Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:08] Speaker B: Welcome to life rewritten.
Here we're going to be talking about real stories, real people, real transformation and hope to inspire you to make a new chapter in your story.
Today I'm going to be speaking with attorney Christopher Nudo, who is a very faith based man who practices lawyers in Illinois. Chris is somebody who has really integrated his faith into all aspects of his life. And today he's going to share with us how those two things sort of interwove themselves together.
So, Chris, welcome. Thank you for joining us.
[00:00:46] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:00:48] Speaker B: Thank you. So, Chris, you and I spoke a little bit this weekend and you told me a bit about how you, you know, turned your life over to Christ and you have chosen, excuse me, to live your life in all aspects with Christ at the center. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
[00:01:09] Speaker C: Oh, sure. You know, faith is.
People think of faith and it often gets confused at the term religion and, and the idea of the application of your faith. It just seems like a very overwhelming thing to people. And it was for me. And at the time that I made the decision to let Christ really lead my life, you know, I didn't even know really what I was doing. And I think that resonates with a lot of people. But it was the right thing to do because I had made so many mistakes in my life leading up to that point that I really needed God in my life.
And so once I understood that now I wasn't in control of my day to day, but yet the Lord was.
I started living two lives. A life at work and a life outside of work. And one day I just, it just dawned on me, you know, Chris, you're, you're hypocritical and you're, you're playing both sides of the fence. You're being one person at work and another person outside of work. It's time to dedicate everything in every aspect of your life to the Lord. And that included my law practice.
[00:02:32] Speaker B: I love that. And I love. One of the things that you shared with me yesterday was that you are big on vanity plates on your vehicles and that you previously had a plate that said high vibes, high energy.
High energy.
And it was so important to you that your faith led everything in your life that you went and you changed your vanity plate to say integrity. Integrity.
And then taking it a step further, you renamed your law practice.
[00:03:05] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:03:05] Speaker B: So you really were integrating your faith into every aspect of your life.
[00:03:11] Speaker C: You know, it's, you know, integrity. Right. We talked about. The definition is. The definition of integrity is doing the right Thing, even when people aren't watching.
But that's so impossible to do, right? You can't live a perfect life of integrity all the time. And you're. You're gonna fail, I'm gonna fail. I do fail. And so the more open, the more exposed, the more vulnerable you make yourself, the higher the standard, the bar is that you're going to hold yourself to. So, you know, it's not enough to drive around with a car that says integrity. Now I have to have a workplace that says integrity. And it's all a matter of holding myself to a standard so that, you know, on the road, I'm gonna be conscious when I cut somebody off, because they're gonna see my plate and they're gonna be like, really? And here at the law firm, you know, we're holding a very high bar on treating people the way they need to be treated.
[00:04:15] Speaker B: I love that. And I mean, who wouldn't wanna work with an attorney who is known for having integrity? I mean, so you do wills and trusts and many personal legal matters for people.
If I'm going to be sitting down with somebody, looking for somebody to help me plan out my future, you know, and, and, you know, my children's lives when I'm no longer here, I absolutely want somebody who lives with integrity. And I think that that is so powerful. And it really proves that you aren't just saying that you have integrity.
You're really living your life that way. I love when you say, you know, if you're going to cut somebody off, you're really going to, you know, think twice about that. You know, there are times that I'll be walking somewhere and see a piece of trash and kind of look at it and look away and then be like, you know, I know what the right thing to do is. Pick up the trash and throw it away. So it's not just saying, it's practicing that we. We spoke about. You know, I have been sober over six years, and I had this belief that when I got sober, my life was just going to be rainbows and butterflies, and I was going to be, you know, practicing yoga and hiking and everything was going to be perfect. And I was quickly real. I quickly realized that life isn't perfect when you make a change. So for me, the sobriety is that root in my life that I constantly go back to, you know, and a lot of that is just living with integrity, doing the right thing, being the person that I strive to be. So for you, when you found your faith and you really started to get Deep into your faith, which I believe you told me your wife was the one who kind of pushed you, which is amazing.
Do you find that you're. You still struggle sometimes to be the faith based man that you want to.
[00:06:13] Speaker C: Be every single day? You know, people often confuse faith with. It's like this magic wand, like you said. Would you say rainbows and. Yeah, it's not like that at all.
I like to say that Christ equips you to live with the demons that are really inside of you and they don't go away, just Christ equips you to deal with them. And you know, I've gone through so many struggles myself between now and my 57th year here on this earth and those demons still live within.
But when you apply your faith, when you apply the concept of just do the right thing, no matter how difficult, sometimes it is, like you said, picking up the trash on the side of the road, you know what, everything else seems to fall into place. But that's not going to take away the demons.
[00:07:17] Speaker B: Absolutely.
You know, it's interesting because when you meet somebody maybe who does not practice any faith, I would imagine it's a challenge for you because you want to scream from the rooftops, this will work. This, all you have to do is believe. Right. So how do you navigate when you meet somebody who maybe is struggling?
How do you approach them in a way that's gentle but that encourages them to explore their faith?
[00:07:50] Speaker C: Well, you know, I believe and this is a true statement I think for most parents, and I'm fortunate enough to be a parent, most things are caught, not taught. Right.
So I know it's so cliche, ish, but I mean, it's true when you give examples to people about how easy either you raised your child or I made the mistake, or I used to think like that, I used to act like that. But let me tell you that today, while I'm far from perfect, I've made these changes in my life and the credit really is not mine, it's God's and it's my faith in the Lord and my, my faith in Christ as my Savior that made allows me really to make better decisions. When I can share the personal hardships that I've walked through, the damage that I've done, the regrets that I carry with me, guess what? People hear the similarities in their life and that way I'm not preaching to them about what they need to do, but. But they're really understanding how it applies in their life.
[00:09:10] Speaker B: Absolutely. That is, I love that because I feel the Same way, you know, I have friends who, who still drink, and I know lots of people who drink. And I, I always say I don't judge. I just know that I'm a better human being living the way that I live now because I made a lot of mistakes in the past and I don't judge. I just live and I walk in a different, you know, in a different manner than the way that I used to. But I can relate to people on that level because I've been there. And so for you, somebody who maybe wasn't as faith based as you are now, you can say that to somebody, hey, I get it, or I understand. You know, it's. It's hard to make a change. You know, change is not easy. Change is scary.
We resist what we don't know.
But I would hope that you would be able to get the message across to people that what do you have to lose?
What do you have to lose by just giving, Giving, you know, that faith a chance.
[00:10:10] Speaker C: That's what my pastor said to me back in 1999. He said, what do you have to lose to, you know, let Christ run your life instead of Chris Nudo? And by the way, back then, taking a look at, you know, the mess I had made.
Yeah, good decision.
[00:10:28] Speaker B: You know, I don't know what your mess was, but I genuinely believe that whatever our mess is becomes our greatest purpose in life.
[00:10:38] Speaker C: Absolutely.
[00:10:39] Speaker B: And to me, it's most important to take, you know, the pain, the discomfort, the ugly, the real mess and share that with other people to help guide them so that they're not living in that same ugly feeling, you know, that's right.
[00:10:57] Speaker C: And you know, it's not about the mess that we made, it's the recognition that we are just not capable of living to God's standard. And so if, if once we recognize, and we give ourselves the freedom to, to recognize that we're not going to do it right all the time and we're not going to be perfect and I am going to cut off somebody on road driving a car with integrity plates.
It's just gonna happen.
May have happened this morning, I don't know. You know, now that we have that freedom now, embrace the faith that we have. Embrace the commitment we made to the Lord. Because the Lord is ever forgiving and loves us because he knows every flaw that we have, the ones that we've made, the ones we're going to make, you know, I mean, the ones we'll make as we film this episode.
[00:11:59] Speaker B: Yeah. Would you say that you are a Believer that the statement with faith, all things are possible to be true.
[00:12:08] Speaker C: I do. I do believe that. Now, let's caveat that and say it's not all things possible that Chris Nudo wants. Yes, it's all things possible that the Lord wills. And so as long as it's within the Lord's will, all things are possible.
[00:12:28] Speaker B: I love that. Yeah. And just. And just, I think faith is just practicing the belief that whether you can understand something in the moment or not, or whether you like it or not, you have to have that belief that everything is transpiring as it's supposed to be.
[00:12:44] Speaker C: Amen.
[00:12:45] Speaker B: Yeah. So thank you. We're going to take a quick commercial break and when we come back, we'll continue this conversation. We'll be right back with more stories of resilience and renewal. This is Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television.
And we're back. I'm Vanessa Lagoa and you're watching Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television.
Welcome back to Life Rewritten. I'm your host, Vanessa Lagoa. If you are loving NOW Media TV and all of our shows and you want to stay in touch with, download our free app on your mobile device and on Roku TV so that you can watch us live 24.
[00:13:20] Speaker A: 7.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: We are back with attorney Christopher Nudo and having a great conversation about Chris and his business and his faith. And welcome back, Chris.
[00:13:31] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:13:33] Speaker B: So, Chris, one of the things that I think is really cool that you do is you lead and have led for many years a men's group. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
[00:13:42] Speaker C: Sure, sure.
You know, I've been fortunate enough to have around 12 men in my life that really hold me accountable and help me with work, with marriage, with parenting, with my walk with the Lord. And, you know, while I may be the leader of these 12 men, I believe there is no leader. We all collaborate and hold one another up. You know, I think of the Bible first. The Bible verse, iron sharpens iron. And that's what me and these men do. We get up at 5.
We start meeting at 5am every Saturday morning. And we've been doing this for over a decade. And it is an absolute requirement in our lives. Otherwise, we just see our lives, you know, go off the deep end. We go, we. We start to regress into the men we don't want to be. So this men's small group is absolutely a pillar of my life.
[00:14:53] Speaker B: That, that's really cool. And, and I feel like men, especially women, it's, it's very Normal for us to get together, to talk to, to guide each other. But unfortunately, I feel like our society sort of, you know, doesn't encourage men to do that as much. So I love hearing about groups like that because men who live their lives that way with integrity, with faith, in my opinion, really will change the world.
You know, you're leading not just yourselves and, but, but your families and, and, you know, then your children grow out and are more in tune with themselves and are better able to lead in their lives as well.
[00:15:36] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:15:37] Speaker B: Yeah. And I think having that collaboration is so important and to never feel alone.
[00:15:44] Speaker C: Because when you are big key, that's important.
[00:15:47] Speaker B: And when you're struggling and you talk about it oftentimes, like we talked about earlier, you're going to come across somebody who says, hey, man, you know, I've been through the same thing. Let me tell you what worked for me.
And to have that camaraderie is. Is just so important in life.
[00:16:05] Speaker C: It is, it is to, you know, you never want to think that you've arrived in your walk with the Lord, pretty much in anything in life, whether it would be your business. You. You never arrive. Everything is about moving your fe.
Taking the next step forward. And, you know, men, it's no surprise to anybody watching this. Men are broken vessels, but yet the Lord has called us to lead.
And so we take this vessel and we commit it to the Lord. And then we get with other men, we just recognize our vulnerabilities and we help hold each other up. And when we all come together like that, first of all, it's very honoring to the Lord. And second of all, it really helps equip us with our families.
[00:17:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:04] Speaker B: And, you know, I. Many people will say that if you keep to yourself what has worked for you so well, it would be selfish and it would almost be a disrespect, you know, to God.
And so by you, you know, leading these groups, living your life this way and guiding other men especially, you're really honoring your God.
[00:17:28] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:17:28] Speaker B: You know, and you're, you're being of service. And I think that the most important thing, in my opinion, to lead a wholesome life is to be of service to others. So you're certainly doing that.
Chris, if somebody wants to get in touch with you either, you know, for some help in their faith or in business, how can they get a hold of you?
[00:17:47] Speaker C: You know, our website, integrity law.com, i got to hear behind me is the best way, because there you can have a, you have a phone number, you have emails you have ways to text us, you know, all the traditional means in which to get a hold of us, and that's the fastest way to reach me.
[00:18:12] Speaker B: Okay, let me ask you this. If you walked into your practice tomorrow morning, sat down, and you were going to design a perfect day, what does that day look like for you in terms of your clients or the type of work that you're going to be doing?
[00:18:27] Speaker C: Oh, so I absolutely love estate planning. And I, I, so I love when a client walks in. It could be a married couple, could be a single. It doesn't matter.
And they say, kris, I have a vision for my legacy, but I don't know what that looks like. And, you know, so I can sit down with them and I can first explain, you know, you know what, estate planning is really a love language, because what we're going to. About to do is we're going to put together a series of documents that, that really expresses your heart to your family or your loved ones when you've died, and that we're going to put it together in such a way that we're going to make it easy for the people who are suffering the loss because you've died. We're going to make it very efficient. We're going to try and consider whether or not there's any twists and turns that we have to put into it, because we have a child who may not manage money well, or we might have a child with a disability, or we might be very philanthropic. And there's, you know, 12 charities that we want to include in your final disposition when you die. And, oh, I could go on and on and on. I just love the idea of sculpting and planning for, you know, when we, we all die. And leaving that legacy, moving that forward is just what I love to do.
[00:20:08] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, you're, you're giving families a sense of security.
And I would imagine that as heavy of a topic as death may be, we know two things are certain. We will pay taxes and we will die. And so these are certainties. And you're helping.
I feel like you're sort of taking the, the burden and the, the heaviness out of the planning.
[00:20:31] Speaker C: We try, we try very hard to do that.
[00:20:33] Speaker B: And it sounds like the way that you're doing it, with integrity and with honoring what's important to people, is really built right into your practice, which I don't know that that's all too common.
[00:20:44] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, I always tell people, listen, when I'm done, we better have expressed your family's values in everything that we put together. I am not about just generating documents. You, you know, I'm not just about, hey, people are like, can I just have a will? Well, you can go on legal zoom and you can get a will.
That's not a thing that we embrace. What we embrace is our will or our trust or our documents we put together are going to be crafted with your family's values and what you want accomplished in mind. A very different process.
[00:21:24] Speaker B: Right.
Well, and you're, you're really looking at each family individually and you're really, like you said, you're crafting something for them that eases their mind. And I think that's a really beautiful thing. And like you said, anybody could go online and type in, you know, like a mad lib, add in their own. But you're, you're implementing it in a way that I think is really unique and special. And I would imagine that sets you apart from, you know, competitors.
[00:21:54] Speaker C: Yeah, I'd hope so.
[00:21:56] Speaker B: Yeah, it certainly sounds like it.
So, Chris, what's next for you? What's your next chapter look like in life?
[00:22:03] Speaker C: Oh, my next chapter. So that. That is such a great question. So, you know, I don't look at. And, and I, I love the title of your show, Life Rewritten, because I don't look at things ending. I look at every end as a beginning chapter.
And this past January, just six months ago, when we rebranded my firm for to be Integrity Law, that was yet another beginning. And we're so excited for the.
The way that people are embracing the new brand, the way the community here in Chicago is really encouraging us with the new mergers and acquisition team that we brought on board and all the estate planning and real estate and just really exciting things going forward. We're trying to get that message out that we're different. And if you're looking for that difference, come check us out.
[00:23:10] Speaker B: Yeah. And Chris, you are so clearly living your life based on your personal brand, and that's transferring into your business, and that is so wholesome to see. I really think that it sounds like anybody who would work with you would really be in good hands and be with somebody who is going to lead with the heart and lead with all the best intentions, and I love that.
I really think that the world could use more Chris's.
[00:23:43] Speaker C: More broken vessels that are just trusting in the Lord, you.
[00:23:47] Speaker B: Know, and, and you look at it that way, and I look at it almost in the opposite, that you're not broken at all. You're perfect just the way you are, and you're doing exactly as you're supposed to be doing. And when you're faltering, you're finding your way back up and you're continuing on the path that feels most authentic to you.
[00:24:03] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:24:05] Speaker B: That is.
That is something that if you continue to give to this world, it will continue to bless you.
[00:24:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:13] Speaker B: Chris, thank you so much for being a guest today. We would love to speak with you again and keep going out there doing what you're doing.
[00:24:20] Speaker C: Thank you, Vanessa.
[00:24:22] Speaker B: Thank you, Chris. We'll be right back with more stories of resilience and renewal. This is Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television. And we're back. I'm Vanessa Lagoa, and you're watching Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television.
Welcome to Life Rewritten, where real stories spark real transformation.
Sometimes life might make you feel like you're stuck in a bad chapter, but the good news is you can always rewrite your own story.
Today we have Nora Amalsri, an amazing woman who is a leader, who is somebody who has dedicated her life to giving back.
And I am honored to be speaking with you today. So welcome, Nora.
[00:25:02] Speaker A: Thank you for having me. Vanessa, it's my pleasure to be here on your show. And congratulations for the show. I'm so very excited to listen to you and watch you every week.
[00:25:12] Speaker B: Thank you so much. Likewise.
So, Nora, I love speaking with other women who have dedicated themselves to giving back to others. So can you tell us first, what is the most important thing that drives your life and your business and your personal life?
[00:25:33] Speaker A: Sure. So it's always the mission, like the purpose behind it.
When I started my career, I really didn't feel like I like anything I'm doing because I did not find the purpose behind anything until I started working with nonprofit.
I loved it, and I did not know why I thought that I like working with nonprofit. I love working with nonprofit because I'm originally from Syria. And when the Syrian revolution started it back in 2011, I found myself there in nonprofits.
So I, for a longest period of time, I thought, it's nonprofit. But then when I started my business back in 2021 and started noticing that, really helping other business owners, other entrepreneur to live up their dream to be able to provide to their family, that was always also fulfilling me and giving me purpose. So technically, I came to a conclusion like, okay, you don't have to be a nonprofit to.
To love what you're doing, to give back or to find a purpose. It's really, you can find a purpose with anything because There is no service if there's no need for it. There's no product if there's no need for it.
So you're providing a benefit wherever you are. Being a mom, being a father, being a friend, being an entrepreneur, being a service provider, whatever that you're doing, if you find, find the purpose behind it, the why you'll be giving back, like, and you will find yourself. Most people who are really successful, they find yourself giving more than they will take. So technically you have to take, to take a compensation on your service or especially if you're in business.
So but if you are giving more than you take, technically the value you're providing, you're making your clients or customer feeling better or they can trust you, you took the burden away from them. So all of that, that means that you're giving more. So you're giving more even when you are compensated. So it's not only when you're giving something for free, it's you are not compensated. Also sometimes you're taking compensation, but you still can be giving in that because you're providing so much more value than you're getting paid.
[00:27:57] Speaker C: Right.
[00:27:58] Speaker B: One of my favorite quotes that I sort of live my life by is that you need to be living in purpose on purpose.
[00:28:07] Speaker A: I love that.
[00:28:08] Speaker B: Yeah, I love that because it, it reminds us that, you know, there's a reason for what we're doing and if we're living, you know, purposefully, we're always giving back. And it sounds like that's something that you're doing.
So you started your career off in the corporate world, is that correct?
[00:28:25] Speaker A: Correct.
[00:28:26] Speaker B: Correct. And you were just not feeling fulfilled, you were not feeling, did you feel like you had a job and a career but not something that was aligned with what was important to you?
[00:28:38] Speaker A: Yeah, I was, I didn't know. I went back, I went to school, to business school because I just, you know, I just went to business in school. I didn't have any purpose behind it. I didn't know what I'm going to do with it. And then when I moved to America, I became a single mom very early on. I was 25 years old and I had to get a job, full time job. So to provide to my family, that was the only purpose behind it. But I didn't really feel like what's behind the service itself, what I'm doing, how is that impacting other people life? How is that? So I didn't feel like there's any fulfillment in that. Like I just wanted to do my job and go back to my kids, to be able to provide to them, to keep the custody and to provide for myself. That's the only thing way, the only reason I was working. But I really hated at my job because I just didn't find the purpose behind it.
[00:29:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
So can you tell us a little bit about your journey from living in Syria to coming to the United States? And I can imagine that there were some serious struggles there. You said you were a single mom to I assume learn the language and the culture. So can you tell us what life was like then?
[00:29:53] Speaker A: Absolutely. So when I came, I came here, I came out of excitement. Like I got married to my ex husband, which is my kid's father.
And we got married after our wedding with two days, three days. We, we moved to America because he was doing his residency here.
He's a medical doctor. So we came, I came with him and then we stayed less than three years together.
I had two kids at that time, very quickly.
So. And then we got, we got divorced like with less than three years. And I found myself alone. I found myself like are not able to pay the rent at that time. I didn't even have a work permit. That was very difficult to.
To do anything because I graduated straight, came here and then there's no work permit, there's no way to find a job. And I, it wasn't priority because I had like. I just had two babies and did not have any family here. So it's not that easy to take care of them. So when I found myself, okay, now we're going through the divorce, we. We got separated and I have to care about the kids, go to court and find a job and then make sure I am taking care of my kids and myself. It was quite a journey, but it was a great journey. It was sad. It didn't look. It did not sound great when I was going through it, of course.
[00:31:20] Speaker B: Right.
[00:31:20] Speaker A: It felt terrible.
But now looking back, I know I did not regret any part of it because that what made me me right now. Otherwise I would be just, you know, maybe I don't know where I'd be. I would be just like going living just ordinary life. Like I feel now. My life is much. Has much more excitement, has more fulfillment. I am a lot more stronger.
My kids are a lot more stronger because of that as well.
[00:31:50] Speaker B: Well, you know, our greatest struggles and our greatest pain often become our purpose. And it looks like you have certainly integrated, you know, your. What's important to you into your business and into your life. So when we come back from our commercial break. I hope we can go a little bit more into what it is that you do and how you give back.
So stay tuned. And we'll be right back. We'll be right back with more stories of resilience and renewal. This is Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television. And we're back. I'm Vanessa Lagoa and you're watching Life Rewritten on NOW Media Television.
Welcome back to Life Rewritten. I'm your host, Vanessa Lagoa. If you're loving NOW Media TV and you don't want to miss an episode of Life Rewritten or any of your favorite shows, be sure to download our free app at Now Media TV. You can also watch on our website at Now Media TV 24 hours a day.
So welcome back, Nora.
It's been a pleasure getting to know you and talking to you a little bit about your faith and some of the struggles that you've been through.
Before we continue on, if our guests are looking to get in touch with you, what is the best way for them to do that?
[00:33:06] Speaker A: So they can go to my website, www.nurasbooks.com don't forget the S's. It's N O U R a S B o o k s.com and they can slash if they get go to contact us they can book a zoom meeting with me.
[00:33:23] Speaker B: Awesome. So Nora's books.com so could you tell us a little bit about why Nora's books and a little bit about the books that you have written.
[00:33:33] Speaker A: See, I've written books, but it's Nura's books because of bookkeeping.
[00:33:39] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:33:40] Speaker A: So a lot of people think when I first say notice books, they think oh, what, what type of books? And they think I'm bookstore or something.
But it's actually because of bookkeeping and bookkeeping is thing that every business owners need.
So when I first started my business, I wanted to start a bookkeeping company.
So I was searching for name, what should I name it? And then like always my two consultants before I got the coach where my kids, they are now 22 and 23 years old. So they're young adults. But, but when I started notice books they were in school. So we were talking and then I decided to okay, let's do nourish books.
And I just, I hired a coach right after that. Like after I just said the business, I'm like okay, let me hire the coach. Because I wanted to start online and I didn't know how to bring clients.
So when I'm as I was asking my coach a Question. I started with I only want to do bookkeeping, not taxes. And she, before I even continue, she said why not?
And I was like, why not? Okay, let me try.
So I started doing taxes. I went from my enrolled agent exam and for those people who don't know what enrolled agent is there, we have three exams we take through the irs.
We go to the examine center and like you know, take those three exams like personal tax law or individual tax law, business tax law and representation. We take all these exams and we have to pass them. We have to do continuing education and all of this to be able to represent the clients in front of the irs. Now you don't have to represent the client in front of the irs, but you can, you can also do all other things.
So in numerous books we do right now tax prep, tax analysis, tax planning, CFO services which comes with bookkeeping, sometimes, sometimes without. So we have few levels of services. But my main focus and my team also all, we all focus on one thing. Anything we do, we focus on how to reduce your tax liability as a business owner and as an individual.
So if we're doing your bookkeeping, if we're doing your taxes, we want to make sure you pay the minimum amount of taxes that you have to pay without being illegal legally. Like so we use tax strategies. We offer a complete service that is focused on tax strategies.
So this is our focus and the business now like it's just keep growing.
We, we are more than, I would say like six, seven team members like between contractors and team employees and myself.
And we do work with our clients with care and we want to make sure like our core value is met with every single client.
So yeah, we, I love working with my team on this. And speaking of the books, the book I wrote, I, I, I wrote a book, solo book and then I wrote a chapter in a book, okay, there's a chapter on tax strategies for business owners for small businesses. Tax strategies for small businesses. I wrote estimated taxes and F bar. That was in one chapter. That's the chat. It's very educational for business owners. And there's other 12 tax accounting test and accounting professionals who wrote in other chapters in other topics.
And then the book that I wrote and it was a best selling in Amazon Back in 2024, it was for nonprofits because I have still have like a self placed for nonprofit. It's called how to Start, manage and prosper or with a nonprofit. They're available on my website, they're available on Amazon and Amazon is faster than me obviously. So you can, but it's just like helps people. How is it is nonprofit good for you? If you are a nonprofit, how to make sure you are in compliance. So I want to make sure if you read it, it's going to open a lot of boxes in your brain to say hey, oh, okay, I've been doing this. Have we been doing that? So it's really easy to read. I share parts of my story to it in the, in the book and how I got into my non profit.
So yeah, it's a lot of. It was a lot of fun to write it just because like okay, I need a lot of non profit cannot afford being consultants cannot afford today for a lot of things.
So especially those who do not take it seriously yet like not in their mind their mind like they're taking it very serious. But what I mean like they're not taking seriously. They're not not treating it as a business because when it comes to non profit and you do not treat it as a business, you're not taking it seriously. So I wanted to have an easy access for them so they can get into to that document, to that book and read through it so they can protect themselves, protect their nonprofit and be able to hopefully raise a lot more fund than they think they can.
[00:39:15] Speaker B: Well and it, it's so important like you said to be able to.
You're somebody who is going to respect the law. Somebody's going to know that when they're working with you, you are in compliance with the IRS and you know, loophole, not loopholes but you know, ways to you know, get more money for your clients.
And why is it so important for you to work.
[00:39:41] Speaker A: To work with nonprofit? Because there's a lot of things only non profit can do.
There's also a lot of funds, a lot of access to money only non profit can get.
So having a non profit, if you have the heart for it, if you know how to manage it or willing to learn how to is really important for our society for locally and globally. Because a lot of companies they're required to do social codes the other stuff. A lot of funding in the government and in other corporation everywhere like it's required to be giving to 501c3 which is the non profit exempt status also as a tax as, as a taxpayer. If you donate to the non profit that is registered in the US with a good standard or, or with an active status that is not revoked because a lot of them get get their status revoked, you're gonna get tax benefits. You can donate up to 60% of your adjusted gross income, which is a number that on the first page of your taxes, like after deduct after some deductions, you can donate up to 60%.
And so you get you as a tax there get control of your money. So you donate to a certain cause that you want to support with the people who you want to support.
And then nonprofit has a lot of flexibility of doing a lot of things, yet they have a lot of regulations.
So if the people who manage the nonprofit they are managing get responsibly, they're doing the right thing.
You're going to that all you know, we will be better, better globally, we will be better socially, we'll be better in many things. Because non profits can do help the government and help the business. So that's they are the mediator.
But whoever takes responsibility of those non profits or managing any non profit, they need to know that they are just as a biz, as business, as other business owners. It's just like tax designation, if you will to say it's like there's an escort there, an LLC there is a nonprofit.
So that's how I see nonprofits. And that is the nonprofit who can really win and be successful. Because how many Nonprofit? There's almost 2 million nonprofits in the U.S.
but very, very few those who are succeeding.
So if you want to succeed, if you want to like really win in nonprofit, you want to manage it well and then everyone is going to be looking for you and they would want to support you.
[00:42:30] Speaker B: Right.
Why is it so important for you to educate, especially women? Because I know you do that you spend a lot of your time educating women on how to grow their businesses and how to be secure in their finances. Why is that so important to you?
[00:42:47] Speaker A: Because I've been a single mom before. I've seen also a lot of women who stayed and through a very bad relationship for financial security. And I just hate to see that and I hate to see a woman signing their tax returns even though that was me one day.
They don't understand anything of it.
[00:43:10] Speaker C: Right.
[00:43:10] Speaker A: And you are responsible for doing that.
Even if your relationship is really great and you're staying on it. And that's what we hope to see with most people, all people. But it's, it's going to be impossible to see it with everyone. But we want to see many homes like they, they are great. They're having the great family, great relationships. But we die in this world, right? Like we're not going to stay here forever.
So I remember back when I went through my first divorce.
There's one, two of my people I know from Syria. One, she was, she was, she's older woman and she got divorced after like her entire life.
And her entire life was just serving the family, taking care of her kids. And now she has nothing because she didn't have work. And another one, her husband, amazing husband, but he just did not wake up and she had to take care of four kids.
She did not have work, she did not have education.
So that's why I want really like to see everyone. Women can be financially free, independent because this is the only way she can protect herself, protect her family. If the husband cannot work for a certain time, she can support they. She should be one of the, you know, she shouldn't stay in a relationship unless she wants to. She doesn't have to. I don't want to see a woman who has to stay in the relationship. You should be able to select to be in the relationship. You want to be in the relationship because you love your husband, because he's great, good to you, you're good to him. Not because, oh financially you're going to be screwed like if you're not staying there. That's why it's very important to me. Like I don't, I don't want to see women who making excuses like why she might be in violence or being disrespected just because she needs to be to, to live somewhere and to have food on a table.
[00:45:17] Speaker B: What would you tell the woman who was in a relationship that maybe was maybe not violent or dangerous, but unfulfilling and she was worried about her finances?
How would you guide her with your faith as well as with financial security? What would you, what would you tell her?
[00:45:42] Speaker A: Sure, I would say first without before taking any decision about your relationship. Because we tend to reflect. So if there is any security inside us, maybe we reflected into the relationship, maybe we are happy with the relationship but, but we're not happy with ourselves. So first do the first step within you. Like learn something, start, find a job. Or even if you cannot go outside, outside of your home to work. There's so many opportunities what you do from home, like you don't need to do any, you don't need to step a feet outside your home if you can't but find something to do. You generate yourself money, learn something new and start like putting yourself out online, but learning stuff.
Join other women group. And before you take any decision about your relationship, consider seeing therapists, couple therapists. Even if your spouse do not Agree on that, because I know a lot of husbands, they don't like therapy.
But if he loves, likes, if he doesn't mind it, like, then, Leo, both of you go there. If he doesn't want to go, that's fine. Start with yourself. Right? And often you might find yourself really be able to be able to overcome any burden, but you will also be able to find out, oh, okay. Really, maybe this is not the right relationship. So. But don't make it. And maturely, like, take your time with it, because you're already in it.
So take your time and start with yourself, and then you can decide.
[00:47:29] Speaker B: Right? No, I totally agree. And I think that sometimes it's easier for us to place the blame than it is to, you know, accept that maybe we need the work.
[00:47:41] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:47:43] Speaker B: I know that you clarified that Nora's Books is your bookkeeping service, but that you have written a book and written a chapter in another book. Are there any other books that we can expect from Nora?
[00:47:55] Speaker A: Not at the moment. At the moment, like, I'm focusing on really building my firm, like, to be stronger, to be really.
It can work without me. Then I'm gonna start, like, okay, thinking about the books now. And also, like, I'm doing the TV show, as you know, like, I have echoes of impact.
[00:48:16] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:48:17] Speaker A: Every Tuesday at 5pm Saheera on Now Media. So it's, like, taking a lot of my time. So I don't think there's anything coming fast. But you don't know, like.
Because I can decide like this sometimes and, like, oh, let me do this. But I don't see it yet, so. But eventually it will happen, but I don't think it's going to be soon.
[00:48:38] Speaker B: Well, it sounds like you have a really powerful story of transformation. I mean, just coming to the United States alone, I think is a story.
And then coming and rebuilding and rebranding your personal self and your business.
You know, I always say that I think if we have a story to share, we keep it to ourselves.
It's a selfish thing to do and to share that story, you know, you may inspire another young woman who may be looking to make big change in her life.
[00:49:14] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:49:15] Speaker B: That story in you, when the time comes and offers itself up a little bit more freely, maybe that's a story that the world would love to read.
[00:49:27] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:49:28] Speaker C: I.
[00:49:29] Speaker A: This is one of the thing I want to write about, actually, my story, and I do have some drafts, like, started writing, like, points in my life and story bank and stuff. So one day, like, I'll be writing, but I believe there's a lot more to my story to come.
[00:49:46] Speaker B: Well, you know, I, we're always rewriting chapters in our story. So, you know, one of the last questions I would have for you today.
[00:49:54] Speaker A: Would be.
[00:49:57] Speaker B: If your book, your life was a book, what's the next chapter titled?
[00:50:06] Speaker A: I love the question.
So it'll be Rising.
[00:50:17] Speaker B: I love that.
I love that because it shows that you're, there's so much more life to live. And you're, you're rising, you're, you're on your way. And you know, we've never arrived. Right. We're always going somewhere. And so I really want to thank you for sharing part of your story and your business and your faith with us. I think you are certainly a light in this world that many women especially can be guided by. So thank you for taking the time to share with us today.
[00:50:49] Speaker A: Thank you so much, Vanessa. It's, it was my pleasure being here with you today.
[00:50:52] Speaker B: Thank you. Thank you to all, all of our viewers, and we look forward to seeing you. Next time on Life Rewritten. Have a great day.
