“Does Making Money Scare You?”

When I was growing up, we weren’t really taught how to manage money – let alone how to think about money. I knew that my parents were not ‘rich’ by any means, as my father was in the military and my Mom was a stay-at-home mother with 7 children under foot.

I did know, and learn from them, that cash was king – and that was pretty much the practice in those days. I had no exposure, however, to the world of business or entrepreneurship. Much like Robert Kiyosaki talks about in “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” – there were certain beliefs about money to which I was exposed at a very young age.

I worked for many years in the public sector because of the influence of my parents – get a good job in the public sector, work hard and you’ll end up with a very good pension. Well, working in the public sector, for me, was like keeping me in a cage. It was not a fit so I left. I did have the good fortune to connect with an organization that would change my life, and my thinking, forever – and the President, Lou Tice, became a very powerful coach and mentor to me. My life turned upside down when it came to examining my core beliefs about what was possible for my life.

“If you want to go somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there!” – Robert Kiyosaki

One of the core beliefs that changed dramatically was about money!Possibilities were endless based on my expertise, my talents, my dreams and opportunities that were available to me. I learned that you can’t have it both ways – you can’t hold on to past (core) beliefs that money is limited, that money is evil, that money doesn’t make a difference – and live your life purpose when it comes to making a big difference in the world. And I have a dream! Money touches everything – having money does make a difference.

“The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most”. – Robert Kiyosaki

As an entrepreneur, it’s time to examine your core beliefs about money. I know that many of you have a dream – have a purpose – and it’s bigger than you right now. You want to make a difference in the world – but you don’t have any money – and it takes money to effect change. Money touches everything.

Here are a few things you can do, today, to make some changes about the way you think about money:

1. Take the word ‘tomorrow’ out of your vocabulary and starting thinking about ‘today’ – what can you do today to make more money so you can make a bigger difference in the world? (“Your future is created by what you do today – not tomorrow! R.K.)

2. Stop giving away your time, your services, your products – that’s a direct reflection on your sense of self-worth. (Now, I’m not talking about tithing, or ‘giving back’ – you KNOW what I’m talking about here!) When you have no money, you can help a few people around you – but when you make MORE money – you can help to change the world. What’s your choice? (“He said, ‘Raise your price. Make it ridiculous. ‘That would make people perceive it as a value.” – R.K.)

3. Stop playing small. How many years are you prepared to stay at the bottom of the pack? In a conversation with a colleague last week, I said to her – “Shine your light! You have a gift to take to the world – it’s crowded at the bottom – get up on top where you can shine and touch many, many lives!” (She hadn’t ‘thought about it that way” – have you?)

4. Watch how you use your time! Where are you with your business (and your revenue) compared to this time last year? (“The only difference between a rich person and a poor person is how they use their time.” – R.K.)

5. Know your numbers! When is the last time you sat down and really looked at your numbers – in your bank account, on your credit card statements, your daily/monthly revenues, your expenses, your sales conversions, your marketing statistics…….? When have you faced the cold, hard facts? And what are you going to do, today, to improve your financial situation?

6. Invest in yourself and in your business. Professional development is critical to your success because ‘you don’t know what you don’t know” about growing your business. (“You have to be smart – the easy days are over!” – R.K.)Does making money scare you? The way you think about money is what you will manifest in your life and in your business. You must examine your core beliefs about your self-worth, about money, about the difference you can make in the world with your God-given potential and talents. If making lots of money does scare you, then perhaps you do belong in a J.O.B. – as Lou Tice would often say, “then be happy with what you have, dear!”

I say, shame on you if you continue to play small. Marianne Williamson says it so well in this poem:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Where are you playing small in your life and in your business?

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Take time to examine your beliefs about money.
2. Make time, today, to review your cash flow, your bank account statements, your credit card bills, your pricing on your products and services.
3. What one change will you make today?