The Must Have Catalyst to Your Money Mindset

Have you heard that you should have an abundance mindset as opposed to a scarcity one? What does that actually mean?

What is a Scarcity Mindset?

A scarcity mindset is where you believe that the pie is only so big. That for me to win someone else needs to lose. It’s the stuff of aggressive competition. It’s also super fear-based. Money worries about the future fall into this category. Thoughts that sound like these fall into this camp:

The economy is a mess – it’s gonna be super hard to get ahead.
What if I lose everything?
There are no good jobs out there for people like me.

It’s also when you’re upset or jealous if someone in your circle is doing really well. “Why did they get such a great new job when I’m stuck in this crummy one?” Or even non-financial upsets like, “how did she get that great guy; I only meet losers?”

When you have a scarcity mindset you tend to feel constricted, jealous, and anxious. From this space it’s more difficult to find solutions and see possibilities.

Much of the traditional financial world lives in scare-city. I see this as the basis for many of our world problems…

What is an Abundance Mindset?

An abundance mindset is when you fundamentally believe there is more than enough to go around. That there are plenty of opportunities, jobs, great guys, love, etc. An abundance mindset is open to collaboration. When you win, I win too. You can tell you’re thinking abundantly when you are excited for someone else’s successes (no matter what’s going on in your life). Generosity lives here. When you’re in an abundance mindset you tend to feel expanded and optimistic. You are also more easily able to find solutions for difficult situations and to see more opportunities.

It’s not just about having a supportive mindset, it’s also about taking wise, inspired actions.

Having the right mindset is crucial – and – there must be more. You must act on your own good intentions.

If you are thinking abundantly and don’t take any real action these are just wishes – lottery tickets may live in this quadrant.
If you are thinking scarcity thoughts and don’t do anything, you’re setting yourself up to feel really nervous about money.
If you are taking action but doing it from a viewpoint of scarcity you’ll be clinging to money, material belongings, and status. Notice I said clinging not saving. It’s the energy behind your actions that helps determine your contentment level.

And…drum roll please:

When you have an abundance mindset and set it into action, prosperity on purpose has room to flourish. Having an abundance mindset is one of the most important factors in not only being prosperous but feeling so as well.

Every good wish,

P.S. When you’re ready and the time is right, let me know if you want to have a conversation about how to listen to and understand your own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money. Email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “money thoughts” in the subject line.

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Shhhh … It’s a secret

Come Clean with Your Money Secrets

Do you have a money secret? Maybe something you have yet to share with your partner? Or an outstanding debt or obligation you feel some shame or embarrassment over? Maybe you made a big mistake with money in the past and it’s hanging over you like that cloud of dust surrounding Pigpen in the Peanuts comics.

Here’s my advice. Come clean with your money crap. Everyone has something they need to do, or they wish they hadn’t done when it comes to money.

Money secrets are particularly insidious.

They act like a bug in your computer system slowing down your progress and causing havoc in your financial life. If nothing else, they take bandwidth away from more productive money pursuits.

I was recently talking with a friend (let’s call her Janie) who shared that she was carrying around a huge amount of shame and guilt that she owed money to a former client who invested in her business – which never took off. When I asked if she’d talked to this woman, she said “no … not in years.” I intuitively knew that this was acting like an anchor, not allowing Janie’s current business to grow as quickly as it should. Even though it would be uncomfortable for her, I suggested Janie talk to this woman. I shared that it’s likely this friend had already written off the investment, but Janie could find out what might be needed to make this right.

Make things right.

Here’s what Janie reported back: “I met with her today. The shame and guilt were gone, and I was ready to find a solution that would work for us both. This is what she said when we met … ‘I don’t need the money. Last time we met (3 years ago) I told you then that I had written it off. You gave me so much when we worked together (as client/facilitator) that I expected nothing. I still use your tools today. I have taught my children what you taught me. You made a huge difference in my life when I felt so stuck in my business.’”

Janie hadn’t heard her words three years ago. She hadn’t received the gift she’d been given. After their discussion this time, Janie most certainly did.

So what are you not hearing? Where are you not receiving? There are such precious gifts – like of friendship, love, kindness, and generosity – that you may be missing out on.

Who do you need to talk to about money?

Do it now. I know it might feel scary and uncomfortable to fess up. But with this money secret playing in the background of your mind it already feels bad. Why not see if you can relieve some suffering by coming clean.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

P.P.S. When you’re ready and the time is right, let me know if you want to have a conversation about how to listen to and understand your own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money. Email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “money thoughts” in the subject line.

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Can Mindfulness Help You Sell Better?

Are you willing to try this one thing to improve your sales? your business? and make even the things you do well – better?

Do you think you rock at sales? Or, maybe you’re someone that just thinking about selling gives you the shpilkes.

Adding mindfulness into the mix is a great idea.

Not to mention that a mindfulness practice can help with the shpilkes! (If you don’t know what “shpilkes” are – check out the link above. We recently taught our son this word and were shocked that he hadn’t heard it before.)

Anyway, back to sales. I recently had a conversation with sales trainer and author David Fisher about how to …

bring more mindfulness into business and your conversations for better results all around.

Want to learn about mindful emailing?
How to deeply connect with clients and prospects?
Ever wonder what to say, when you don’t know what to say next, in the sales conversation?

Then, take a look at this short, but information-packed, interview I did with David.

Want to serve more people, make more money, and have a deeper impact? Be more mindful in sales and watch the magic happen.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

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Flying Monkeys and Money … What?!

There is power in stories. As a speaker I know how important it is to put stories into my talks to illustrate points and to keep the audience’s interest. Often this is what people remember most.

We tell stories all the time.

Very often to ourselves. We make up stories about why someone did something that we don’t appreciate. It might sound like this, “they just don’t care, or they would have called me back.” Or, “they didn’t respond to my email – they must have hated my idea.”

And, we make up stories all the time about money.

Are the stories you tell yourself about money like a Stephen King novel that is terrifying and keeps playing over and over in your mind? Or, do you make up feel-good stories like Mama Mia or… Legally Blonde (I can’t not think “bend and snap” when I think about that one).

Ever have a bad night’s sleep worrying about money? It’s no wonder when you repeatedly tell yourself scary stories about it. You may be thinking – but it is scary Ellen! Is it? for sure? Or, are you disasterizing? Creating the worst-case story? I know… it’s easy to do.

So as long as you’re making up a story, why not make it one with a happy ending?

Here’s what I mean …

If you are Dorothy wanting to get home to Kansas and there are flying monkeys all around (aka terrible news and economic turmoil), yes it’s going to feel scary. So remember – you have the ability to find people to help you. And…

…you have what it takes to get where you want to go.

If you are making up a money story you might as well make up a good one.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

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Stop Arguing with this Person about Money

Watching the debate this week and witnessing a chaotic s*%! storm of acrimony, made me think about how much fighting there is going on in the world. More specifically, I was thinking about how often people argue about money.

It’s not just the fights that occur between partners when it comes to finances (which we know can be many) that are the issue. It’s the cruelty that many inflict upon themselves when it comes to thinking about their financial lives.

Your Money Bully

Maybe some of these thoughts sound familiar to you:

I never should have made that investment
I should have made that investment
Why did I waste money on that?
I suck when it comes to managing my money
I’ll never be good at handling my money
Crap, that was stupid (“that” being a myriad of actions)
Why does this always happen to me?
I’m an Idiot. Why can’t I make better money decisions?

Your inner money bully might sound a bit different than this – but we all have one that rears its ugly head at times. No good will come from listening to this voice. It’s plain old wrong. I promise you. When you listen to your money bully’s rants it starts to feel true but — It. Is. Not.

What to do? Tell it to shut the fork up (anyone else watching The Good Place? You’ll get that reference.)

Shift Your Attention – Cancel/Clear

Seriously. Stop it. Shift your attention when you catch these thoughts floating through your mind. Notice your feet, rub your fingers together, or take a deep breath. Do something to regain power over these thoughts instead of getting swept away by them. I also say to myself “cancel/clear.” Cancel that thought, clear it away and replace it with a different (more supportive) one.

With all of the meanness happening in the world choose to make a difference – start with being kinder to yourself.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

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What do Donuts have to do with Money?

What if there was a totally different way to look at growth and prosperity? I recently heard, for the second time, about donut economics. It makes economics sound more fun, right?!

It’s a concept created by Kate Raworth, “a renegade economist focused on exploring the economic mindset needed to address the 21st century’s social and ecological challenges, and the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries.” I love that’s she’s a “renegade economist!” You don’t tend to think of economists as being bad-ass. Kate Raworth is.

An easy way to explain what she’s proposing is in this short video (please take 2 minutes to watch this)

She also did a TED talk if you want more.

What is the doughnut? Well, it’s not just the fancy way to spell that not-so-healthy treat. Here’s how Kate Raworth explains it:

“Humanity’s 21st century challenge is to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. In other words, to ensure that no one falls short on life’s essentials (from food and housing to healthcare and political voice), while ensuring that collectively we do not overshoot our pressure on Earth’s life-supporting systems, on which we fundamentally depend – such as a stable climate, fertile soils, and a protective ozone layer. The Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries is a playfully serious approach to framing that challenge, and it acts as a compass for human progress this century.”

Cities like Amsterdam are embracing the ideas of doughnut economics and working toward creating a well-being economy.

This is a concept that can be applied to our personal and business financial goals as well. What if you had a well-being filter over your own financial and business goals? Really looking at how growing your wealth not only impacts you and your family, but also your community and the environment? It might have you asking questions like – are you working to the detriment of your health and relationships? Are you spending money on things you truly value? Are you accumulating money out of fear, or are you also contributing to causes that speak to you?

There are many needs out there now. You may need to shore up your financial house. And, maybe in the process you can make sure others in your community and around the world are taken care of as well.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

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Do You believe these Money Myths too?

There is so much personal financial information available. There are books, podcasts, web sites, even entire television networks dedicated to financial information. Great ways to get smart about money? Well yes, in moderation. I’m sure you’ve experienced that too much can be overwhelming and stress-inducing.

Even with all these educational and informational resources there are still money myths that lots of people buy into. Do you?

Here are 5 money myths to check in on:

1. You must be rational with money decisions – No one is rational when it comes to money. Everyone has beliefs and attitudes about money that color their decisions. The important thing is to check in on your thoughts and decide if they are useful or unhelpful. And, it’s okay to consciously be checking in with your gut and intuition to make money decisions.

2. You must have a budget – In all my years working with people and their money I’ve rarely, if ever, seen anyone actually stick to a budget. They feel restrictive. Think about how you feel when you hear the word diet. Budgets get the same reaction. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be aware of where you spend your money. Instead think of setting up a values-based spending plan.

3. Don’t work with a financial advisor, they’ll just charge you too much – Maybe you love watching, screening, and tracking your investments. Maybe running projections is fun for you. Then by all means do it yourself. Or, maybe you want some professional guidance. Perhaps when the world feels chaotic it’s helpful to you to have someone who can help you assess if you are making good decisions (see myth number 1). If this is the case, then it’s worth working with an advisor you trust; one you believe is looking out for your best interest. Yes, there are some bad ones out there, but there are a lot more who are good.

4. When our kids are in college is a good time for them to start to learn about money – Why wait? The best time to start teaching your kids how to be great with money is when they are very young and forming their beliefs and habits. More on this here. And you can hear more about this here.

And the most insidious myths are the ones you tell yourself –

– like this…

5. I’m no good at handling my money – This is a dangerous thought and most likely outright false. Maybe you just need to learn some more, change some habits, trust your gut and intuition more often. Or… watch how your thoughts change if you focus on what you are actually doing well in your financial life.

Don’t let any of these myths turn into realities for you.

Every good wish,

P.S. Hey, if you’re in financial services and want to learn how to grow in this new reality we’re all in there’s more here.

P.P.S. When you’re ready and the time is right, let me know if you want to have a conversation about how to listen to and understand your own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to money. Email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “money thoughts” in the subject line.

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Do you have Good Reminders around you?

What kind of positive reminders do you surround yourself with?

Keep quotes nearby on generosity, connectedness and other good stuff

… it’s simple and always useful for me. These are some of my favorites. I hope they are helpful for you too.

What are some of your favorite “good stuff” quotes?

Every good wish,

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The Best Way to Make Yourself Look Good

Want to put yourself in the best light?

If you want to grow your business, grow your network, and grow your influence consider how good you are at putting the spotlight on others. It’s natural to think “I want to grow my exposure, to be seen as the expert, and put the spotlight on me!” I’m not saying to never talk about your accomplishments or expertise. There are certainly times and places that this is important. What I am saying is that a great strategy for raising your profile is to shine the light on others.

When you publically acknowledge someone else, it makes you both look great.

Here are some ideas for spotlighting others:

Give them a LinkedIn recommendation – If you haven’t done this before here’s how. You can do this for people you’ve heard speak, people you’ve worked with, people you’ve hired, and anyone you have a sincere positive opinion of their work.
Give them social media love – Share their posts – this helps spread their thought leadership. Comment on their posts – this helps engagement and positively reinforces their ideas. Like their posts – this helps them get a dopamine hit, makes them feel good, and if they are looking will keep you on their mind as well.
Get them on your podcast/livestream if you are hosting one – Or, refer them to people you know who are podcast/livestream hosts. In this way you are sharing their awesomeness with a larger community.
Help them to expand their network – Refer them to people who will be good referral sources for them. For example, if you know a great mortgage broker introduce her to accountants and financial advisors who might be able to refer their clients to her.
Refer them to or book them yourself for speaking engagements.
Give their book a 5-star review on Amazon.
Write about them in your blog – If they have an inspirational story or are a good example of your point mention them. Here’s a blog where I mentioned the good work that Bess Gallanis is doing. Or you can link to their blogs.
Tell your friends about people you think are great at what they do – Shawne Duperon calls this good gossip. (Get what I just did there? )
Nominate people for awards.
Share their TEDx talks.
Send them referrals.

Make shining the spotlight on others a priority. Set goals around how many boosts to other people’s platforms you’ll give.

Why spotlight others?

You will build huge amounts of what my friend Debra Poneman calls relationship capital. (Here’s my interview with Debra to learn more.) You’ll be seen as someone who is an influencer, a giver and someone people want to stay in touch with. You’ll also feel great in the process.

And most importantly … generous people are hot!

Think of your network as a campfire.

It’s stays hotter, the flames are brighter when you keep adding fuel to it. Tend to your fire. Fan the flames.

Light up your world with generosity!

Every good wish,

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See the Signs that are there for You! ~ – ~ – ~ – ~ and How can You see More of them?

Have you ever had the experience of noticing something over and over? Maybe you keep seeing the same number when you notice the time, on license plates, and when you check out at the store? Often we might think “oh, that’s weird” and then move on. But what if there is a message there for you? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I keep seeing hawks flying and feathers on the ground.

I remember being a little girl and finding feathers. I’d pick them up, notice how they felt and often saved them. In the past few weeks I’ve been seeing feathers almost every day when I’ve been on walks. I don’t think I’ve noticed finding feathers since I was about 6. Now I see them frequently. Hmmm…interesting.

Here’s one I found the other day.

AND, I also started to see hawks. The first time I was walking in a forest preserve near my house. It was while I was doing a silent retreat and I was present enough to hear it and see it fly overhead. Then I started seeing them all the time. We recently drove to Atlanta to see family and I saw at least 40 of them on the drives there and back!

It started to be a game for me. If I tried hard could I spot a feather or a hawk? What I noticed was that when I tried to find feathers and hawks… nothing. When I relaxed and was present with my attention it’s like… they found me.

I got super curious about this, what did it mean? I got on Google and searched the meaning of feathers, and the meaning of hawks. Somehow I felt the true answers were more specific for me than what I found online. So here’s what I’m playing with now for the meaning:

When I’m present with what’s happening in the moment there are gifts to be found
When I look up it makes me think of possibilities and seeing hawks makes me think of soaring in my work
When I look down as I walk it reminds me to be grounded, to step into action, and to be open to what comes my way (and it may be an unexpected delight)

Is this actually what it means? I don’t know but it feels very right and I’m going with it.

**What signs are you seeing and what to do with them?**

Here are some suggestions for you to boost your inner wisdom.

Look – pay attention to what you’re seeing

The first step is to actually notice signs that are showing up for you. Do this with curiosity and lightness.

When you are thinking “oh that’s so cool” this is pointing you in the right direction.

Last month I looked up and saw this:

Ask – I wonder what this means for me?
Listen – Trust your answer!

I know you have deep wisdom sending you messages all the time. Please let me know what signs you’re seeing and what they mean to you!

Every good wish,

P.S. When you’re ready … if you’re curious about what signs might be there for you around money and prosperity and want some help interpreting them – let me know. Just email me at ellen@ellenrogin.com and put “signs” in the subject line.

Click to subscribe to the Prosperity Tips newsletter.

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The Must Have Catalyst to Your Money Mindset

What is a Scarcity Mindset?

What is an Abundance Mindset?

It’s not just about having a supportive mindset, it’s also about taking wise, inspired actions.

Shhhh … It’s a secret

Come Clean with Your Money Secrets

Money secrets are particularly insidious.

Make things right.

Who do you need to talk to about money?

Can Mindfulness Help You Sell Better?

Adding mindfulness into the mix is a great idea.

bring more mindfulness into business and your conversations for better results all around.

Flying Monkeys and Money … What?!

We tell stories all the time.

And, we make up stories all the time about money.

So as long as you’re making up a story, why not make it one with a happy ending?

…you have what it takes to get where you want to go.

Stop Arguing with this Person about Money

Your Money Bully

Shift Your Attention – Cancel/Clear

What do Donuts have to do with Money?

Do You believe these Money Myths too?

Here are 5 money myths to check in on:

And the most insidious myths are the ones you tell yourself –

Do you have Good Reminders around you?

Keep quotes nearby on generosity, connectedness and other good stuff

What are some of your favorite “good stuff” quotes?

The Best Way to Make Yourself Look Good

Want to put yourself in the best light?

When you publically acknowledge someone else, it makes you both look great.

Why spotlight others?

See the Signs that are there for You! ~ – ~ – ~ – ~ and How can You see More of them?

**What signs are you seeing and what to do with them?**

Look – pay attention to what you’re seeing

Ask – I wonder what this means for me?

Listen – Trust your answer!

What Your Generosity Style Says About You