Every business has its own unique characteristics, its own essence. That is because every business is a reflection of the personal attitudes and beliefs of the people who own or manage it. This also explains why you can have two businesses with similar capital structures and similar business plans that are operating in the same market, and one can be wildly successful while the other fails.
One primary belief system that leads to the success or failure of a business is the owner's relationship with money. This sounds strange, doesn't it? Wouldn't you automatically assume that everyone in business has a healthy relationship with money? Unfortunately, this is far from being the case.
Self-Sabotage
In a recent poll conducted by our firm, more than 90 percent of the small business owners we polled actually had negative money beliefs. These beliefs were developed at a very young age, primarily from observing and hearing parents, teachers and the media. As such, many business owners carry an unconscious sabotage system that limits their success. On one hand, they have a genuine desire to succeed in business and to leave a legacy of accomplishment and contribution to the world; on the other hand, they carry unconscious beliefs about money that prevent their most precious goals from being realized.
For example, some of the common beliefs we discovered from interviewing business owners and asking them to describe the money paradigms they learned when they were younger include:
'Money doesn't grow on trees."
"Money is the root of all evil."
"There's never enough money."
"You have to sacrifice or work hard for money."
When asking business owners to describe their response to the statement, "I deserve to be wealthy," more than 80 percent of them responded by saying they felt uncomfortable or had a negative feeling about this statement.
Our research actually revealed that each business owner has his or her own "money heritage" or "money DNA." For many people, unconscious beliefs about money and what money represents in their lives are the silent assassins that slay the motivation for starting business in the first place.
A Means to an End
In contrast, the business owners we polled who were the most successful financially had a very different view of money. For the most part, these people viewed money as the tool or resource necessary to accomplish their goals. They viewed money as neutral yet vitally necessary for the fulfillment of their mission. Money was seen by this group as a means to an end, as a method of self-expression or simply as the medium of exchange required to extend their purpose in life.
Another interesting distinction was revealed in our study. The business owners who carried negative money beliefs and paradigms carried a feeling of anxiety much higher than their counterparts. This feeling was described as "always having to chase after money" or lack of consistent cash flow. Yet business owners with positive money paradigms described their feelings as being "in the flow," or a general belief that things would go their way.
Letting Go of Limits
What does this all mean? We each have our own cash flow code or money code. The key to understanding this code and opening the vault to unlimited cash flow lies in our willingness to be honest with ourselves and release the limiting beliefs we possess about money. Here are some thoughts and questions to ponder to help you with this process.
* Are you aware that the majority of the beliefs we carry about money were developed hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago? The majority of these money beliefs have absolutely no application in the modern world.
* Are you aware that there is an unlimited money supply in the world today? As a matter of fact, as the world economy continues to expand, governments print more money every day.
* Are you aware that in the time it has taken you to read this article, billions and billions of dollars (or whatever medium of exchange you use) have exchanged hands? All you have to do is insert yourself into the already existing flow of cash.
* Are you aware that money is neutral? Money doesn't care where it goes.
* Are you aware that money flows to people who believe they deserve to have it and who have a genuine willingness to receive it?
Here are some methods to help you release unconscious negative money paradigms and replace them with positive or healthy money paradigms:
1. Good, bad or indifferent, you must take 100 percent responsibility for the financial condition of your business. The condition of your business is an exact reflection of your thoughts and beliefs about money and your thoughts and beliefs about yourself. It has nothing to do with luck, government policies or the condition of the economy.
2. Once you take responsibility, give yourself credit for all the positive aspects of your life and your business. List them out on a piece of paper and read them every day.
3. Express gratitude for what you expect to accomplish in your business. Yes, give gratitude for your accomplishments in advance of attaining them. The emotion of sincere gratitude creates a powerful vortex of positive expectation and therefore positive achievement.
4. Focus on solutions, not problems. As simple as this sounds, very few business owners actually master this skill. Putting your attention on problems only exacerbates the problem. Once you know a problem exists in your business, immediately focus on solutions and take action with a solution-oriented frame of mind.
5. Associate with other business owners whom you admire and who you know have healthy money paradigms. Learn from them and ask them to mentor you.
6. Do whatever you must to develop a certainty about money, a certainty that you deserve money and that money will be a resource to assist you in the accomplishment of your goals.
There is one key secret known by all of the world's money masters: money by itself has no power whatsoever. The power or energy of money lies in our attitudes and beliefs about it. And this is true for you.
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