Here’s a quick test for you…let’s say I hand you a C-note. Close your eyes and feel that hundred dollar bill in your hand. Now, watch your thoughts and see where your mind goes. Just watch, until you get a thought that comes up about this money in your hands. What is the thought?
- A good number of people will have a thought something like “I better put this away, I don’t want to lose this money.”
- Fewer people will get a thought that goes “this is a gift, truly found money. How should I use this, what can I do?”
If your thought was about keeping the money safe, I’ll wager that you think of money as potential loss rather than potential gain. And that mindset isn’t going to help you create a business where money automatically comes in and goes out, just like the tide. You can’t stop the tide. If you constantly try, you still get the inevitable but you are much more miserable over it than if you just let that tide go out and enjoy watching it as it goes. Same with money!
The other day I had someone contact me who was interested, she said, in coaching for her small business. Actually, she had two businesses, had them both for several years. The very first statement out of her mouth was not about her businesses but about her money. “I make less than $100 a month with these businesses,” she said. She didn’t tell me about her businesses, ask me how I might help her, or what she hoped to gain in working with me. Instead, she came at me from a place of lack, focusing on what she doesn’t have. That lack is fear-based, contracted energy. Behind it is a poor-me mentality. That creates a constant story of lack, a negative energy. It literally “pulls” others toward that lack. While we didn’t get far in talking about working together, she right away let me know she had little money and probably could not afford to work with me. Underneath that statement was a subtle pull on me, to join her in her financial lack by cutting a deal to work with her for less money, or to sit there and spend an hour of my time for free while she talked about her financial lack rather than asking me how I could help her go where she wanted to go. Then, we both could lack and she would have a “community of lack” going. Do you see? Very subtle, but very powerful. Watch for that from others, and don’t let that energy go to work on you.
Let’s think about this solopreneur who has two businesses that are both several years old and who makes about $100 a month from both of them together. Does she need to be more profitable? Obviously, yes. She probably needs to focus down on one of the businesses, build that to an ongoing profit, and then bring the second business on-line. She may need to ditch one — I don’t know her well enough to say. I do know, though, that it doesn’t work to approach me about working with you and ask me first thing what I charge. The money isn’t the issue. The issue is what would this $100 a month entrepreneur GAIN in working with me (or someone else) rather than what she would LOSE. If I can’t get her to focus on the gain, she won’t engage in what I suggest to her. She’ll be thinking about that money she’s losing by paying me (or someone else) rather than what she is GETTING in the process.
There are a lot of reasons why many solopreneurs and small business owners are not profitable. Many lack knowledge about the basic tools of business. These things are skills that one can easily get through classes, reading, having a mentor or a coach, or going to workshops. The bigger barrier to making money is your own mind set about money. If you focus on how little you have it will absolutely never grow. If, instead, you focus on what you can gain with the money you have (no matter how little or large that amount) you will be OK.
Here’s what I wrote to this woman. “You know, it’s never about the money, it’s about what will happen if you do NOT change and learn to invest in building your business. When people e-mail me and ask only what it costs to hire me, I know they are trying to decide only on cost. The wiser decision is based on value or what it will cost them if they keep on the road they are on. See, it would benefit you to know more about what we might do for those three months, but instead of asking me that, or asking when we might talk about it, I see that you are asking only what it will cost you, not what you will gain. So there you have a little bit of coaching for free. If you change to put your attention on gain rather than loss, you will begin to shift your thinking and your business from cost to benefit, both for yourself and for those you wish to serve.”
If you are not profitable through lack of focus, bad planning, or lack of business skills you can fix it. It takes risk, self-honesty, willingness to feel a little uncomfortable as you learn new skills and behaviors. It takes faith! But the biggest thing it takes is shifting your mind set from lack to gain. Or, from a poverty mentality to an abundant mentality. Or, from fear to love. Not only will you benefit, but those you serve will benefit. This week, practice not leading with money questions. Practice focusing on what you gain rather than what you lose. It will shift your mind set, and in time it will shift your bank account, too!
Great post Sue! I’m guilty of operating from lack. Now that I’m aware of it, I’m studying the law of attraction and practicing shifting my focus to something bigger and more open. Can’t wait to see what happens!
Sandy
LOVE that you are study LOA, Sandy. Cool beans! A great but older book that David Neagle turned me on to is “Working With The Law.”
I completely agree with Dr. Robert from about halfway up…I simply refuse to get upset over money.
In this time of economic upheaval and rapidly changing business “norms”, the best investment an entrepreneur can make is in their most valuable asset – themselves! Yet so many people get paralyzed by fear and “turtle up”.
What is the lifetime value of making an investment in your business that would increase your income by 20, 50 or 100%?
Thanks for posting!
Phil
I love that “turtle up” term, Phil. Fear about money is the root of much angst and business failure, in my experience.
Sue
Preach it, girl! I love, love, love this! And I also love that you are spreading the word about this mindset. It’s so important! – Carmen
LOL, Carmen! Never been called a preacher before.
thanks,
Sue Painter
It really is a journey.
When I started I was not profitable, in fact I was funding everyone else’s enlightenment because I didn’t know how to run a business.
But I learned.
If an a soul artist can learn to run a profitable business, anyone can.
It really is about desire, passion, focus, clarity, intention and willingness to try, connect, make mistakes and keep going.
Sue you always remind me of the joy of the journey and the simple ways to make it better and better!
Thanks, Laura. You are a great model for the arts community!
Sue Painter
Sue, I’m so appreciative of this post. My work with Financial Alchemy is about just that thing – changing the relationship of fear, pain, shame and anxiety to one of love and abundance.
Thank you for sharing the message!
Grace Heer
Hi Grace,
I’m thinking maybe we should talk about your work and mine, and how we might make an offer for our clients together. Thanks for your comment.
Sue Painter
Sue — what a brilliant post! I had not really thought of things that way: if a person calls me sharing their story of “lack” and is clearly asking me to give them a “deal,” all it does is create a community of lacking. Wow. So thought-provoking and so true.
I also wholeheartedly agree that you have to think of investing in your success, and not focus on cost. That isn’t to say that you should make irresponsible decisions about money, but your mindset is so critical.
Excellent article!
Warmly,
Jessica
Thanks, Jessica. I appreciate your comment very much.
Sue Painter
Sue,
Thanks for another post which is exactly telling it like it is.
Hi Sue,
Very interesting post! I really hadn’t thought about shifting focus this way before. I can see how it may be difficult to focus on gain when a person is struggling with money. However, it certainly makes sense to focus on what money can do for you rather than dwelling on the negative.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Ellen Martin
I SO agree Sue! My hubby always reminds me that it’s not about what things cost…I am frugal by nature and always want a “deal”. I don’t think it’s a bad quality, it just needs to be tempered with the VALUE of what we are deciding to buy/do. I used to say “we can’t afford that” ,..I realize that’s pushing abundance away, what can I use instead that isn’t repeating my lack language??
Hi Jennifer,
Instead of “we can’t afford that” try “what we want and need we’ll attract to us, in a way that fits us perfectly.”
Sue, I can’t hear this often enough! It helps me to change “What’s the cost?” to “What’s the investment?”It’s true that ‘investments’, when thinking about Wall street, win and lose, but in this case the ‘win’ or ‘lose’ is based on what I DO with what I invest in.
Great post!
Lynn
Twitter: Chiropractic Hand & Foot Clinics Of America
says:
I just refuse to get upset about money. If I lose some…I just go out and make more…that simple.
Dr. Robert Fenell
Repetitive Strain Injuries
I just LOVE your “let it flow, I can always make more” belief and approach. Perfect!!!
Sue,
It is so much more than money. That is just one of the benefits we reap by focusing on the core values and the real issues. Thanks Sue.
Kiyla
Sue -
you are so RIGHT ON TARGET with this post! Very eloquently put. And another demonstration of ‘you get what you focus on’. I am focusing on abundance, on the successful completion of my goals, and on how I can best serve my clients.
Terry
This reminds me of the old saying, “you have to spend money to make money.” And, I remember when I made the decision early in my career that if I was going to work for myself, I needed to be ok with investing in myself as employee and investing in my business.
I also appreciate Jeff’s point – it’s not readily apparent to me where I might be doing a version of what the caller did. However, I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a good look at myself and ask “how am I playing some version of this same game?”
Melanie,
I believe we ALL have to do that. We get caught, maybe not in the major obvious ways but in the smaller, more subtle ways. It’s one reason I want to always be working with someone who can help me catch that (and other) bad habits in myself!
Sue
Twitter: _iaLOAp_
says:
Sue, you are always so wise! You are truly tapped into your Wisdom, Lady! It is always a treat to read what you write. Another spot-on post! THANKS! ♥Katherine
Life Blossoming Systems
Thanks, Katherine.
Thanks for the reminder, Sue! It’s been a month of unexpected large expenses in our house, and I’m working hard to keep the positive mindset through it, especially because its also been a month of explosive growth and opportunities for my business . So, I tell myself I’m so thankful that I got two new clients this month to help cover the expenses of our new air conditioner, because I sure like being able to cool off in the summer!
Is it not interesting that people seem so ready to accept attraction as long as it brings them good things – but not so ready when it puts accontability on the individual for being a part of attracting the not-so-good things?
And the real tough part of reading your post? Having to look at myself and see where I may be doing this very thing in certain situations!
Thanks Sue,
Jeff
Yes, Jeff, I know what you mean. It’s very easy to slip into the scarcity mentality, especially in areas that are hot spots for us. I’ve got them, too.
Sue P.
Thanks, Kristina. And Terri, look how your own biz has grown! Proud of you!
Sue Painter
Twitter: authenticbuzz
says:
What a great post. You’re right that is is never about the money. Money is an excuse, not a reason. Thanks for the reminder.
Twitter: authenticbuzz
says:
What a great post. You’re right that is is never about the money. Money is an excuse, not a reason. Thanks for the reminder/
I can relate to this lady as I was of the same mindset in the beginning of my business. It is very scary and you don’t want to spend, spend, spend without seeing any revenue coming back in, but you are so right Sue, about the focus being on what you can help her and others with instead of the cost being the main focus.
To have a clear plan or vision for your business and then work from that vision is such a wonderful thing. You can see more clearly how and when the money will begin to come and you will have a better appreciation and focus for managing and growing your business.
As always, excellent post, Sue!
Terri
You’re welcome, Linda. Yes, these money beliefs are hidden and subtle and very tricky to ferret out sometimes!
Sue P.
Twitter: getunstuck
says:
This is SO true, Sue! When we come at things from a position of “lack” or “scarcity,” we stay stuck in our fear. I find that these tricky money beliefs need constant monitoring and readjusting. I think that they are so powerful because many of them are unconscious. In fact, the universe is abundant and we really just have to reach out for it. Not in the way that “I’d better grab it before it disappears” but in the way of “it’s mine for the taking–I deserve good things and abundance.”
Thanks for sharing on an important topic!