Money is a very emotional subject. Many, many
relationships – personal and business - have been
severed due to money. Siblings, friends, partners,
husbands and wives will discard each other because of
money. In fact, many people will remain unhappy for years
and years in order not to lose money. That makes me so
sad. Life has so much more to offer!
Money is only a tool. While it is true that having money
can solve problems and create fun, it remains only a tool.
There really are people in this country and across the
world who have no big problems and have much joy in their
lives with very little money.
Money is mostly about choices. If all I wanted was money,
I could have an MBA and be making over $100K/year right
now. Would I be happy? Sometimes, maybe, but I’m
happy nearly all the time right now, and I am not wealthy.
My life is rich, though, because of the choices I have made
for myself. I acknowledge that my life is the way it is
because of my choices, and I take full responsibility.
Are you taking full responsibility? I recently met with
someone who told me they thought they had no choice in
solving in their money problems. They must sell their
property – that’s the only option. In fact,
this person has many choices. They can get a job and give
up their business - temporarily or permanently. They can
acquire more debt. They can claim bankruptcy. They can
ask other people to give or lend them money. The fact is,
they have already decided against the other options, making
the decision to keep their business dreams and retain their
integrity.
Here are some options people often disregard as
unacceptable:
- Get a second job (this could be waiting tables,
consulting or babysitting!)
- Sell things (jewelry, antiques)
- Trade down (get a less expensive car; move to cheaper
neighborhood)
- Borrow money to invest in your business (be very careful
with this one!)
- Eliminate expenses (movie channels, Starbucks, private
school)
- Stop shopping (God forbid!)
- Get a regular job while getting more education to open
future doors
There really are only 2 ways to solve money problems
– get more and spend less. There is a lot of freedom
and a sense of empowerment in resolving the problem without
acquiring more debt. Would it hurt to baby-sit a child the
same age as yours a couple of nights per week while the mom
goes to night school? Do you really need those antiques
from Aunt Nellie who died 10 years ago? You never really
liked that stuff anyway. Instead of spending $150 per
month on cable, read books to your kids and have them read
to you! Win-win!
A critical component in making the right money decisions
for yourself is a plan. What do you want? Do you want to
start a business? Do you want to keep your business? Put
your kids through college? Retire early? How much do you
need to accomplish your goal?
Without a goal of some kind, it makes it more difficult to
make the right decisions for yourself and your family. You
will just continually feel overwhelmed and stressed. Put
together a 2-3 page, comprehensive life plan that includes
family goals, business goals and personal goals. This plan
is only for your use and you can change it any time you
want. Remember what the Cheshire Cat said to Alice –
if you don’t know where you’re going, it
doesn’t matter which way you go!
In the last couple of decades I have seen an evolution in
our society. More and more people think money can and
should come to them effortlessly – they have a sense
of entitlement. We who are in the U.S. are extremely lucky
to have the freedoms we have to work when and where we
want, start businesses and acquire education. A
superhero’s grandpa once said, “With great
power comes great responsibility.” True.
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Audrey Burton, Small Business Coach, is “The
Tigress”. Get her FREE Special Report,
“Closing the Sale is Not Complicated!” and her
FREE monthly email newsletter at
http://www.TigressCoaching.com .
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