Let’s talk mindset. Yes, mindset. It’s at the heart of everything we do – or don’t do – and so before we get started on strategy, we need to tackle that brain of yours. I know it’s not as interesting as how to make the money, but it makes a massive difference. Trust me. (I’m beginning to sound like a salesperson – but seriously, I mean it: please trust me.)
Everyone has mindset issues, and usually they’re based on one of two things: either a money mindset limiting belief or an imposter syndrome limiting belief. Some of us have both. It’s something I have to work at continually. This is basically your attitude to money.
It’s an attitude that lurks in your subconscious – always there, loitering like an unwanted house guest who isn’t going anywhere, no matter how often you offer to get them a taxi. Although, the truth is you might not even know it’s there.
For instance, when I was growing up, I’d tell everyone who would listen that I was going to be a millionaire, but because of that little money mindset gremlin, I’d actually be thinking, As if! People where I come from don’t become rich! I could say it as much as I wanted, but unless I actually believed it, I might as well have been telling people my dad was Mel Gibson.
These little subconscious voices are there all the time and they’re the product of all the things we see and hear when we’re growing up, or even as adults. And we may not realise they’re influencing our thoughts, but they are. We really need to deal with them because they can, and usually will, have a huge effect on how much money we make.
If you can get your head around this concept, you’ve already taken the first steps to banishing those lurking naysayers from your subconscious.
There are so many reasons behind money mindset issues. For example, many of us grew up hearing things like ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees!’ or ‘You have to work really hard to get what you want in life’. Phrases such as these have ruined our relationship with money.
I was bankrupt in my early twenties, and hearing a judge telling me ‘You are bad with money’ led to years of me unknowingly preventing myself from succeeding – because making money had so many negative connotations for me.
But telling yourself you are bad with money is a ready-made excuse and it’s going to halt your progress.
You need to realise that there is so much money out there and we don’t need to attach emotions to any of it. Not guilt, not shame, not greed. And for those of you who want to focus on helping others, please remember this: helping people and earning money are not mutually exclusive. You can do both.
Once you deal with this mindset stuff, it’s all going to become so much easier for you. I did, and my success skyrocketed. I even include a money mindset module in every single programme I do now – that’s how important it is.
Extract taken from Make Money Online by Lisa Johnson published by Yellow Kite on 19th January.