The conversation was just starting to warm up, but it was about to come to a screeching halt.
We were talking about goals, so I asked her, “How much money do you want to make?”
“Oh,” she replied. “I’m not driven by money.”
There it was. That answer I so often hear from women who own businesses.
The problem is, I’m a sales coach for women running consulting and coaching businesses. I help my clients make dramatically more money for every consulting and coaching contract.
And I can’t help you come up with a strategy to reach your income goals, if you aren’t willing to discuss your goals in terms of money.
The other problem? This statement simply isn’t true. But more on that in a minute.
So WHY do so many women give this answer rather than just talking about their financial goals for their business?
Some of it comes from societal conditioning. In the U.S., we’re taught from a young age NOT to talk about money – women especially. To deflect. To demure. Talking about money is gauche.
Some of it comes from our conditioning in the corporate world. Don’t ask about salary, or talk about salary with your colleagues.
We’re even implicitly taught that money is a source of evil, and we should be out there trying to help people, but not in exchange for money (this is a REALLY interesting book on this topic, by the way)…
But once I talk to these same women a little longer, I learn that they have goals they are working for:
A home remodel
Giving their kids learning or extracurricular opportunities
Allowing a spouse to retire or pursue their passion
Paying off debt
Planning retirement
What do all of those goals have in common? They all require money. And that’s OK.
More than OK! It’s actually great, because once we start talking dollars, we have a tool to measure against that goal, and we can create a step-by-step plan to help you land the consulting and coaching clients that will help you get there.
Like one of my clients, who set a goal to be able to afford a new house in July 2019, and was able to afford it eight months earlier, in November 2018.
Or another one of my clients who wanted to make enough money in 9 months of the year to be able to spend every summer in Australia, where she’s from.
Or another client who, in the middle of the pandemic, is having the best year she’s ever had in her business.
Listen, we all want to help our clients. But we’re not running charities here.
So if you’re someone who finds it difficult to think of your goals in terms of money, try this:
Write down 3 ways you want your life to BE
Write down 3 things you want TO BE ABLE TO DO
Figure out the cost of making those dreams a reality. (Yes, the actual financial cost.)
Keep this info in a place you can refer to it often so you can use the goal you created in step 3 as your new driving force.
As you build your business, as you work towards landing higher-paying clients, as you put in the work, you can have this new clarity around WHY.
If you’d like some help with landing those higher-paying clients, I have a free training here that you can join. Just choose the time that works for you right here.
To Your New Money Mindset,
Leah
