I want to share these decisions with you today, the decisions that pave the way to financial freedom and wealth. Money in and of itself, I should tell you, isn’t the end goal; if you make it the goal, it will run your life, it will NEVER be enough, and you will therefore be so attached to it you cannot take or face a loss. This is not freedom, it is the opposite of freedom. So what I am talking about when I say “financial freedom,” is the ability to master and attain the mindset and the means to achieving the life you desire, from wherever you are.
Three decisions get you there. Just three.
Decision 1: Get paid based on the RESULTS you create, not your TIME.
The first decision I made is crucial to anyone breaking out of corporate, where you get paid for time, regardless of effort or returns, and into consulting – where value is based on performance and expected outcome.
In the entrepreneurial world, time exchange for money makes no sense and does not scale. It de-incentivizes success and performance. Basing pricing, instead, on perceived outcome value opens us AND our clients up to the potential for limitless rewards.
When I started out as a coach, I based my fees on “what the market standard was.” The only problems with that were:
– There is no market standard
– Low pricing crippled the business
– Low pricing did not honor the clients’ potential and ability to rise to a level of investment
– the pricing, when it was inadequate, did not come NEAR reflecting results. My clients, right off the bat, made millions of dollars, created multi million dollar businesses and practices, got out of horrendous marriages and into peaceful, loving partnership, cleaned up their teams and organizations, forgave their moms, moved on. There is no price for inner peace and consistent, lasting success – but once I started charging based on expected results and not on time, it felt a lot closer.
Decision 2. Spend money to SAVE time. Always.
The typical person often sacrifices time to save a small amount of money. For example, you want new sunglasses. You find them right away, at Sunglass Hut, for $450. Instead of going “Bam, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for!” and forking over your card, you then spend 7 hours scrolling for a cheaper and nowhere near as good option, just to save some bucks.
Same goes when you find THE coach who knows where you want to go and knows how to set you on that exact path with the exact roadmap in 6 months, but you think “I’ll save the money and do it myself with books and online freebies,” landing you in exactly the same place, 5 years later.
My friend and former coach, the great Rachel Rodgers, calls this kind of decision a B.A.D.: a BROKE ASS DECISION.
So here’s what I now know: wealthy and successful people and entrepreneurs do not make this kind of decision. They KNOW that time is their most valuable and non replenishing resource. They are willing to pay upfront to save it, in my observation, and today, I do the same. I invest in all sorts of time saving – from, yes, getting the first pair of sunglasses, if I need one, and moving on, to investing in staffing, in problem-solving and in continuous production of more time – in order to beget more resources. When you INVEST, you MAKE money.
The only thing needed here is some mindfulness; we are not saying “just buy the damn sunglasses.” We are saying: if it is necessary, will save you time and will likely MAKE you money – stop thinking and make a move.
And that, incidentally, is what Rachel Rodgers calls a MDD: a Million Dollar Decision.
Decision 3: Pursue Self Development relentlessly.
The third habit decision is one I have heard echoed by every “guru” I have followed – investing in your education, skill and mindset are the order of the day, every day. The successful entrepreneurs and leaders I know all have this in common, too – they do not cease to learn, and are perpetually enrolling in courses, and engaging in masterminds. I joined their ranks in 2015, when I started rolling into piles of books, masterminds, retreats, conferences and coaching. THIS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. It has directly impacted my happiness, my relationships, my love life, my business – from inception to current state, my relationship with time and my interest in life. There is absolutely no measure for this return, but if you want one, check this out:
In 2016, I was divorced ,could barely pay my rent on the Upper East Side, had to cancel all my memberships and needed one full time job and two side jobs just to get on my feet.
7 years later, I am joyfully married, own a gorgeous home in Austin, Texas, and run a coaching business that is now in its second 7-figure year.
Sure, this may not last. But you know what? I have already MADE these three decisions, and will stick with them – which means, failure won’t last long. And that is the real point. That is what I mean by financial FREEDOM.
In Sum….
If you are willing to take a leap and make these 3 decisions in your life and business —choosing to be paid for results, not time, spending money to save time, and always opting to double down on and invest in your mindset – you will not just be rich in money, you will be rich in opportunities, in time, in peace, and in freedom.
And if you’re looking for a strategic pathway to elevate your personal brand and expedite your journey to joy, success and growth, I am here for you. Book your 30 minute consultation today, and let’s get to it.
PS: Book recommendations to go with this article –
1) Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki
2) We Should All Be Millionaires, Rachel Rodgers