It’s true.

I know for some of you that statement conjures up all sorts of feelings.  And you know what, I understand how hard it must be to realize that the small amount of money you’re making is in direct correlation to your self esteem.

That’s a hard pill to swallow.

But it doesn’t have to be that way forever.  You can do something about that money reflection that’s staring back at you in the mirror.  You can change it!

But first I want you to consider a few things:

1.  Do often offer discounts?  Do you even offer them BEFORE your even asked?  This type of behavior is often reflected in a person who has poor money boundaries.

You make an assumption that your perspective client can’t afford your services so you jump to discounting without having all the necessary information.  Sound like you?

The reality is that if your services are seen as valuable to the client they will buy from you.  But that’s another article.

Do you barter or trade?  That’s another indication of poor money boundaries.  Money needs to flow.  When you barter you block the natural energy of money from flowing to you and back out again.

Please don’t barter, ok?

2.  When was the last time you raised your fee?  If it’s been two ore more years or if you raised your fees but only by some minuscule amount of money then you lack money courage.

You’re typically  the person who likes your fees somewhere in the middle.  You don’t want to be the cheapest out there, but you definitely don’t want to be the most expensive.

The bottom line…your afraid to raise your fees and because your afraid, you don’t.

Fear is your primary motivator behind every excuse you make for why your fees are they way they are.

Check back later this week as I reveal two additional money reflections and some tips for helping to conquer your money self-saboteur.

If you enjoy what your learning here come to the Diva Toolbox Conference for Women where I will be revealing even more information and exercises you can do to put your money self-saboteur away once and for all.

Want to eliminate self-doubt so you can confidently charge more?

Here’s something to think about…

If you are focused on features rather than benefits, you’re focused on the wrong thing. Instead, I want you to focus on the results and the impact that it creates.

I recently submitted a proposal to an international company to coach two of their executives. The proposal was focused on benefits and the impact my coaching will have, not only on the two people being coached, but of the ripple effect that will be felt throughout the company.

I’m being hired to provide a service that is going to make a dramatic impact for many people. Because of that impact, I am confident in what I’m doing and its importance to the overall success of the company.

Because of the above, I confidently charged what I am worth…and got it!

Want to be able to confidently charge what you’re worth and get it?

Then start focusing on benefits.

1. Do I understand the personal goals of the people on my team?
   We all have our own way of doing things but understanding what motivates each employee will help you to help them meet and surpass the overall expectations of the company.
2. Am I able to recognize the difference among team members in order to work effectively with each person?
   The biggest mistake I see new managers and leaders make is assuming that all people can be supervised the same.  We are all different and the way in which we respond, work, accept feedback as well as how much recognition we need varies from person to person.  Being able to see these differences and respond accordingly, allows a great leader to motivate on a personal and individual level for outstanding results.
3. Do I encourage team members to make suggestions and provide input?
   In order for people to feel they have a stake in a proposed change, they have to have some ownership in the process and believe their contributions matter and are important.  Getting team members committed and working towards a proposed change starts with encouraging suggestions and input from anyone with a stake in the outcome.
4. Do I provide consistent feedback and recognition?
   From my experience most people appreciate feedback and to be recognized for their efforts.  Failing to let your team members know how they’re doing is a recipe for disaster.   Your feedback and praise is what fuels their motivation to continue doing a good job, so make sure you are timely and sincere.
5. Am I able to identify the slackers and take the action necessary to bring them on board or find another alternative for them?
   You need everyone’s participation to reach goals.  Identifying those individuals and counseling them appropriately will ensure your team continues to move forward.  Failing to address this situation will bring the entire group down.  Make sure you act sooner rather than later.
6. Do I allow team members to solve problems?
   I worked for a woman once who stated to a subordinate (not me thankfully), “I don’t pay you to think!  Just do what I tell you to do!”  Sorry folks but in this day and age people want to do something valuable with their time at work.  Allowing team members to use their skills and talents to solve problems will pay off hugely in the end.  Respect goes a long way.
7. Do I find ways for team members to grow, learn and develop their skills?
   Most people innately want to grow, learn and develop their abilities.  The more people learn, the more they are inspired to learn and apply that learning to solving problems and reaching goals.
8. Am I available to the people on my team?
   As a supervisor and leader it is imperative to be visible and accessible to team members.  The more approachable you are the more comfortable employees will be in asking questions and making suggestions for improvement.
9. Am I effective in motivating my team and recognizing individual efforts and contributions?
   Teams must learn to work together effectively for the good of the company.  But this doesn’t always happen naturally.   A good leader motivates his employees and coaches them towards team cohesiveness while recognizing the contributions of individuals.
10. Do I practice what I preach?
    Remember the boss who proclaimed, “I don’t pay you to think!”  Communication, understanding, respect and support are essential elements to be an effective leader.  It’s hard to respect someone who shows such disregard to their employees by making disparaging remarks.

If you want to be a great leader, make sure you practice these skills.  If you are weak in any of the above areas, hire a coach who can help you to become a better communicator.

The old adage, “You get more with honey than with vinegar” is true.  Showing your team respect and a willingness to support them in their positions are essential in getting the best out of people and are key elements in being a great leader.

You see, this women’s space was a mess.  There were papers strewn about, unfiled, even on the floor.  She had dirty dishes and glasses on her desk, garbage overflowing from the can and there was barely a place for me to sit.

What came to mind immediately for me was. “If her office is a mess, I bet her money situation is a mess too!”

Now maybe your office space isn’t as bad as this woman’s  but do you see any similarities?  Could your office use a clearing and cleaning out?  What about your finances, your wallet, and your bank statements?  Are they in disarray too?

You see there is a direct correlation with how our offices and environments look and how we handle money.

If you office is in shambles I want you to make the commitment to do the following:

1. Get everything off the floor.  Nothing should be on the floor but your rug, furniture and your pets.  So, if you have any other items on the floor put it in a big box and put it in the garage or attic.
2. If you don’t have anything on the floor then I want you to clear out your bookshelves. Put all the crap that is lying on the shelves in a box and put that in the attic or garage too.
3. Next, clear off your desk. You must be able to see your desk when you are through.  Get rid of the junk, dirty dishes, old papers and pack it up!

Now, look around and feel the expansiveness that you have just created.  By clearing out this clutter you are making more room for money. Isn’t that cool?

Next, I want you to tackle your money in a more direct way:

• Create a filing system and start filing your papers and receipts.  Hate to file?  Hire a high school or college kid or even a stay at home mom who might need some extra cash.

• Get your books in order.   I once asked my client how much money she made last year and she was unsure because she hadn’t finished her taxes yet. Unbelievable I know, but I bet some of you reading this don’t know what you’ve made to date this year.

I know the balances in all my bank accounts and I can tell you to the penny how much money I’ve made so far this year.

• Finally, make sure all bills are current. Put a payment schedule together and start paying your bills on time every month.

The goal here is to rid yourself of any and all money drama that you’ve created and replace it with an environment which supports the flow of money into your life with ease.

When I heard this, I was immediately struck with the idea that these people’s doubts were really their own self-doubt about their ability to make six figures. It was a projection of their own fear.

Fear that they can’t do it. Fear that they’re not good enough. Fear that they’re not worthy to make a grand sum of money. Fear they’ll fail trying.

The truth is unless someone is willing to show you their bank account there is NEVER a way to verify the accuracy of a statement like that. You know the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” So even if you think someone doesn’t make six figures, you really have no way of knowing for sure.

But that’s not the point. The point is if you want to make more money in your business or life you have to stop judging. You can’t aspire to have more if you are skeptical of others who claim to have it AND of how they did it!

You must choose to think in ways that support your happiness and success instead of ways that don’t. That’s the plain and simple truth.

Judging, masked behind fear, is definitely not a supportive thought pattern. So my advice: change your thinking about money so you can find the inner happiness that opens the door to greater abundance.

That line is different for each client and for every business owner even if you are in the same industry.

So what do you do and how do you know when you’re getting close to the line?

1. Are you seeing more and more people unsubscribe from your list?
2. Are you staying in integrity with your marketing efforts?
3. Are you seeing more and more people unresponsive to your marketing efforts?

These are all signs that you are either close to that line or have crossed over it.

Remember, it comes down to this:

• Provide valuable content to your readers in your ezine, blog and promotions, tips, strategies and programs.  Even if your latest promotion isn’t for them, they’ll stay on because what you offer is of value to them.
• Keep in mind what seems reasonable to you. Do you get annoyed when you are constantly bombarded with emails and promotions?  Well, more than likely your followers will be as well.
• Decide what is appropriate and stick to it. Just because some big name guru tells you to hammer your list doesn’t mean it’s right for you or your readers.

Finally, mix it up!  Sometimes readers get bored.  Using other media methods to get your message out helps you stand out from all the other marketing that’s out there. Try using:

• Email promotions
• Video and audio clips
• Direct marketing pieces
• Fax (make sure you’re in compliance with the law)
• Blog posts

The goal here is to market yourself effectively so that your clients choose to work or buy from you.  Evaluate your marketing tactics and see where you are in relation to that “line.”

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