You know You’re Playing Small When….

So, what happens when you dim your light? 

In the infamous words of Marianne Williamson:

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

When you let your light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same.

Real Truth:   you never reach your true potential and you seldom change the lives of others. You wander  from one thing to the next, never really settling on what you should be doing to leave a legacy because you’ve decided that being who you were created to be isn’t really all that great, and that somehow if you downplay who you are, you will help more people.

Am I describing you?

Here’s My Question;  Why did you become an entrepreneur and start your own business if you weren’t going to shine?

Real Talk: entrepreneurship takes guts.  Guts to move when everyone else is saying stay. Guts to invest when others are holding on tightly to their wallets. Guts to lead when everyone else is falling into the crowd. You have to be willing to lose when others are winning.

So, why do so many entrepreneurs play small? Doing just enough to get by instead of going big?

It’s because they are fearful of what others will think of them when they win. Or, it’s for fear of what they will think of themselves.

I know  you’re saying, “No, that’s not me,” but isn’t it?

You hold back on your gifting and don’t figure out how to make it work by investing in yourself because the thought of winning, of succeeding, scares the bejesus out of you!

Then there are those of you who believe that you are playing big, doing everything you know to do so that you can grow your business yet it’s not happening.

What’s your problem?

You see, abundance flows freely in situations and circumstances when we are transparent and open to receiving all the gifts that God and His abundant universe have for us.

DO YOU DO THIS:

(Pay attention to the list to see where you are downplaying your God inspired gifts and worth because it’s time for a Stiletto Step Up as, as we call it in the society)

1. When someone gives you a compliment, you say, “Oh, that, that was nothing.” Instead of taking a bow and just saying thank you.

How do I know?

Because I use to do the same thing. The thought that someone wouldn’t like me if they knew how good I was at whatever it was made me want to appear less great. You do realize that it’s very easy to just say thank you. It makes the giver of the compliment feel good because they were able to give you something that was received.

2. Not charging what you’re worth or not charging at all. You don’t charge what you know you should for fear that they will not pay you and you have come to the conclusion that some income is better than none so you charge less and feel horrible about it.

Whenever you don’t get paid what you’re worth, you are not able to give freely unto others. You perform the task they underpaid you for with disdain and that shows.

3. Not investing in yourself or your business. When you don’t invest it’s for one of two reasons:

one, you’re fearful about the financial commitment or two, you believe you know it all and don’t need help.

We all need help. There is no such thing as a self-made millionaire. We all need others to achieve our goals and dreams.  If you could do it by yourself, it would already be done.

I dare you to ask a millionaire if he became one all by himself. Ask one and I bet you he will name the countless people who aided in his journey.

4. Not accepting gifts. By not taking a gift that someone is giving you, you are bringing more strife into your life. The flow of abundance stagnates as soon as you don’t accept it. Remember giving and receiving are spiritual foundations.

5. Not accepting an opportunity. When given an opportunity based on something you’ve asked for but you don’t take it for fear of failure or success, you are downplaying your God Inspired gifts and you magnificence which means that you really want to remain the way you’ve been. Change or growth is really not your desire, which means you are lying to yourself and more importantly to God.

6. Withholding. This is the big one. Examples of withholding include not tipping your waiter or waitress accordingly when out to eat or my favorite: not being your best at all times – a true downplay. Holding back who you are and what you are capable of because you fear that others will judge you.

So how do you stop downplaying who you really are, Stiletto Step Up,  and start experiencing true abundance?

Own it. As they say, “ownership is 9/10th of the law.”

When you completely, fully own who you are and what you were created to do by taking personal responsibility, you get to enjoy the law of circulation and all of its fruits in your life consistently.

Ownership is serious. In fact, it’s mandatory if you desire to play big and help others to experience transformation through you.

Ownership is about developing, mastering and implementing the mindset shifts and beliefs that exhibit power in all areas of your life.

When you develop the confidence and poise to trust what you’ve been given to share with the world, by saying an unequivocal yes, you start to experience the benefits of ownership. And I, for one, believe that ownership has its privileges.

TAKE ACTION:

1. List all of the ways you have been downplaying your God inspired gifts and worth.

2. Get clear on the reasons why you have chosen those self-sabotaging behaviors.

3. Ask yourself if there is any evidence to support why you have been behaving this way?

4. Now that you are aware of the ways you have been downplaying, create a plan of how you will stop downplaying immediately going forward.

5. When you are allowing abundance to flow into your life and business, what will your life and business look like? Describe what you want instead.

6. How does this vision make you feel?

GOT QUESTIONS?

OR

NEED SUPPORT FINDING YOUR FLOW FACTOR?

BEGIN HERE!

 

Would you like to reprint this article? 
All we ask is that you use this byline:

Shameca Tankerson is Founder of Stiletto Wealth Society, a global community Dedicated to Empowering Women Entrepreneurs To  Get Bold and use Breakthrough Business Strategies to Uncover their Flow Factor™, Gain Confidence they can Cash In,  and leverage it to Build an Amazing Life and Business.

She is passionate about empowering women who find themselves playing small and are deeply and secretly scared of showing up as POWERFUL, DYNAMIC,  and CONFIDENT to courageously own “who they be” and leverage it!

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From Indie GoGo to Indie Oh NO!

Today’s Ask The Expert Post is from Dr. Letitia Wright America’s Crowd Funding Strategist!  Be sure to Join us for at Stiletto Wealth Experience 2012 In November where Dr. Wright will be sharing her crowd funding know how on our financial resource panel.

There is nothing wrong with Indie GoGo and using it for crowd funding. But what happens when it all goes wrong? What happens when no matter what you do, you just don’t raise the money? This is really what this article is about. There have been plenty of successful people on Indie GoGo. If you follow a few rules, you will find success there too!

Understand what crowd funding is: Many people think crowd funding is just a bunch of people on social media handing you money. You just put the link on your social media and if 10% of the people click and give, you would be a millionaire! I am not sure how that rumor started but that is NOT how it works. Social media is a part of it, but only a part. You have to understand the strategy behind a successful campaign. You have to know what they did and be able to duplicate it. For example, if someone tells you they had a mailing list of 10,000 and they send each one three postcards. You have to look at your situation and figure out if you have the budget to do the same thing. If you have the budget, you must then find out what they had on each post card and how far apart were the mailings done. If you can’t duplicate that, then that strategy won’t help you as much as it did the other person.

Create a specific plan: For most people the plan is the basic 2 x 2 x 2. You know this plan. They have 2 websites to choose from- Indie Go Go or Kickstarter, They have 2 sets of people to share with- Their family and everyone else, They have 2 ways to get the word out- Emails and Social Media. That plan won’t work, as the millions of people who have tried it. Many people go into crowd funding without a budget, so the 2 x 2 x 2 plan is the only one they can afford. Your plan has to be more specific than that.  There are over 500 websites to choose from and the list grows daily. If you only know of those 2, you have not done your homework. If you are only going to do a few emails and social media then you are making it hard. Most people do not have a large enough list for that to work.

Be sure you can deliver on your gifts: After you raise the money you have to perform. Currently, this is not a huge problem. There are some people who have not performed but no real scandal has happened in the industry. You don’t want to be the first one either! This is your tribe, if you scam them, it’s about you and your brand that is damaged. Almost no one does this intentionally. Be sure you budget enough money to do what you say you are going to deliver. There are a lot of hidden costs to doing crowd funding.

 

Dr. Letitia Wright is America’s Crowd Funding Strategist and has created a video series for those who are about to start crowd funding. You can access these videos at www.acflife.com

3 Sure Fire Ways To Know Your Worth

I’ve had my battles with self worth issues.  Even as confident as I am.

I used to believe that an increase in income or a windfall will make everything better and loved the status that came from the things that money helped me buy. I used whatever credit and money I had to buy things that would impress others.

I believed money would solve all of my problems.

And with that belief came the presence of ongoing anxiety about my money status that occurred because my self-worth was linked to my net worth. I took crazy financial risks because I wanted to have the stories of big gains to impress people.

Little by little I had to make changes internally on both my conscious and subconscious mind around money and externally in the terms of shifting my business model as well as shifting the way I treat and pay attention to money.

One of the results is that I’ve become truly comfortable setting prices, and talking about money with clients and my family. As a result, I am much more successful as a business owner.

The truth is HOW you feel about money can have a significant impact on your overall mental and emotional well-being as well as your ability to generate consistent income.

So Here are my 3 tips:

• Get clear about your worth. State it, repeat it, own it. “Don’t mess around,” and be confident of the value that you provide. Build your self worth bank.

• Accept discomfort. Building a sense of self-worth can be challenging—even painful. Remember this…Everything you truly want is right outside of your comfort zone.

• Earn more now. Women earn 20% less than men.  The fastest way to change your net worth now by earning more. Set lofty goals.  Raise your fees. Ask for a raise.

• Never believe your “limitations.  Stick with your vision, hire people to help and support you — You’re a wealthy entrepreneur.  Wealthy Entrepreneurs Don’t Do It Alone!

I’d love to here from you…

How’s your inner sense of self-worth?

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

So….Who’s Gonna Pay For That?

The Money is Already Here! It has not left the planet.

Contrary to popular belief and the financial doom and gloom stories you here on the news, Money HAS NOT left the planet. The biggest objection I hear from people working with me is, “I would love to, but I don’t have the money”. AND I know it is the biggest struggle you have when landing clients, as well. Out of all the objections for people to get the help, support, coaching, or consulting they need, money is the biggest. I have spent a lot of time finding ways to coach people into reality. The reality is two things:

1) We always have the money to do the things we REALLY want to do.
2) You always get exactly what you need when you need it.

If you believe Universal Truths of Abundance you will know the money is always there. Now, I do know some people do not know where to look for the money and that is where I come in. I thought it would be very helpful to share this with you for two reasons:

First, you might be telling yourself you can’t get the support you need because YOU don’t have the money.

Maybe this will help.

Secondly, it will help you in speaking to clients who say they don’t have the money.

So, here we go – 10 ways to get the money you need every time!

1) Business Loan. There are many small lending institutions (especially locally owned banks) that want to help finance small business because the  entrepreneurs are doing well in this economy.

2) “Business Loan.” This is what I call a job or part time job. I think if you TRULY believe in your dream then you must do whatever necessary to realize that dream. A stream of income will help you go from NEEDING clients to wanting clients. And do not look at it as a job – it is a business loan to fuel your start up.

3) 401ks and other investments. Your accountant will probably tell you this is a horrible idea but is very possible to used some of your retirement as seed money. That money can definitely be used to grow your business. With so many retirement accounts shrinking with the craziness in the market be very aware that one very good investment you could make is an investment in YOU. There are even ways to roll the funds into your business with NO penalties.

4) Low Interest Rate Credit Cards. We have a really messed up view of credit in this country. Debt has been made to seem evil (I could go on for days about this), but good debt is a very useful tool. In fact when structured properly business credit cards will not show up on your personal credit report so there’s no negative impact to your FICO score for having to much debt.  Good debt is debt you incur to finance a project or dream that will give you a return on investment and you have a plan to pay it back. You are using it to learn, grow, and develop to bring in revenue from your business. No one really blinks at student loan debt, but we all get nuts when we, say, put a coaching program or mentor on a credit card. What’s the difference? There isn’t – at all! One has just been conditioned by society to be okay. Check out the Cash Flow & Capital Secrets course.

5) Got Junk? I have had clients (actually right now) finance their dreams by selling gold, putting cool stuff on ebay, or selling a car they no longer wanted or needed. David Neagle, first financed his dream by selling a boat. Suzanne Evans spent a year selling yard sale finds on ebay to pay for a vacation AND her coaches. See how creative you can get?

6) Get Started NOW! Many of you are waiting to have everything perfect or in place to get clients and make money. I guarantee you know enough now to start working with people. Maybe you will have an introductory rate or special for the first 5 clients you work with, but there is no need to wait. You can start making money now!

7)The Bank of Friends and Family. Many times friends and family are happy to help and will charge you a much lower interest or no interest. If you are in the UK, Australia or South Africa, Richard Branson has made this very easy with www.virginmoney.com He has created a program that helps friends and family create loans and have tracking, accountability, and make them professional and organized. He calls them social loans. Crowd Funding is a more widely used term.

8) Make a Cash Flow Change. Look at your full budget and spending – I have never seen one person or family that didn’t have something they could tweak to find money for their business. Is there a tweak that could be made to your daily spending? Hobby spending? Where is there waste in your weekly budget?  Are there services you haven’t used in 60 days or longer that you pay for every month? If so, cancel them. You can always start them again if you need them in the future. It can be amazing how easy it is to find $100 or more a week with small changes.

9) Apply For a Home Equity Line of Credit. Some banks offer home equity lines of credit that let you borrow up to as much as 85% of the appraised value of your home. Depending on the value of your home and what you still owe in other mortgages, that can put a significant chunk of money at your disposal for starting your business. The downside: you’re putting your home at risk. This is not an option for everyone, but it is a great option for some. Always understand your risk and all the details.

10) Make The Decision. You or your clients do not need the money for coaching /mentoring/support until they make the decision to get support and play a bigger game. Anything is possible when you make a decision. Many people think they have made a decision, but here are the facts. A decision is ONLY when there are no other options. There is no failure or stopping buckets to put your balls in. You do whatever it takes. And you will get the support you need to make it happen because when you decide, heaven moves to support that decision.

There is divine provision waiting to fund your dream! Heaven is ready to move on your behalf. The money is already here!

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

3 Simple Ways To Fatten Your Bank Account

MONEY.  Sometimes it might as well be a four letter word.  Have you ever felt if you ignore the topic it will go away? Did That increase your income?  I Here it all the time…Shameca ” how do you do day to day management and monthly management of money in your business”  and that statements if oftern followed by I’m not a financial persona like you.  Shhhh…I’ll let you in on a secret.  I’m not a financial person either.  I had spreadsheets and all that jazz.  And thats why i’ve created simple system that make the money part of business easier.   Let me share a secret with you about money, It loves attention!  I have three ways that will make tracking your money simple and doable.

So, how does a business owner manage money?

Why should you even pay attention to your money? Well, one of the attributes of money that I teach is “Money Loves Attention”.  Just like most relationships, the more love and attention you give money the more of it you will make.  This is true for everyone.  From the person who avoids looking at your bank accounts and bills = a classic avoider.  No worries – you’re not alone,  I used to reside in that camp.

To the person who feels as though you don’t need any money to do what you love – you’re a classic martyr.  Or maybe you just spend every dollar that comes into the door – you’re a spender.  Or finally, you might hoard your money so close to you that you deny yourself pleasure and you aren’t growing – you’re a saver.  No matter where you fall – tracking how much money is going in and out – is going to help you create a better relationship with money.  And that will translate to more green stuff in your bank account and more massages and tasty restaurant meals (whoo hoo – I’m in!)   Here are three ways to start receiving more money today:

ATTENTION: These three tracking mechanisms are not for your accountant.  They are more for you to keep an eye on your money.  What you do for your accountant may or may not be different.

1.  Daily: Track Cash Flow: Create a Cash Flow Tracking Sheet:  Here’s a simple system.  Take out a piece of paper….YEAH  I said a sheet of paper.  Number it from 1-31 on the left – these numbers stand for the days of the month.  On the top, write an inspirational quote for yourself.  For example: “I am a money attracting genius and people eagerly pay me for the transformation I provide.”  Also write down how much money you would like to attract over the next 30-60 days.

For example:  60 Day Goal: May 15th – $8,500.  Now next to each of those numbers you will write down all the money that comes to you from ALL the sources in your life.  It doesn’t matter whether it is business-oriented or not -all means all.  If you find a $20 bill on the street, write it down.  If your grandmother sends you a card with a check, write it down. For those of you that use a shopping-cart, Paypal or merchant account, write down the number that comes in from the day’s total.   Every time you write your daily number down – celebrate, cheer, have a praise party.  Show gratitude.  Create and inviting atmosphere for the flow even more towards you.  Remember, “money loves attention” .

OKAY.  So I know some of you are thinking, “Shameca, I don’t make money every day.  My sheet is going to be totally blank.”  I want to encourage you that this process is almost magical.  By month 5, you’ll be attracting more money than you ever did before.  Why? Because you’ll be giving it attention of course.  And we all know we get what we focus on.  But don’t be misguided. You can’t just sit in your home and wish for the money.  What you’ll find is that you start to get creative about how to attract money here, there and everywhere, namely bec ause there is a part of you that wants to fill your sheet. It’s not that different from the gold star tracking system that our elementary school teachers used.  I mean who doesn’t want more gold stars?

2.  Monthly or Weekly: Track Expenses: Ok, this one isn’t as much fun, but it is necessary.  As a business owner, you also have to be aware of what is going out.  The way that I do this is in excel.  I set up a spreadsheet that has all the categories of my expenses for both business and personal in the first column.  The second column is titled personal and the third column is titled business.  Then I save every receipt everywhere I go – business or personal.  At the end of each week or each month, enter the receipts into the business or personal column.    If you don’t like the data entry of receipts there’s a cool tool called neat receipts that will input it all for you.  That way you can get a sense of your spending for the month in various areas.  You can also hire a bookkeeper to do thi s for you either in Excel, Quicken or Quickbooks.  You can also learn to do it yourself in the software.  It’s up to you.

3. Quarterly:  Evaluate Cash Flow- Income and Expenses and Evaluate Your Money Making Strategy: First, evaluate your expenses: Have you ever looked at your credit card bill and noticed that you are being charged for a club that you totally forgot that you joined?  Or that you haven’t used a software you purchased in three months even though you’ve been paying dues?  It’s good to evaluate your expenses each month and make sure that you are still paying for what is important to you.  You should also do a check on how much you’ve been paying for certain categories.  I noticed once that my restaurant bill had more than doubled and it came with 10 extra pounds!  You can bet I did some more home-cooking after that! It’s not uncommon for me to help my client’s  find $25,000-$50,000 a year in fees and expenses that could have been eliminated.  What could you do with an extra $25,000 – $35,000.

Second evaluate your Money Making Strategy:  What launches worked well?  Which ones brought you less money then you had liked?  For example, I often see practitioners offering retreats where they either break even or make very little money on each client.  When they work with me we figure out a service that takes less time and brings in a higher return on the investment.  Decide what could you do differently over the next 3 months? Then change your Cash Flow Strategy accordingly so that you are doing activities that bring in the most amount of money and give you the greatest amount of pleasure.

In terms of making room for money and increasing cash flow, this is just the tip of the iceberg, but these activities alone can double your Cash Flow if you do them consistently.  Good luck with it all and do let me know how it works for you.  And feel free to tell me how you manage your money in the comments on my Facebook Page.  I’m always open for new ideas

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

3 Hints, Clues, & Tell Tale Signs It’s Time To Raise Your Fees

When it comes to fees and charging, most women feel a lot of conflict. We care.  we’re women… it’s a double-whammy of cultural conditioning that says “give it all away.”

The thing is, this leads to women chronically undercharging and waiting far too long to charge what their work is really worth. It may feel giving and generous, but as the saying goes, you can’t give from an empty cup. Ultimately, undercharging leaves you depleted and defeats your purpose of making a big impact in the world.

Here are 3 “dead giveaways” (and one bonus!) that both you and your clients will be better served by giving yourself a raise:

Hint #1: You’re exhausted instead of exhilarated.

In the beginning of my journey, I would spend hours and hours and hours and hours (did I mention hours?) on projects that paid very little. I’d package together credit repair, debt repayment plans, building business credit and helping my clients fund their business all in a done for you package.Sure, the money was nice when it was coming in, but 40+ hours on the project later or 9 months later … let’s just say it was hard to stay motivated. And I love helping people get to the next level in their businesses.

Doing what you love should inspire, well, love. And gratitude. If you’re not feeling the love, that’s a big clue that you’re falling far short of receiving money in alignment with the energy you’re giving – and you simply can’t sustain that for the long haul.

Clue #2: You feel resentful towards your clients.

Ironically, women who undercharge often find themselves attracting needy and demanding clients. But even the best of clients can become a drain when you’re not charging enough. (Or not charging enough and over delivering!) If you’re feeling resentful and feeling guilty… it’s time for a shift.

Tell-Tale Sign #3: You’re working constantly and still just getting by.

You can always create more money, but you can never create more time. So when you’re signing on clients and charging too little, what happens? You get burned out… quickly.

One of my past Diamond clients was in a situation where she had two choices: continue to serve the last few clients in the “old way” of working (dollars for hours), or release them with love if they weren’t ready to step into her new high-end packages. The decision was really weighing on her because they were awesome clients who she deeply cared about. (There was a lot of history there, too – all of them had been with her for years.)

With a little coaching, she had a huge breakthrough: saying yes to those old clients would have meant saying no to herself – her own needs, self-care, time with her family, and her dreams of a much bigger business. (And the opportunity to give those clients something bigger to step into, as well.)

And here’s one more hint, clue, & tell-tale sign you’re charging too little…

When clients consistently buck and complain about your already-low fees, chances are it’s time to raise them. Counter-intuitive, I know, but experience has shown this again and again. (Definitely in the early part of my journey, increasing the price of a struggling offer would often increase conversion.)

“But Shameca,” you may be saying, “My fees are already way too low and people are complaining. How can I raise them when I can’t even get them to say yes now?” (I hear this all the time!)

The way to authentically increasing your fees is this…

To increase your fees and feel great about it, you must stay connected to the value of the transformation your clients get. What really gets to happen for them as a result of your work? How can their lives change when they step up and you step up… together?

Often this means letting go of the clients who aren’t a fit for the value you provide, and turning your attention to those who are. Remember, Like attracts Like. When you own your value first, you’ll naturally attract clients who value you… and themselves as well.

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

3 Essential Steps To Creating A Cash Flow Breakthrough

MONEY is probably one of the most emotionally charged words on the planet, yet it is vital to understand and harness in order to live a full and purposeful life.  As women business owners, we need money to invest in the things that will help us grow our lives, ourselves and our businesses to the next level.  But here’s the problem: What do you do when you’re not making enough of it? What do you do when you make a decent income but still feel like there is never enough of it?  What actions do you take to make more of it? How do you create an cash flow breakthrough?

There are 3 things that you must do.  These 3 things are simple, but they aren’t always easy.  Getting into the flow with money and developing a healthy relationship with money is a journey.  What I can promise you is this, The liberated person you will become on the journey to creating your breakthrough will far outweigh any sacrifices or changes you need to make in the process.

Here are the 3 essential steps to create an cash flow breakthrough:

1) Make A Heart-Based Decision: There is a reason why this needs to be a decision that YOU make from a heartfelt place. The reason is this:  If you don’t make your decision from the heart, you won’t be committed enough to following through on making it happen.  For example, if you simply make a decision to “Make $10,000 in the next 30 days”, that may not give you enough juice to do it.  But if you make a decision to “Make $10,000 in the next 30 days” because you want to have enough money to take your kids on vacation next month, that is from the heart. You need to know the heartfelt reason(the why) behind why you want the money.  Doing this will ensure your decision is  in alignment with who you are and what you really want.

2) Shift Your Thoughts: You may have heard it said that you can’t bring more money into your life with an old mindset (and this is so true). Likewise you may have heard that your current thoughts, feelings, attitudes, decisions and actions are what dictates your current results (and this is true too) but I’d like to take this one step further (let’s go deeper).  The real reason why you are where you are and that you’re not making the income and don’t have the cash flow you want is because of how you see yourself.

In order to make more money in your business you have to change your perception of your own identity. You have to LET GO of the attitudes and emotions that have been locking you in to your old identity and you need to create a new identity.  See the treasure that you are.  Unlock the unique priceless God given value and gift that you are to the world.  This is the main thing I’ve done over and over again to create cash flow breakthroughs and it is what you MUST do too. You must see yourself differently. You have to see yourself as the wealthy visionary leader and successful business owner on the inside before you can ever be a successful business owner on the outside.

There is no way you can get around this. And when you change and shift your thoughts in this area your EXPECTATIONS of yourself will change. You will no longer allow yourself to do, say, feel, think and act the way you did before because you won’t see yourself as that person anymore. This must happen for the cash flow breakthrough to occur.

“A mind Expanded can never return to it’s original state” ~Albert Einstein ~

3) Take Strategic, Courageous, Audacious Action: Strategic and courageous are two very important words here.  You can‘t create an cash flow breakthrough if you’re not following the right income-boosting business strategies to create the breakthrough. It also takes a lot of courage to change, commit and take action on making these new cash flow-boosting business strategies a reality. If you combine strategy, courage, and the audacity to boldly step into the incredible gift that you are , you’ll have the winning combination to finally have your cash flow breakthrough.

Your Assignment

My mentor’s request to you is that you take some time this week to really dip into your heart to see if you’ve really made a heart-based decision to get what you really want, if you’ve shifted your thoughts about your identity and how you see yourself, and if you’ve take strategic and courageous action towards your business and income goals. If you haven’t, now is the time to follow these 3 essential steps and make your income breakthrough a reality.  Remember, what I’m asking you to do in these 3 essential steps is simple but it isn’t easy.

It’s time to put on your “Big Girl” shoes and play a bigger game! 

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To Get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

3 Simple Ways To Give Your Business A Financial Fresh Start For This Year!

As a woman entrepreneur, whether your business is robustly moving forward or you’re just getting started, its common to have a bit of “emotional baggage” (or negative money B.S. as I like to call it) you may be carrying around, that is slowing you down.  For example, maybe you have debt or perhaps you’re ready to increase your fees. but you’re feeling a slight twinge of guilt or fear that people won’t pay.  Or maybe you see the perfect mentoring program you want to invest in but your spouse is skeptical that it will be a wise investment.  Once thing is certain, if you carry past baggage with you into the new year, you’ll have a much tougher time creating success.  which is why this is the perfect time of the year to give your finances a fresh start.

The mistake that most women entrepreneurs make is not knowing exactly what type of financial actions they should take.  Let’s be real, it just isn’t a topic that is discussed.  which is why i’m sharing 3 of my BEST tips with you on how to give your finances a fresh start as you head into the new year.  And while you may not be able to wave a magic wand or sprinkle a little pixie dust and magically make your debt dissapear or make your husband change his mind, you can create a plan that addresses the emotional and practical aspects that make of every woman business ownere’s financial future.

Tip #1 – Stop Being A Victim of The Past and Falling Prey to Your Money B.S.
Women hold themselves to a level of perfectionism that leaves no room for mistakes.  Trust me we’ve all lent money to people we shouldn’t have, let worrying about what others think keep us playing small, given away our power with money,  or we’ve made decisions to purchase something that we later regretted.  You can’t change the past but what you can do is stop carrying it around with you!  So instead of feeling guilt or shame or blaming fate or circumstances for what’s happened, learn to forgive yourself.  Forgiveness is an act of the will, extreme compassion and understanding for the tiny part of you  that was doing her best when you made those decisions.

Tip #2 – Don’t Let The Debt Demon Stop You From Growing Your Business
I often this from many women entrepreneurs, ” Shameca, how can I invest in growing my business when I have debt?”  Or they’ll say, ” I don’t want to pile on more debt”.  First realize the best way (or chance) to pay off your debt (most likely) will be by growing your business, because you’ll have the increased cash you need to make more than your minimum monthly payments.   Next, understand that investing in growing your business while you may still have debt makes perfect sense if you are committed to taking action and implementing.  I’ve metored hundreds of women entrepreneurs on my simple cash flow debt pay-off strategy and i’ve discovered that those who take massive decisive action in their business are the ones who also pay off their debt faster than others.

Tip #3 – Create Boundries Around Money That Empower You And Others
Women tend to cave in on their boundries because in some way they feel responsible for other people’s feelings.  But giving in means giving up on your self-respect  and losing the respect of others.   And those yucky feelings and negative energy ofter flow through to other areas of your business, impacting your fees, the types of clients you attract, and so much more.  My advice?  Its far better to experience a moment of discomfort while upholding a boundary than it is to untangle a money mess later on.  No I’m not saying you need to be the wicked witch when it comes to maintaining a boundary.  Boundaries are easily upheld from a place of kindness, consideration, and connection, all of which helps you stand in your power with confidence!

Want to use this article on your website or your own ezine?

No problem! But here’s what you MUST include:

Shameca Tankerson, is a Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Cash Flow Success Mentor to entrepreneurs and service professionals. Using a proven system, she opens a candid dialogue about money that teaches her clients how to breakthrough to their next income level and expand into a cash flowing business with a new collaborative business model that is liberating, Inspiring and Powerful.  To get your F.R.E.E. “Spark Your Cash Flow Financial Success Kit”  – Making Room For Money: 5 Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make That Sabotage Their Cash Flow (And How To Avoid Them). Visit: http://www.MakingRoomForMoney.com

Cash In On Client Invoices

Do you need working capital? 

Heres a solution that may provide you will all the working capital your company needs. Most business to business sales usually carry 30 to 60 day payment terms. This means that you must deliver your products or services now. However, your client has between 30 to 60 days to pay you.

This creates a significant challenge for business owners. The is a potentially huge problem that has a simpe solution. Your clients want to pay you in 30 to 60 days, but you must pay rent, payroll and your suppliers now. As you can see, the math does not work. Unless you have a substantial bank account, this leads to an almost impossible situation.

If you are in this situation, it is also very likely that the bank will not be able to help you. As you well know, banks tend to  lend to businesses that have three years of profitable operations and significant hard collateral. If you do not qualify for bank financing, your best bet may be to consider factoring.

Factoring is a business financing tool that helps business owners who cannot afford to wait 30 to 60 days to get paid by customers. Factoring provides you with the necessary funds to meet payroll, make rent and pay your suppliers on time.

As opposed to bank financing, factoring is easy to qualify for. The main requirements are that you have a business with a strong roster of commercial clients.  Approval is based on your client’s credit and not yours. Factoring is also easy to use and it reduces the time you wait to get paid from 60 days to 2 days.

Factoring financing is an ideal tool for companies that are growing and that cannot afford to wait to get paid by the clients. It helps you to stabilize your financial situation and positions you for growth.

Finding New Ways To Finance Your Dream

Statistics show that more than one million people in the United States start a new business each year.

That number would be much higher if all the would-be entrepreneurs had the financing required to get a business up and running. In order to accomplish their dream of business ownership, entrepreneurs are finding new and innovative ways to finance their new ventures.

One of these new financing options is the use of a person’s existing retirement funds-a pension, profit sharing, 401(k), IRA-which allows that person to start the business he or she has always dreamed of without tax penalties, consequences or mountains of debt.

Funds can be turned into useable capital for business investments or operations. If a person has more than $20,000 in a retirement account and is not currently employed by the company that holds those funds, he or she qualifies for this Small Business Administration (SBA)-recognized approach to finance and start a business.

Retirement funds can be used for any business purpose.  Could you use money for any of the following reasons:

• Purchasing a franchise or existing business
• Start-up expenses, such as purchasing property,  and equipment.
• Working capital, including paying salaries,  and franchise fees.
• Business expansion, such as funding additional franchises, and locations.
• Equity toward SBA or other loans.

Funding your business is as simple as these four steps:

Step 1: Establish a C-corporation.

Step 2: The new corporation creates a retirement plan.

Step 3: Funds are rolled over into the corporation’s new retirement plan.

Step 4: The new retirement plan purchases the stock of the corporation.

So many people have watched their dream of owning their own business go out the window due to lack of funding options. We help entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and services based businesses achieve that dream every day.