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How to Stop Being a Slave to Scarcity Mindset

I’m Canadian, and I fully understand the concept of being on the cutting edge of cheap. I often joke about this with my father because he is a stickler to get his hydro bill as low as possible.

The problem with our scarcity mindset is that it creeps into our business lives as well which is not productive. Here are some crazy things that I’ve seen others do when they’re a slave to scarcity. And some of them I’ve even done myself from time to time. Moving away from this mindset into abundance takes time, and recognizing the behaviours is an important first step.

Not Putting a Value on Your Time

When people first start their business, they rarely accept credit cards. I know that I did this myself because I resented the transaction fees that they charged. I know a fellow business owner that has been driving an hour to meet with a client to collect a project installment cheque.

Until the two of us talked about it, she didn’t realize how crazy that was. Especially when it is so easy these days to create a merchant account to accept credit cards from your clients. It’s important to think about the time you’re spending in order to save. Being mindful of this will help you avoid this type of a trap.

Avoiding Automation

Avoiding business automation tools because you think the software/plugin is too expensive without factoring in the time that it takes is another demonstration of not valuing your own time. Some of these tools can save hours of data entry per month through integrations which do cost money, but if you think about the time it takes to do them manually then they’re definitely worth it!

Here are some time saving examples:

  • Integrating your website e-commerce software with your accounting software
  • Using a paid web form software that has lots of functionality (i.e. integrations, exports, etc.)
  • Connecting your web forms with your email software, accounting software, etc.
  • Using a meeting scheduling software to book meetings with clients/prospects
  • Inserting a pre-questionnaire before people can schedule a time in your calendar so you can determine if they’re qualified leads (this is important once your business is at a point where you cannot keep up with the consultation requests)
  • Project management software saves you time because you’re on track with what needs to get done and in what order
  • Buying stock images instead of surfing for hours on the Internet to find free ones

Buying Cheap Website Hosting

When you think of your website like a real estate property that you own, you’ll start to realize that not all of your visitors fit on the property as your business grows, or they have a lousy experience visiting your property because it hasn’t been well maintained. You may think that you’ve made a secret “win” by getting a ridiculously cheap hosting package, but the joke’s on you in the end.

As an example, I attended a webinar hosted by an influential business consultant who was interviewing a coach. It was an excellent interview and I visited the coach’s website during the webinar because I was curious about them. Their website was down because it could not handle the influx of traffic. I went from thinking of the coach as an expert to wondering if they had their s4*t together. Can you imagine the lost opportunities?

The Difference Between a $100,000 and a $1,000,000 Business

What’s the difference? It’s the expenses. As your business grows, so do you expenses. I’ve suffered from this recently because I experienced significant growth in the past year, but I kept trying to keep my business credit card statements at the same amount as they were the year before. This is simply not realistic.

As your business grows, be mindful that your expenses need to reflect that as well. Money is like energy, and needs to continue to flow. When you hoard it, you’re not allowing things to flow naturally.

Doing Tasks You Shouldn’t

Sometimes we wander down a rabbit hole of tasks that we have no business getting ourselves into. Here are some examples of things you should be passing off to someone else as your business expands:

  • Running errands
  • Building and editing your website
  • Doing expense reports, bank reconciliations and bookkeeping
  • Cleaning your house/office
  • Basic customer service
  • Basic copywriting and creating social media posts

I’m sure you’ve become attached to some of these tasks especially because you’re so good at them now. If you want to grow your business and your reach, this is not the type of work that will let you shine. It is critical to hire support in these areas to free up your time for making big shifts in your business.

This type of work can be hired out to another person for $10-25 per hour. If that sounds expensive for you, then you’re not valuing your own time enough. To become more efficient and effective, than outsourcing is a strategy worth considering on your journey.

Getting Chintzy with a Good Cause

Since money is energy and keeping it flowing is important, what if you don’t have any in the beginning? How can you get the flow going? What I did as I was growing my business was take on charitable projects for free for other people as a way of giving back. This initiated a flow of goodwill that felt right for me.

As my business has grown, I am finally able to make financial contributions to charities and causes that resonate with me instead of time. It feels so good to give back. And that includes more than just charity. I also consider budding businesses a good cause. I saw a quote by Kevin Spacey about the importance of sending the elevator back down once you’ve risen to the top and I’m always mindful of them when I’m talking to people making the transition from the corporate world into their own business.

Growing Into Abundance

Shifting from scarcity into abundance takes time and mindfulness. It’s easy to fall into old habits and requires mindfulness during the transition. I often joke about the idea of “getting off of your wallet” which definitely plagues the even the best of us at times.

The important thing is to realize is that it’s a choice.

If you want more abundance in your life, it starts with your everyday decisions like these.

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Growing Your Business Like a Tumour is BS

Yay! So you’ve made the giant leap out of the corporate world so you can leave the hamster wheel behind you. You were tired of not feeling fulfilled, and felt like you didn’t fit in. You were right. You didn’t.

Often times in the corporate world we’re coerced into thinking that rapid business growth is normal and natural. The only thing that emulates that type of growth in nature is cancer.

cancerous tumour growth rateDo you want a business that emulates that type of growth?

Are you looking for a bigger purpose rather than just profit?

Are you tired of traditional business models based on artificial power?

Doesn’t it sound more authentic to run your business with both your left and right brain?

Are you ready to take your corporate hat off?

We’re creating a collective movement towards embracing a new way of doing business more consciously. What does that look like?

Here are a few shifts you can make:

  • Negotiating agreements and having relationships providing a win-win solution for both parties
  • Paying your employees and sub-contractors promptly (don’t wait for 30-60 days like your accountant tells you)
  • Using our intuition to filter our new clients: help clients that serve a higher purpose creating a ripple effect of goodwill
  • Integrating time to replenish or qi through guided meditation, movement meditation, rest, nature walks, etc.
  • Unplugging from our business for quiet rejuvenating weekends
  • Connecting with fellow conscious entrepreneurs
  • Not always making financial decisions that your accountant would recommend. Running a business with a triple bottom line leaves a little less room for profit, but if your goal factors in your true core values, then this is a non-issue.
  • Focus on serving your higher purpose to provide a product/service that people will be excited about
  • Unapologetically live outside the spiritual closet
  • Pay attention to your business wake: are there human sacrifices, environmental pollutants, ethical/legal violations or poor economic ramifications?
  • Use money like energy by maintaining a natural flow to it. Hoarding money is not healthy. When you become financially successful, paying it forward continues the flow of energy.
  • Offering a living wage for your employees instead of minimum wage
  • Offering fair pricing instead of the lowest pricing, otherwise you’re just squeezing yourself, and that’s not fun for anyone
  • Sharing information rather than hoarding information
  • Partnerships with others instead of market domination
  • Focus on the long game, your reputation and legacy rather than short term spikes

When we shed all of the “shoulds” of business, and start listening to our own innate spirit to guide us, there is a magical sweet spot.

What are the benefits of running a conscious business? Here are a few perks:

  • This is when your business actions are congruent with your core values.
  • You are more creative because you’re listening to your own intuition instead of conforming and using coercion tactics
  • Your business is more fun because when you’re working in the realm of a higher vibration, you attract clients that share this mindset, respect you and also enjoy the more important nuances in life like the joy of laughter
  • Your business is built on long term sustainable growth that mimics nature. When businesses expand rapidly, the only thing similar to this is the growth of a malignant tumour. Conscious businesses are around for the long haul and aren’t about silver bullets.
  • When you’re working with your own innate power, then you don’t need tools that help you with confidence because your passion will come through when you speak and interact with others. This type of power makes you a natural authority that is magnetic for others. They will be able to read your underlying intentions and naturally want to follow you.

If this business model sounds like a better fit for you, join our community! Our first gathering is shown below, or you can join our mailing list so you can get alerts on other upcoming events like web classes, podcasts and more.

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Coming Out of the Spiritual Closet

There were many friends in my network who really had no idea who I really was or what was really on my mind. Being a seeker can be a lonely path at times without fellow seekers on the journey.

It’s almost as though you need to start living a double life. This is because you know that your non-spiritual friends will look at you like you have three heads when you mention anything even remotely ‘woo woo’.

You come to a point of virtual isolation because you cannot fully speak your mind with those that you’ve known for years. You’re always holding back. Not giving them everything that you are.

There comes a time when the real you needs to stand up. A time to stand up and shine. Stop hiding in the normalcy. Start embracing your lighter side and sharing it with the world.

This doesn’t mean that you need to sell all of your possessions, climb Machu Pichu, become a monk and abandon all of your friendships. There are gentler ways to stand in your new power that are more realistic.

For me, it meant surrounding myself with people who were also seekers. People who “get me”. It didn’t mean abandoning all of my existing friendships. It just meant that introducing new friendships into my life made everything feel brighter and more promising.

These new friendships are absolutely fascinating for me and encourage boundless spiritual growth. I can finally say everything that’s on my mind without judgment or being misunderstood. They open my mind to new possibilities and gain trust and confidence in what I’ve been learning from the universe.

Coming out of the spiritual closet also enables me to be more of my full self around those who not yet seekers. It doesn’t mean that I need to end all of my previous relationships. Instead, they are opportunities for me to share the love and light with others who may be struggling. I don’t necessarily use the same verbiage with them, but you can still hold conscious conversations with others without all of the woo woo jargon.

They may eventually become seekers as well. Or not. And that’s okay too. But if they do become curious, they can be assured that they know someone who can help them find some answers to their questions.

coming out of spiritual closet

Why am I a seeker?

Well, you reach a point in your life when you feel like you just have too many questions. And a seeker is someone who is looking for the bigger answers in life.

A lot of seekers that I know, tend to have a significant life event that makes them more curious. For me, it was the death of my father in law in his early sixties. I became curious as to what happened to his soul, what was his life’s purpose and how could I help create peace for my mother in law.

It was also the birth of my son who was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago. It seemed like the only clinical solution for him was medication or therapy. There wasn’t much to find in the way of natural alternatives. Becoming a parent to a child with rampant temper tantrums was a big enough whack over the side of the head to realize that I needed to step up my game.

This spiritual journey has introduced more love into my life, which has become my go-to for every problem. Whenever I feel stuck, I can always think of a solution when it’s based in love. I’m not referring to romantic love. If you’re curious about it, check out “A Return to Love” by Marianne Williamson. This has created much more peace in my life and has answered a lot of those big life questions.

I’ve also found that using my curiosity has brought me closer to my life’s purpose. I felt like it started with a gentle whisper, then it switched to a nudge and now it is beginning to be a tap on the shoulder. Using the concept of seeking enables you to ask questions and seek answers to determining your greater path.

It was a natural evolution for my spirituality to spill over into my business as well. There was a disconnect for me once I hit my office. It took a great conversation with my coach to realize that even though I left the corporate world, I was still running my business primarily using my left brain.

My coach made me realize that for me, it meant changing the clients that I was working with. Instead of working with anyone who came my way, I starting asking more questions during my consultations to understand their “why”. This was a big turnaround for me in my business.

I believe in the philosophy that money only amplifies who you really are. And if I can support and help conscious entrepreneurs flourish, then I know that they will help make the world a better place. Not just in their own bank account.

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The Truth About Business Today

One of the biggest oversights in business today is looking solely at your bottom line. Yes, in business school we have all be trained to pay attention to profit, shareholder value, yadda, yadda, yadda…

The missing piece of the puzzle is the use of your instincts. This is the wriggling tap on your shoulder or whisper in your ear that says “That’s great and all, but what about people? What about the planet? And what about my purpose?”.

There are times in our business that we need to pay more attention to our instincts. Those instances when you have a gut feel about a potential market, product or service that you think will be a great innovation.

True creativity and excellence does not come from your balance sheet. It comes from being in tune with your intuition. Your internal compass of where to take your business next.

The business world is coming back into balance. Say farewell to the days of terms like dominance, guerilla, merciless and staunch. The new business leaders are in town, and they are more well rounded and centred than the previous generations of leaders.

These new leaders are holistic, intuitive, loving, open hearted, balanced and purposeful. They look beyond the balance sheet and consider several factors into their decision making. Planet. Purpose. People. And then Profit. They don’t think of business in black and white. They’re tomorrow’s visionaries and their businesses and going to be principled in different ways. Because they are principled in different ways.

This next generation of leaders were practically born with their third eye open and working in flow with their instincts is effortless. This is why they’re leaving the workforce in droves to start their own businesses. Live their own dreams instead of someone else’s. Create their own legacy. This is conscious leadership. This is happening today. This is the future for our tomorrow. It’s a coming home to our own purpose and being authentic by living a life and run a business that reflects it.

conscious-entrepreneursStudies are showing us that there is a link between relentlessly pursuing money being correlated to the rise of depression and anxiety. One piece that I find particularly touching is the writings of Steve Jobs shortly before his passing.

Steve Jobs’ Last Words Quote:

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success.

However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.

At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.

In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…

Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…

Should be something that is more important:

Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days
Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth.

The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.

That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.

Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.

What is the most expensive bed in the world? Sick bed…

You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.

Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – Book of Healthy Life.

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure Love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends.

Treat yourself well. Cherish others.”

A friend of mine who recently lost her mother also had similar sentiments:

At the end, when it’s all said and done, no one will care about your course launches or “six-figure business” or book deal or social media followers or marketing to-do list.

It’s about putting these things into perspective by taking a step back and looking at your legacy as opposed to your bottom line.