Many will sweep their finances under the rug and ignore it because the perceived pain of it is just too great. And I get that! With anything, facing things head on - while it can be super scary if it has been a while - gets much easier the more you do it.
As business owners, it can be a bit more muddy, than for those collecting a paycheque. In the single parenting world, it can be even more overwhelming not having a 2nd income or a partner as back up.
My own relationship with with money, how I manage it, and how keeping in good relationship with my finances has been fundamental to my overall health and wellness.
Here are some of my favourite lessons learned:
Learn from and forgive the struggle in my 20’s - I got my first credit card, paid my own tuition and rent, worked up to four jobs while going to university full time and by the end of it had a nice chunk of student debt. Like most, I had thought the job would come up quickly after getting my degree - it didn’t. I also travelled. No regrets! I had fun and learned a lot. In fact, I had 30 jobs by the time I was 30! Think on that!
My debt is not mine to hold - I had a business coach tell me my debt is not mine. He said to find something of value to offer for income and use that money to pay it off. It then becomes a separate bubble of money you are managing. The weight and responsibility of it seemed a lot lighter with this advice and debt is not my story. When being in debt is not your story it doesn’t stick. You can energetically let it go so that it never returns.
In my business focus on value - When I started my business in 2009/10, I needed to draw an income and FAST! But it didn’t come with the attitude of trying to figure out how to make a quick buck. I shifted my view quite quickly with a view of offering value others. I have heard the expression “do what you love and the money will follow”. Yes, but I would figure out the most valuable and specific offering you can give others in exchange for a fee. It took me about 6 months to really make this shift and the clients rolled in when the clear need, met the clear offering that was packed with value for my clients. My business sustained itself through referrals and money flowed.
Notice your energy around money and the results you seek - I started to study or notice my energy relationship with money. When I felt good about it, it flowed in! When I felt bad about it, it led to feelings of desperation and it flowed out. If I needed to take risk in life, my mind had to rise above the money risk and almost ignore the possibility of failure.
Marriage, money values and energy - My ex’s energy around money was about scarcity, control and power. My life was no longer expanding. It took a side road toward limitation rather than abundance.
Adjust to and invest in my new reality - Now as a single mom, I am recovering from legal bills and from reducing my work and therefore income to meet my daughter's needs. I had to spend more time figuring out how to restructure or recreate my business to align with my current reality. I had to shift my business model away from one on one coaching and learn how to move my business online. As a single mom, I invested my money on learning how to automate my business. Now, I can pay it forward and teach others to do the same.
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