'm, I'm grateful to have given the opportunity to be our volunteer coordinator at our local farm, which is a very vibrant community, beautiful people.
Um, you know, multi-age. The, someone I've spoken to about financial planning said to me, [00:47:00] um, you know, you don't wanna be the Walmart reader when you're 80. And my husband started laughing and he said she kind of does.
So, you know, um, I mean, if that's where life led me that I, you know, I needed to do something. I mean, I, you know, um, if somebody's gonna let me smile and say hi to people. Okay. You know, I mean, I'll be okay with that. Like, if that's all I've got left to contribute, that's okay. Because I will, um, you know, probably have candies in my pockets or dumb dumbs lollipops for the little kids and talk to the regulars and, you know, um, and that's, and that's, and I'm saying that about the farm is, you know, I.
Uh, I, I wanna make people feel welcome. So I think there's ways to take the skillset of the things that bring you joy, even if it's not, um, in your work. And, um, you know, [00:48:00] and, and, and carry it on.
Laura Rotter: Beautifully said, Nancy, I'm, I feel so privileged to have met you and to see you in action with, you know, other women that are involved in our group.
And you're, you're such a giving person of yourself, of your skills, of your emotions, of your, of your emotional support and, um. It, it has really come through in our conversation, so thank you. I,
Nancy Taylor: I can, I feel like I should say some things
Laura Rotter: that I'm not good at
Nancy Taylor: to kind of balance this out.
Laura Rotter: No, no, that's not, that's not your role.
Thank you so much for making the time. Thank you conversation, Nancy. I appreciate it.
narrator: All right. Thank you so much. Thanks for listening to Making Change with Your Money. Certified financial planner Laura Rodder specializes in helping people just like you organized, clarify, [00:49:00] and invest their money. In order to support a life of purpose and meaning, go to www.trueabundanceadvisors.com/workbook for a free resource to help you on your journey.
Disclaimer, please remember that the information shared by this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. It's for information purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.