Good morning,
Investar, Supporting Lender to SCP and group leader of
INVESTAR Lenders saying hello.
I appreciate the opportunity to walk and talk among a group of courteous and thoughtful folks. You guys (and gals) are a refreshing change from the scowling attitudes so prevalent on Pro$pers.org. Keep up that great spirt, good work!
When I clicked "Support" Socorro Capital Partners I did so with great sincerity. I do not support groups haphazardly. On my part, that mouse-click is a serious commitment to that group, their discerning leader and its prospective borrowers.
I especially want to thank 'Deskguy' for
this post. Very insightful, good legwork!
Since I happen to have a relevant bio-snippet handy, I'll close with that....
'Investar' is no stranger to financial support and fervent advocacy of others. No lender is infallible but I believe I have a gift for identifying things that 'sit well' or 'don't sit well'. This I obtained during my time doing one-on-one financial mentorship. I know how debtors think, what they'll say, how they look at things, and what that pile of messy paperwork they dragged with them to Prosper actually looks like.
For several years I engaged in intense one-on-one financial counseling with individuals plagued by poor household budgeting and negative cash flow. We sat together weekly. I loaned them whatever was necessary to keep them treading water and they began living on the severely strict budget we created together.
I took possession of their credit cards, held their checkbook and began paying their bills on time. I pacified bleating creditors, negotiating on their behalf. I showed them how to effectively manage money even when there wasn't enough. I had experience, had done the same for myself back in the day when I was in trouble.
Each week the 'client' received a green envelope containing their budgeted cash allowance for the next seven days. Without fail, they also received a handwritten 'smiley face' note of encouragement about their circumstance and the virtues of our progress as a team. These were sometimes hard to write. Progress was not always evident.
Without exception, my proteges said those smiley notes were more anticipated, more cherished than the cash ever was. That in itself was a triumph. They were seeing for the first time that money management is a necessary part of life but properly attended, not its consuming focus.
With Power of Attorney on their finances and 2, 3, 4 thousand of my own money invested in them, I practically owned their souls during the course of the eighteen to twenty-four month program. It was intense. My 'clients' and I met with varying degrees of success from disappointing to thrilling. It was a learning experience on both sides of the table and I enjoyed the challenge.
But times change. My present circumstance does not provide the countless hours that endeavor required of me. I have elected Prosper as a suitable surrogate for a worthy cause. Together we will help those who are motivated and able to make the changes in their financial lives that will move them forward and upward.
