What is the Lesson You Haven't Learned Yet?
I pose this question to everyone, not because it's supposed to have a simple or all inclusive answer. But rather, I put this out there as a means to test myself. I do so as a means to elaborate on my own issues and share a part of my "failure to launch" story with the hope that others have a chance to learn from my mistakes.
If I go back in time, I can assuredly point to modes of thinking and ways of doing things that both hurt and helped my business ventures. I've tried many things as an employee, business owner and entrepreneur. Those times allow me to reflect on when I had a good thing going and when I should have seen the writings on the walls as to the success or failure of those ventures. Some went well for a time, other never got off the ground.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned during each of my many trials in business is that the hardest times for me came along when I was most worried about money. This post isn't about the money so much as it's about what lies behind.
The Love of Money
Money is a material thing. Money doesn't have the capacity to make us happy or give us all of the things we want in life. That's not to minimize the fact that we all need to utilize the currency within our realm of existence in order to gain the physical and material things we need to survive (ie. food, house, car, etc.), but it is to minimize what most of us focus on when we're building a new business.
We tend to ask ourselves "Where's the MONEY?" "How soon before I start making MONEY?" "Why am I NOT making MONEY?"
Adjusting the Focus
This is where our focus is flawed. To focus on the outcome of the adventure is to lose grasp of the journey. I know that sounds ridiculous to many people. Especially those that are beginning a new business in order to replace an income or start making any kind of money at all. You'll find that those focused on money tend to be the stagnant ones that aren't making any. Then you'll see all these others that never say a word about money, yet they seem to be rolling in it.
The former is focused on making money, the latter is focused on fulfilling a purpose. In other words, the WHY of what drove them to being a business owner in the first place.
By doing so, one doesn't get frustrated when there is no money coming in right away. You'll discover that these people are DRIVEN by the purpose, not the bottom line. You'll hear them speak in terms of "It's not about the money...", or "The money will come when..."
Learn Your Lessons
We all learn lessons every day in business. Usually by trial and error, but sometimes we need to learn lessons by simple acceptance. Accepting the fact that it's not money that defines our purpose in life. Acceptance in realizing that we have to define our purpose in life before we'll ever be ultimately successful in whatever it is we choose as a path for business.
There are ton of lessons within the walls of WA, but those are lessons meant to teach a skill that will make us money, right? If you've really paid attention to what Kyle and Carson teach, how they teach and why they teach, you'd know that simple money making skills are not all they are teaching here. They don't want you to just make money, they also want you to succeed in life!
Even though I could charge by the word for the things I write here and in my own blog, writing this post wasn't about making any money. And if all I can take away from this is knowing I helped another person understand what's holding them back, then I've fulfilled my purpose...
...and I can take that to the bank.
All my Best,
Recent Comments
17
Thank you Leland for this blog about success/money. It is similar to
attracting lack by thinking about it.
This is truly a blog to be read by us all from time to time and especially for newbies. Thanks for explaining the distinction: Purpose/Money.
I really like the way you look at things and explain it. Very uplifting. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on money. I try not to think too much about the money, but it would be nice to see some coming in sometime, but I have faith that it will in time as I continue to learn and apply what I learn about affiliate marketing. :)
Thanks Judy, we're all in learning mode at all times. It's all trial and error (A/B split testing you might say). In the end, we find what works best.
Thank you Leland ... My dad has been in business since 1949 ... He is not a rich man as in the monetary sense but he has helped many people .... He is a rich man in his heart ...I have watched him work all these years .... the guy is 85 still has his business going in NB Canada and he still goes to the shop 6 days a week and still does a lot of the manuel work himself ... he for one in my mind has found a purpose in his life and that was to be able to help others .... to me he is my hero because he has always wanted to help in which every way that he could .... thank you for your blogs I am sure that if money is the bottom ligne that someone gets into business there is a sense of purpose lost in there ... Cheers ... Michel
Absolutely! And as yourself, I had a grandmother who's passed on that used to run a small restaurant. She did so 7 days a week, morning til night, all by herself. She loved feeding others and having conversations with all of her patrons.
She served others well and never batted an eye about money. It wasn't what drove her to wake up every morning at 4 a.m. so she could make the walk from home to shop and have fresh coffee waiting for the policemen and farmers who were up and around at that time.
We can all learn a good lesson from those big-hearted individuals that came before us!
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This is giving me some food for thought Leland. Well put