If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a hundred times from my friends, clients, and colleagues: “Please help me make money. I’m spending more than I earn!”
“Help Me Make Money Doing What I Love !!”
Business owners, all of the ones I know anyway, are a beautiful, passionate lot. They (we) go into business because they (we) want to make a difference and an income. We want to make money doing what we love.
Did you ever see the movie Stranger Than Fiction with the star-studded cast Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Dustin Hoffman? Watch it! Or watch it again! Perky, quirky love interest Ana Pascal is a Harvard Law School drop-out who decides that a better way to make a difference and an income is to bake cookies (her passion) at a small bakery. [Imagine trading law books for macaroons… mmm tempting!]
While doing what we love is a noble ambition, we must be certain that (1) we offer what people need and will spend money on, (2) we have a plan for building and growing our business, (3) we have ongoing support. Passion is not enough.
“Help Me Make Money Fast !!”
As for “get rich quick” schemes and strategies, I suppose some of them work well enough without landing good folk behind bars.
Yet, when I hear about someone entering a profession or starting her own business, thinking she’ll make it to the top quickly and effortlessly, I sigh.
Truth be told: I don’t know a single person who’s “achieved success” without a significant investment of effort… and a significant investment of time… and, dare I say it?, a significant investment of $$$.
Before you decide to go into business for yourself, realize that patience, prayer, and perseverance are vital to your success. If you’re not willing to invest…
- time and money in learning how to be a successful entrepreneur
- time and money in creating systems, products, and programs
- time and money in surrounding yourself with people of integrity who can help you along the way…
Then don’t bother applying for a business license.
“Help Me Make Money — And Still Feel Good About Myself !!”
There you have it. Many many many many many women (yes, women) have trouble making money and feeling good about themselves. “Help me make money, but not too much!”
No, I haven’t taken any official polls. I haven’t done any online research. I just know it to be true.
There seems to be something inside us that says:
“Serving others is supposed to be selfless. If we ask for too much money in return, then our service is mystically sullied, tainted, impure. It’s not real service!”
Wassupwiddat?????
With that kind of thinking, we’re destined to become classic “under-earners.” How do we escape from such self-sabotaging notions?
- By asking ourselves hard questions
- By facing the truth
- By getting help
Could be you need a counselor to help you. Or a pastor, rabbi, business mentor, friend.
Perhaps you need to be in a small group, surrounded by people who can relate to your money concerns.
Perhaps you need to be a in a small group where you can be guided by coaches who’ve been there too.
Business owners face trials and challenges for sure; most of them have to do with… you guessed it… their money mindset.
Want some help?
If you consider yourself a Christian Woman Entrepreneur who wants to/needs to Overcome Under-earning, check out our next small group True Prosperity.
My colleague Beth Scanzani and I would be honored to help you increase your influence and your income so you can make the difference you’re here on earth to make.
“Help Me Make Money!” is a noble and honest request — no shame there.
Just make certain you have the following ingredients on hand before you embark on your own baking/business venture:
- purpose
- passion
- patience
- perseverance
- prayer
- plan of action, and
- SUPPORT!!!!
Let’s Make a Difference and a Profit! Shall we?
Please add to the conversation by leaving your comments below.
Photo By Flickr (ElyceFeliz)
Fantastic post Jory. I get this all the time and you’re right on. It does require an investment of everything you have to give to the business.
Some entrepreneurs want to put in EVERYTHING leaving their loved ones behind while others simply want to put in everything that will still keep them comfortable which usually ends in not getting the results they want.
But the primary thing that stood out to me was the need for community and collaboration as a group. Entrepreneurship is a lonely road which is why it’s critical we don’t take the journey alone.
Thanks for putting your hard work and effort into creating programs and experiences for women entrepreneurs to thrive.
I know with your help, THEY WILL!
We can be so naive, can’t we? I, for one, had no idea how much I’d need to invest (time, energy, money, blood, sweat, tears) into starting up my business. Maybe SOME people know how to make money on a shoestring budget and minimal effort, but not me!!! Thanks for your input, Alex!
Very true Jory. We can be very naive. Especially with the ‘get rich quick’ thinking. Many have done harm to their reputations. Biblical stories of business show us how people have had to put in their effort, everytime.
Thanks for your comment, Nikki. Coincidentally, I just finished a radio show interview of Ann Sieg –> the topic was how to build trust and overcome skepticism. We talked quite a bit about the need to put in time and effort … with integrity!
Sacrifice and commitment often go hand in hand. I remember many times as a son of a family business how often the family had to pitch in to make the business a success…and we did because we were family and that’s how you do it in the USA with small family businesses. But our family persisted and hung in there through the thick and thin of it all. Today the family business is still there and growing, because we were willing to commit ourselves to it and were willing to make the necessary sacrifices needed to see it fly. Great article, Jory! So very true! Keep those valuable insights coming at us! Blessings! -Bill
So that’s where you learned: work hard, work positive, work together! I should have figured that out. Sacrifice and commitment do go hand in hand. How wonderful when together they produce RESULTS … like your family’s business!
I’m delighted you shared your story, Bill. Thank you and bless you — and I will! 🙂
Blessings Sis Jory, i enjoyed reading your blogs and i call the nuggets the five P’s and One S’s for success in business for Christian Enterpreneur.God bless
5 Ps + 1 S = Success!
I’m sure a few other ingredients would add more flavor and zest, but that’s a darn good start. Thank you for comin’ on over here from Facebook and commenting, my friend!
Jory, I totally agree with this statement “I don’t know a single person who’s “achieved success” without a significant investment of effort… and a significant investment of time… and, dare I say it?, a significant investment of $$$.
Robert Kiyosaki talks a lot about this in his book “Cashflow Quadrant” where he discusses the difference in mindset between the 4 different people who make up the world of business:
Employees: core values = security;
Small business owner/self employed: core values = generally solo;
Big business: core values = good system, good network and the smartest people I know to help run my business;
Investor: core values = have money and people work hard for them
Isn’t it interesting how different the core values are? Sometimes it just takes a big shift in mindset.
Hmmm… I’ve never seen that before, Sigrid. Not sure what he means by “generally solo” — when I write down my values, “generally solo” never seems to make it to the top…
Thank you for adding value to the conversation. I love my readers!!!! 🙂
Jory
Jory, as always, you’re right on the mark! I bet I’m not alone when I say that the hardest part is trying to find even a fraction of the time and money required to participate in the groups and coaching you talk about. It is such a ridiculous catch 22, but most of us get stuck there. I’m working diligently to free myself from the quicksand of this tyrannical mentality, but I’m too busy today. 🙂 Maybe tomorrow…
Thanks so much for always challenging me!
Tomorrow’s Another Day, eh Scarlett?
“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”
Folks definitely need to get out of the quicksand TODAY. I couldn’t agree more, Diane. My friend Karen Graves just wrote a guest post about that very thing… spending too much $ on expensive masterminds etc. etc. (“Are You Stuck in Start Up Mode?”) We need to be wise as serpents or we’ll end up spending way more than we bring in…. Been there!
I appreciate your friendship and wisdom, Diane. Thank you for your comment!
Jory, another masterful piece of light stepping into a dark space. Thank you so much.
Frank
Frank, I’m humbled by your comment. Thank you and bless you, my friend!
Tell me about it Jory… I quite love the phrase “A significant investment of effort”…to build anything that is sustainable would required the investment of both our tangible and intangible resources…
I guess the person who jumps from one Get Rick Quick scheme to the next is an opportunity and may make some money… here and there. But I love to be the tortoise I’ve quit being the hare…. I’ve got my plan and I’m working it… and it is working… focusing on setting up systems and other things that would work for me… I think it is key to know your business model, make sure it is profitable…then stick to working on your plan.
I love the three areas of investment you’ve highlighted:
time and money in learning how to be a successful entrepreneur
time and money in creating systems, products, and programs
time and money in surrounding yourself with people of integrity who can help you along the way…
…so true, every essential ingredients of any business’ success plan.
Thank you, Davida. Setting up systems is the only way to go … so that at least SOME things can be on automatic! Tina Forsyth in “The Entrepreneurial Trap” speaks strongly to the need for systems and support. I highly recommend her book.
I so appreciate your input!
Such a great collection of words, Jory. You have crafted them super well and as powerful reminders! My husband and I have undergone MANY paradigm shifts over the last several years when it comes to success, money, and making a difference. I have in no way yet arrived.
I had a growing leader in our group who, upon experiencing fast success, dropped out suddenly…feeling very uncomfortable with “selling” to and earning money from folks she called friends. How would you have responded to someone like that? I still question my response…which was just giving her the space she wanted.
Thanks for your thoughts here!
Hey there, Bonnie. Thank you for your kind remarks. Isn’t it fascinating how our views on “success, money, and making a difference” can change over the years??? Paradigm shifts indeed!
I would have suggested to your friend that she enroll in my small group coaching program True Prosperity where we explore such issues! 🙂 Interesting that she would run from success. Most people I know would stop trying to sell to their friends because nobody is buying!
Giving her space… I understand your inclination to do that. It might have been tricky to do more if you didn’t have ‘standing’ (as we say in the legal world) to speak the truth in love. Sounds like she is missing out on the opportunity to bless a lot of people with her gifts and talents. I hope she sees the light someday.
Thank you, Bonnie.