I received an email last week that really touched my heart. A woman, living off her credit line, was totally overwhelmed by what to do to grow her business. She suggested wildly varying solutions to the cash crunch - from writing a book to doing a radio show to fixing up her website. I could feel the “I don’t KNOW what to do” panic that can overtake the most experienced of entrepreneurs.

I wrote her back a brief email of what I would suggest and she replied with a comment about how my idea made sense and that I nailed the answer. I was thrilled that my solution felt so right for her, but I also know that she is not alone. Man, there are days when I can feel overwhelmed about where to put my focus, time, energy and resources!

So where do you begin when you are feeling like everything is demanding your time and money - two precious resources in most entrepreneur’s life?

First of all, you really need to get money coming into your business consistently and constantly. Consistently and constantly are two nice words when it comes to money. Having money one month and none the next is not fun! The financial roller coaster is hard on you, especially if you are the breadwinner in your family. What is making you money now? Can you do more of it? Let’s say that you design two websites on average per month. Your income would increase by 50% if you just did three websites! So what do you need to do to increase your business so you have that one extra client per month? Can you charge more for your product or service by adding extra value that won’t cost you? Even small increases can begin to add up to significant differences in your income.

Secondly, think about what you give away for nothing. For example, I know lots of coaches that give away complimentary sessions. I decided to not do that when I started coaching. To this day I have not given away a sample session to a client to see if they liked working with me. Instead, through the interview process that we mutually conduct, we decide to work together as partners in their business. More than 95% of people who phone me about coaching hire me at the end of that interview so my system works. What I do is listen to their needs, wants and desires in their business, and then we can decide if we are a match to work together.

However, I notice that many entrepreneurs give away the farm for free and then wonder why they don’t have any money. I always say, “If you don’t value yourself and your knowledge and think that it’s worth money, why would anyone else?” Give away a service that strategically makes sense from a marketing point of view. For example, I will do a fr.e.e. teleclass once in awhile so people can decide whether or not they like my style of teaching and if I know what I am talking about. But I usually charge a small fee for my teleclasses and work with a more intimate group. Considering what I charge per hour for my private coaching, paying less than $25 an hour for a teleclass is a really good opportunity to pick my brain, and learn for very little. Can you do something similar in your business?

Thirdly, books do not make you a lot of money - they are an expensive business card. Even best-selling authors will tell you that the money does NOT come from the book. So if you are thinking of writing a book, think of it as a glorified, expanded business card. As my own book goes to the editor next week, I have written it as one of the entry points for my marketing funnel. I will not become rich from selling my book. Neither will you! The big money comes from explaining the book.

In case it seems like I am obsessed with making money - I’m not. I lead a very simple life. I love getting a bargain, I actually use a teabag more than once, and I consider it a wonderful treat to spend $3.00 on an order of sushi at the local take-out! I do not think that money is the be all and end all of life, but I’ve become much more realistic about the importance of money. I’m sure that there are some really miserable rich people in the world, but there are lots of really miserable poor people too. Having money or not does not determine your happiness quotient. Some people are just miserable - regardless of their bank account.

As I have worked with so many clients this year on their money issues, a few common themes have showed up. Maybe you can relate to some of this. Somehow, someway we have got it in our heads that being wealthy is not spiritual. I know that I had that belief ingrained in every cell of my body and every fibre of my being and I have had to work very hard at eliminating that ridiculous idea. Randy Gage, one of my mentors, says that ‘being poor is a sin’. We are born to be rich and I believe that. Life is much easier when there is enough money in the bank!

God and I have a deal - I pay the phone bill - God pays the rest! (I discovered through my own tough times that paying the phone bill can be put off the longest with the least amount of hassle.) So every month as soon as the phone bill comes in, I pay it, and then I assume that there is plenty of money to pay the rest of the bills that are much less flexible than the phone bill. So far it’s worked amazingly well and I look at it as my game with God!

I also have a saying that paying a bill is a “Celebration of My Participation in the Circulation of Money on this Planet” and I get excited paying the bills AND having the money to pay them. Every bill that comes in is a blessing; every bill paid is a celebration! Try thinking that way - it makes bill paying exciting!

I also see a tremendous amount of influence from parents still affecting us as adults, particularly “Dad” energy negatively influencing their daughters. “Dad” energy can be very powerful. We removed that energy from one of my clients four days ago and she went from not making any money in her business to attracting over $900 practically overnight! Turns out that Dad was never an entrepreneur, doesn’t approve of entrepreneurship, and can’t believe his daughter won’t go get a ‘real job’! Combine that negative energy with the fear of displeasing Dad or proving him wrong by being successful as an entrepreneur - well, she was doomed to failure! But no longer!

As women, we cared a lot about how Dad felt about us as little girls, and we have continued to sacrifice who we truly are to please Dad. As I have a father that disapproves of my lifestyle, career, and particularly my belief system, I have had to get over caring about what Dad thinks. I love him dearly but he is carrying a lot of pain that I cannot heal. I can only heal my own pain which includes letting go of my need for his approval.

It’s almost hard to believe that there are just a few weeks left before the end of 2006. What will 2007 bring for you? That’s an important question and I hope that you will take some time over the next month to reflect on the blessings of this year, the lessons it has brought you, and the joy you’ve experienced. Also take some time to create a fabulous life and business plan for 2007.

Have a joyful month!

With love and light,

Jan

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