April 15th…what is the first thought that crosses your mind? How do you feel thinking about that day?
It’s interesting the emotions that a date on the calendar can trigger and if these are negative for you there is hope. We really do have the power to change our thinking about money. This year I’m going to celebrate Happy Tax Day in honor of all small business owners, the heart and soul of our economy!
I hope our post from January of 2014 helps you change your relationship with taxes and money. Looking back two years later I’m happy to share that the steps outlined did help my relationship with money. More importantly the business changes from taking action increased my revenues over 28%. Let my experiences inspire you to channel your tax frustrations into something positive you will celebrate next year.
Last year I focused on changing my relationship with exercise and received a surprising reward this week in being one of four nominees for member of the year at my gym (Body 3Fitness). If you only focused on objective measures of results I would not be one of the nominees; my weight and clothes sizes have improved, but I’m definitely not a “biggest loser”. Clearly there are other factors to being client of the year.
Dedication and a positive attitude inspires others to make changes in their life and those are the reasons I was nominated. My focus was changing a belief that I hated exercise and the mental work was equally important to my physical work. Once I made the decision to join the gym I did not allow myself any negative talk about exercise or going to a class. Over the year there were many moments of silence as I reminded myself not to complain!
This year I’ve decided to change my relationship with money. As a small business owner I developed bad habits about money and my pay. The business came first and the money made went back into it. My personal needs came last as the priority was always on the business. For years money discussions at home were stressful and frustrating because of the fear that this situation would never change. Step one is changing my belief that owning a business means my personal income is what is “leftover”. My new belief is that my business can provide an unlimited income potential to me personally.
I am focused on releasing all feelings of fear about spending money or not knowing when or how the income will flow into my business. My entrepreneurial need for control resulted in a great deal of stress and not much fun in my prior business. This year I surrender my need for control and remain open to creative inspiration. Step two is the mental work to release all feelings of control and fear about money. Regardless of the bank balance my money talk will remain positive. My mental focus is on my passion, creating tools to help people and having fun in the process.
This year I have set big money goals for my business and personal income. To realistically achieve my goals I have invested in coaching to stretch myself and get help to push outside my comfort zone. My business is entering a new market this year and the coaching investment will maximize the opportunity. A lot of work will be required in areas that I am not currently comfortable. Release all limits you have mentally set about your current business and income streams. Make an honest assessment of where you are and how you can change your business to both fulfill your passion and pay you the income you desire. You may have to spend money to create the opportunity to make more. Step 3 is taking the required action steps to increase your earning potential and may be the most important.
Throughout the change process focus on win-win thinking; one of Stephen Covey’s habits of highly effective people. He says to adopt an abundance mentality; one that “flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It stems from the paradigm that there’s plenty out there…and enough to spare for everybody. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives and creativity.”
Change your relationship with money and set big personal pay goals for yourself this year. Get out of your current money routine and surrender to your passion. You can either increase income or reduce expenses or some of each, but you need to take action before anything will change. Release all fears you have about money and change your mental thoughts to ones of abundance.
Think about how you will feel when you successfully change your relationship with money!
Great article Susan! Thanks for posting. While no one enjoys paying taxes, We should feel privileged to be in a position to owe them! We all need to keep the “abundance mentality” you mentioned in mind and realize that it is not a zero sum game. We can all “get more” and it doesn’t mean that someone else gets “less”. Thanks for your comments – makes me ready for the challenges of the day. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the post and totally agree that keeping the abundance mindset is a challenge. It’s definitely easier when we work together and support each other!