Don’t Make More Money Your Goal

Do This Instead

When I consult with financial advisors and other business owners the mistake I see over and over is having a certain dollar revenue amount as their goal. I’m not saying you don’t want revenue growth or to accumulate more money.

What I’m saying is that when a certain dollar amount is what you have your eye on, it might actually make it harder for you to get where you want to go.

In this short video I explain what you should focus on instead.

Let me know how this works for you!

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

What Energy are You Sending Out?

Be deliberate if you want to connect

What energy are you sending out when you meet with clients and prospects? Even if you think you’re covering up what you’re actually feeling, people will pick up on your energy.

There’s something called a fear pheromone. If you’re scared, people around you will pick up on this. They can almost smell it on you. I think this comes through on video as well.

One of my mentors, Lisa O’Neill, shares about creating an energetic invitation to prospects. She likens this to a Wi-Fi signal. What is the signal you are putting out there?

Are you conscious of what type of energy you want to bring to meetings? This is what will attract people to you and help them make the decision to work with you.

Here are some helpful types of personal energy you might want to focus on:

How can you be more aware of the energy you bring?

Being aware of the energy you bring to client meetings is crucial for establishing a positive first impression and building a strong relationship. Here are some ways to be more conscious of your energy:

Check in with yourself before the meeting: Take a few minutes to reflect on your mood, energy level, and mindset before the meeting. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, take some deep breaths or do a quick mindfulness exercise to calm yourself down.
Pay attention to body language: Your body language can reveal a lot about your energy level and confidence. Make sure you are sitting up straight, maintaining eye contact, lean in, and avoiding fidgeting or slouching.
Practice active listening: Notice your client’s verbal and nonverbal cues and respond with empathy and curiosity.
Take breaks if needed: If you feel your energy starting to wane during the meeting, take a quick break to stretch or take a sip of water. This can help refresh your energy and keep you engaged.
Reflect on the meeting afterward: After the meeting, take a few minutes to reflect on your energy level and how you came across to the client. If you feel you could have brought more positive energy or enthusiasm, make a mental note to focus on this in future meetings.

When you’re more aware of your energy and take steps to manage it, you can build trust and deeper relationships with clients, and increase your chances of success.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Feeling Stress and Blaming Money?

Try this…

As I reviewed the edits for my next book (more on this soon!) I thought this activity might be helpful for you to have in your tool kit.

If you are experiencing a challenging financial situation, try this:

You’ll need a pen, paper, and five minutes of quiet time for this activity.
Think of a situation in which you blamed Money, another person, or yourself for a financial difficulty or challenge.
Take a moment to notice your breath. Feel the inhales and the exhales.
Set a timer for five minutes and use your pen and paper to complete one or more of the journal prompts below. This is only for you; so, don’t worry about what you are writing, just keep your pen moving.

Journal Prompts:

From this situation, I’ve learned or am learning…
When I think about this situation, I’m grateful for…
I am growing because of this situation in these ways…
The ways this situation could be a good thing are…

Blame can feel justified, but never moves you ahead. Moving through it can help you find solutions and learning to help you create more prosperity on purpose.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

What’s Important Now?

Try this for more focus…

When I’m leading workshops I often share a three-breath practice I learned in my teacher training with the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI). It’s an easy way to get present and focused. I’ve had reports from people in my classes and those I work with that this is one of the best things they do to get ready for a meeting and get great results.

I’m now experimenting with a way to gain even more benefits on a daily basis using a practice I learned from a recent Greg McKeown podcast on transforming mental clutter to clarity.

Here’s the SIYLI three-breath practice:

First breath, notice the breath.
Second breath, relax the body.
Third breath, silently ask “what’s important now?”

If you think you don’t have time to meditate, I’m sure you have time for three breaths.

Greg McKeown is suggesting a daily practice of setting a timer for 6 minutes and journaling with the prompt:

What’s important now?
After the six minutes review the list and pick your 6 most important things
Prioritize your list
Write a few things that you are grateful for from the day before

I’ve been playing with this for a few days now and love the practice. I also add who should I be in touch with? to my list. This is a great way to tap into my intuition and has often led to new business. I’ve been recording my top 6 list using a note on my phone so I’ll have it in front of me during my day.

I do my gratitude practice differently. At the end of my longer morning meditations, I spend time thinking about what I am grateful for and then record three things I’m grateful for in my 5-Minute Journal.

What’s important now? Such a simple and profound question.

I hope you’ll experiment with this and let me know how it works.

And here’s a Money Mantra to use:

I trust I know and act on what’s important now

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

What’s Your Word This Month?

Set a Powerful Intention…

Did you set a word for the year? A theme or intention for the year ahead?

I shared this concept with a group of sales leaders in a financial services company at the end of the year and they ran with it. Not only setting their own words for the year, but also choosing words with their teams. Cool, right?

I used to do this each month with my team when I had my wealth management firm. We would select a word each month as a theme for us to focus on. Words like inspire, organize, calm, create, and expand helped us to move toward collective goals in a more deliberate way.

Setting a word for the month is an intentional method to move your goals ahead.

I love words that are aspirational and inspirational.

Why don’t you try setting a monthly theme. You can do this on your own or with your team if you work with others. It’s not only fun, but a wonderful way to get on the same page and talk about what is most needed in your business from a high level.

My word for the year is BOLD. Originally, I chose harmonize and changed it when I was talking with a friend who shared her word from the prior year. Bold felt… well, more bold!

In March my word is connection.

When I connect with people I’m energized, able to serve and support others. And when I’m connecting with people my business tends to grow.

If we haven’t talked in a while (or maybe never) and you’d like to connect you can find a time on my calendar here. I’d love to hear what you’re up to and see how I can support your good work.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Business Lessons I Learned from My Dog

She’s still teaching me

Our golden doodle Ruby died about 5 years ago. We now have Honey living with us. She’s a super sweet mixed breed. We tell people she’s a mini short-haired Croatian Highlander if they ask. It sounds fancier.

The other day I was answering a security question to access one of my old accounts and they asked what my favorite pet’s name was. I whispered ‘Ruby’ as I didn’t want Honey to hear! Two great dogs. We’re very lucky.

Pets teach us so much about business and life if we pay attention.

They know how to make people feel great when we’re in their presence. It always makes me smile when I walk in the house and Honey is so excited to see me. Imagine how your clients would feel if you gave them that type of welcome!

They are grateful for small things like attention and of course treats. Gratitude is a wonderful practice. Research has shown grateful people make more money, have increased happiness, and lower stress. Cool.

They let things go. Honey doesn’t stay pissed off that I’ve left her alone for a few hours. If she gets scared of traffic she doesn’t ruminate over this once she’s home. Most of us could benefit from letting go more.

When Ruby died, I made this video about what I learned from her and recently found it again. Thought you might enjoy hearing these lessons too.

I’m learning a lot from Honey as well. Some day I’m sure she’ll get her own video!

What has your pet taught you?

Here’s a Money Mantra to try out:

I am open to growing my prosperity, especially from unexpected sources.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

What Are Your Prosperity Prompts?

Keeping prosperity front and center …

Remember pocket angels? These are small, pewter, coin-like trinkets with an angel on the front. When I first saw these I loved them and they started me down the path of collecting talismans. I have a lot of stones, coins, crystals, and trinkets. A lot.

These trinkets make me smile when I see them, feel good when I hold them, and I just love to gift them to people. When I speak to groups in person, I often bring glass stones for the audience that they can use as a prosperity prompt. People who have been at my presentations will often tell me, years later, that they have their glass star or heart sitting on their desk.

I’ve even embedded a few glass stones in the walkway to my office to remind me, every time I walk into our building, that prosperity is all around.

In addition to having a prosperity picture where you can see your future vision, having other symbols that reflect the abundance that is around you is a helpful cue.

Create your own prosperity prompts

What are ways you can keep reminders of abundance in front of you? Make sure they make you feel good when you see them. Here are some suggestions:

Photos of beautiful places
Crystal hearts, jewelry, and stones. These are some that are believed to attract and enhance prosperity: green jade, tigers eye, malachite, citrine, pyrite, green aventurine, and clear quartz. Go for what you are attracted to.
Trinkets and tokens with inspirational words and images
Water features such as fountains
Symbols of prosperity and good fortune from various cultures and traditions such as: horseshoes, four leaf clovers, waving cat, elephants, pigs, etc.
Fresh flowers and plants – like peonies, a jade or rubber plant
Colors that represent wealth and prosperity to you; for example purple, gold, white, green and red. For me it’s deep blues and purples. My father always said, “Ell, don’t sign your name in red as it means debt.” So that wouldn’t be a color I choose. But perhaps it’s a good-luck one for you!
And, of course, your prosperity picture

Will having a stone saying “prosperity” on it bring you more money? Well, not likely if this is all you do. But it might remind you to: be better at receiving abundance flowing your way, be thankful for what you do have, and be thinking more prosperously.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Are You Quiet Quitting Your Own Business?

Here’s what you can do …

The popular term quiet quitting, meaning doing the minimum necessary at your work and not anything extra, is typically talked about with employees.

I’ve seen people quiet quitting in their own businesses as well.

Weird to think about quitting on yourself and your business, right? And yet it’s very easy to let this happen.

It can happen when you’re making a lot of money, When it’s flowing in easily, and your heart isn’t in the work. You’ve lost your mojo, or you’ve become so stressed at keeping all of the plates spinning, and your purpose has become unclear.

It can happen when you are resigned to not making the amount of money you feel like you should be earning. This typically comes along with feeling perpetually discouraged. You give up on yourself, your business and what’s possible.

How to stop quiet quitting on yourself

Here’s what I’ve seen with the people I’ve worked with that helps reinvigorate energy and break through business plateaus:

Purpose – Focus on your clients and your impact in the world, instead of how bored and frustrated you are in your business, is crucial.

Process – Shake things up in terms of how you are doing your work. It might be the hours you’re working, your work environment, or getting different support either within your business, so you can stop doing work that drains your energy, or outside of your business with a coach or other advisor.

Pause – Slowing down to speed up is effective. Taking breaks to recharge, reflect and reimagine your business isn’t a luxury it’s a necessity. Small pauses before meetings are a power move to bring your best self to each encounter.

If you can’t find a way to get your business juju back maybe it’s time to reassess and find your next big thing.

Speaking from personal experience, as well as working to guide lots of people to plug back into their best work, doing the work you are most meant to do is not only energizing and rewarding but ensures you won’t quiet quit on your clients or yourself.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Do You Use This Enough?

In business, in life – a trait I hadn’t thought about…

Someone recently asked me how I’d like people to view my work. I responded, “relentlessly upbeat.” And, yeah, I think this is important for the money conversation. Often there’s a big focus on problems, difficulties, and uncertainty when it comes to the economy, the markets, and money. I’ve written a lot about how worry is a bad financial strategy.

And, although I believe optimism is an important trait when it comes to prosperity…

… sometimes courage is what you really need.

When I looked up courage I found a variety of definitions. This is one that landed for me: The attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful, instead of withdrawing from it; quality of being fearless or brave; valor.

Clearly courage is an important trait when it comes to building prosperity. Sometimes things don’t go as planned – The economy can turn, new regulations come in, markets change. It’s easy to fall victim to these disturbances. Yet, when you can face financial uncertainty with courage you’re able to learn, grow, and find solutions.

If you’re like me, and believe that even in the most difficult times there are lessons for us to learn, courage can help you move through challenges with more grace and even gratitude.

Just like the Cowardly Lion we’re all able to muster cccc-ourage when we need it.

Here’s a Money Mantra to experiment with:

I am courageous and appreciative in all areas of my business. Money is my partner in prosperity.

Every good wish,

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

The Power of Mental Rehearsal & How You Can Use This for Success

Picturing your goals, as if they are happening in the present moment, is powerful.

Almost all of us have the ability to create pictures in our mind. There is a small percentage of people who can’t visualize. They have aphantasia – they are image free thinkers. For the rest of us

**… visualization is an underused tool for success.**

Athletes have used the power of visualization for performance enhancement for a long time. Here’s Michael Phelps talking about how he used mental rehearsal as part of his training routine.

The power of visualization works for non-physical goals as well. Before any big meeting or speaking engagement I always spend time imagining how I want things to go. How I want to feel, how I want others to feel, and what result I’d love to see.

Using a prosperity picture can be very helpful in this process.

A prosperity picture is a visual representation of what you’d like to have happen in the future.

These are powerful. I’ve walked people from around the globe through this process – from one of the wealthiest men in Europe and his teenaged son, to university students in a rural community in Ghana – with great results.

I’m recently back from Senchi Ferry, Ghana. It’s been 4 years since I was last there. I had several of the university students tell me that many of the goals they had put on their prosperity pictures four years ago had come to fruition and they were excited to update their pictures.

If you’d like to learn how to create your own prosperity picture check out this video.

I’m envisioning a wonderful 2023 for you!

Whenever you’re ready …
+ The second updated edition of Picture Your Prosperity is now available! If you want to learn how to turn your visions into reality – grab your copy.

+ Interested in improving your relationship with money? Feeling like you might have some beliefs or blocks in business and your personal finances you’d like to clear? Learn more here.

Do This Instead

Be deliberate if you want to connect

Try this…

Try this for more focus…

Set a Powerful Intention…

I love words that are aspirational and inspirational.

She’s still teaching me

Pets teach us so much about business and life if we pay attention.

Keeping prosperity front and center …

Create your own prosperity prompts

Here’s what you can do …

How to stop quiet quitting on yourself

In business, in life – a trait I hadn’t thought about…

… sometimes courage is what you really need.

I am courageous and appreciative in all areas of my business. Money is my partner in prosperity.

… visualization is an underused tool for success.

A prosperity picture is a visual representation of what you’d like to have happen in the future.

What Your Generosity Style Says About You

**… visualization is an underused tool for success.**