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Last week in New York, in the company of about 20 female social networkers, I sat down to breakfast with Suze Orman. Orman, a TV host and author, is arguably the most famous American media personality on the topic of personal finance.

I received my invitation through Twitter, which was fitting considering the event focused on the power of social networking. All the women there seemed to want the same thing: to get ahead. That means money in our bank accounts, security in our back pockets and choice at our fingertips.

Our motivations and paths differed but the goal was the same. Getting ahead comes down to two things: mindset and work ethic. In other words, how we think and talk about money plays a huge role in how wealthy we become and how successful we’ll be. Throughout the morning, Orman kept coming back to the power of these two points.

When the floor was opened to questions, one woman spoke up. “I was recently laid off...,” she started saying. Before she could go any further, Orman smiled and said firmly: “Good for you.” Some people laughed nervously – how could losing a job be good? Did she really mean to point out that it’s not the situation but how we look at it that counts? Or did she mean that it is the end or the start of something bigger and better?

As more guests admitted that they too had been laid off, Orman responded with the same “good for you” mentality. Each woman began to see her loss as a potential gain and sat a bit straighter in her chair, became more energized, even smiled as she shared her story. The trend caught on and everyone chimed in with positive words when the loss of a job was mentioned. And for the woman who’d been let go twice in the past year, a round of applause.

For many of these women, layoffs would turn into launch pads for starting the new business they had been dreaming of for years. Although Orman commended these women, she also pointed out that they needed a full-time well-paying job until the side business had gotten off of its feet. In this economy, she said, everyone must do what they need to get by.

The event was hosted by Avon Cosmetics, a company that provides women with the opportunity to make additional income. To help make ends meet, Orman's mom sold Avon products while she was growing up. In Orman's view, we should never be too proud to help our families get by, or better yet, to get ahead.

The truth is that we create our own financial picture. It means you have the power to start to alter your financial status today just by changing your thoughts about it. Try it for one week. Replace a sentance that starts with "I can’t afford" to one that begins with “I’d rather.” Instead of focusing on debt, concentrate on wealth and abundance. Trust me, whatever you think about will arrive faithfully at your doorstep.

While the power of positive thinking has worked for me, it goes hand in hand with a strong work ethic. I value and appreciate those who work hard. They deserve everything they get. Someone who is not willing to put in the sweat equity shouldn't complain about the lack of rewards.

The breakfast turned into a bit of a money group meeting. People started to help people, sharing ideas, setting tangible goals, motivating and inspiring others. One of the most amazing things about sharing goals is that often people will want to help you reach them.

As a personal finance writer, I want to know how to get more people excited about managing their money. Orman says a lot of it comes down to motivation.

Think about it. Why do you want to get ahead? Is it for peace of mind, to own your own home, be able to send your kids to school or to retire comfortably? Whatever the reason, you owe it to yourself to get clear on your motivation and work to make your dreams a reality.

Orman's own story could be just the motivation you've been seeking to get started on your own path to personal success and abundance. The woman was still waiting tables at 30, making about $5,000 a year. At one point, she was so broke that she had to live in her van.

She didn't write her first book until the age of 45. Now she's one of TIME magazine's most influential people and one of the world's most recognized financial experts, not to mention incredibly wealthy. If her advice worked for her, surely it can work for any of us.

Angela Self will be writing for Globeinvestor.com weekly. She is one of the founders of the Smart Cookies, a group of five women who specialize in personal finance. They are hosts of a self-titled show on the W Network and the authors of The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough. Find out more about them at Smartcookies.com

Angela also writes for The Globe's Life section on Tuesdays.