Do our beliefs about money affect the success of our business?

This has been for me the never-ending journey, both as teacher and learner.

(Do we ever "arrive"? I thought so... thought I had arrived and had "conquered" the topic of money, but the economy, crashing real estate market, and a career change taught me I had more to learn!)

But I digress. I talked to a women today at length who is collecting women's "money stories" (Mary Alice Long) and told her some of my own money story.

Until my 30's, the combination of my beliefs and assumptions as a musician ("starving artist") and a religion major ("money monk" - concerned with "more important things", viewing finances as a low priority, a hassle, or even a necessary evil) had left me broke and powerless about money.

There are many beliefs and feelings that affect our bottom line - I believe they determine our bottom line more than anything else. What do we believe about ourselves? About money? About people with money? About business? About the economy? About our clients? About God (whatever our god concept might be) and what we think God thinks about money?

I worked to clear my disempowering beliefs a number of years ago, and quadrupled my income. I thought my money troubles were over and I was in the sweet spot.

Then I had a huge aha one day... I was still managing money like it wasn't important! I always lived within my means and was responsible, but did I bother to keep any of the money I was making? Heck no! Was I working towards any kind of financial freedom or just living in the moment? (It was the latter.)

More work, more breakthroughs!

With the transition away from my former (rather lucrative) career, I've seen more opportunities to do more work around this topic. I had to develop confidence in a new area, develop a new identity congruent with the goal I was moving towards.

Then there was fear, economic chaos, tenants not paying rent, clients cancelling out of their own panic as the economy tanked. (Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!)

More work, more breakthroughs.

I don't want to hog this bizchat (and I could write a book or two about this!), and more of my own learnings can be found on my blog (link below) as well as a recent biznik article on Financial Failure: The Dark Before the Dawn. I'll just say that our relationship with money and our beliefs and feelings around it is one of the most essential and worthwhile journeys we can take. And I think if there's one thing I can crystalize as far as insight, it's this:

Whatever we think money (or a lack of money) is stopping us from doing, having, being, enjoying or acheiving... it just ain't so. Money is a projection of ourselves in the world (as well as an energetic mirror of the world's feedback about the value we are offering.) It's a physical example of the beliefs and emotions we've chosen to have around money. The unseen truly does birth the seen.

I offer a course for women to help them transform their relationship with money. But the truth is that the primary relationship in need of healing is the one with ourselves. When we can love ourselves through anything (for rich or for poor) with no shame, no regret, no judgment, and no fear, then... maybe... we've arrived.

richly, Kate (ps - I'm getting ready to post a couple relevant classes... just confirming dates.)

Wow, this topic could go for just about everyone. I haven't owned my own business before and won't for some time, but I have definitely thought about some of the struggles I will be facing once I do own a business.

I used to believe that money would make me a happier and overall better person. I realized being comfortable and being able to manage my money in a respectable way would be my "in" to the world of business. Yes, it is nice to have extra money to spend every now and then, but I don't believe it is necessary for making me an incredibly cheerful business owner.

These negative beliefs we are placing on ourselves (whether we know it or not) are affecting the potential of our businesses. I believe as long as we can recognize these issues within, we can modify and transform these negative thoughts into something positive. This, of course takes time along with dedication. One must want to change, in order to see the outcome.

Courtney

A big YES! My practice as a Financial Advisor has engaged me with hundreds of clients and students who cling to stories about money. Which in itself is not bad, except these stories no longer serve them. In truth, they often never served them well, and usually had origins in family issues, more than cultural norms. It seems that time (as we pass through various stages of our life) can ignite the desire to 'grow up' around money. Which is a much more palatable driver than a crisis. Your friend's course seems valuable, and is probably aligned with the course that I frequently teach, The Wealth of an Ordinary Life. The title says it all, i.e. versus living 'extraordinarily' in obsession or, more typical, denial. I've published a financial handbook by the same title, which I offer as a gift to students or clients.

It's definitely been true for me that what I've believed about money has affected my relationship with it. It's taken me a few years to undo some negative beliefs about it and occasionally I still need a reminder.

http://www.imagineyourreality.com Taylor

Thanks, Leif. I benefited early on in my business from the insights in Mark Silver's "Heart of Money" ebook. Great stuff!

In helping myself first, and now others, with this issue, I know the "Now what?" question is key. As in, "Yes, my beliefs about money affect my success... now what?"

It's entirely possible to overcome inhibiting beliefs and partner with money to fund your dreams. Here's my take on what works:

• Identify the fears behind your beliefs.
• Pull out the messages and motivations within your fears to guide you.
• Contain the fear so it doesn’t drive the bus.
• Flip the fear... where there's money fear, there's money excitement.
• Move forward from what excites you. Take action steps that engage money as your partner, not your enemy.

Hi Lief,

Thanks so much for tackling this subject. I admire anyone who is willing to admit what their beliefs about money are/used to be and are willing to take the necessary steps to change them. I have been in the same boat but through the process of reading and generally learning from others who have been where I have been when it comes to my mindset about money and abundance, I can honestly say that I have come some ways from where I used to be. I am not quite where I'd like to be where my mindset is but I have journeyed a distance. I still have some ways to go but I am no longer where I used to be. Praise God for that. God bless you Lief...

Miss J (aka MJ) "NEVER GIVE UP! NEVER GIVE IN!" http://budurl.com/mjenterprisesbzblog http://budurl.com/cibblog http://budurl.com/storywriterinbzblog

Together with Jesus is better than separate and alone. - Sarah Bowling

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