Tap Into A Strategy of Abundance (Is Your Mindset Holding You Back?)

Mindset is as big of a factor in your business success as anything else that you are doing to grow your company. Every successful person will agree. Unfortunately, I work with a number of clients who have what I call a "scarcity mentality." This is an underlying belief system that is undermining your success. I encourage you to start to examine your own beliefs about success and financial freedom. Here are some scarcity beliefs that may be holding you back:

** I am scared of not having enough business or income.

** I think people might take advantage of me.

** I can't charge very much because I won't get business.

** I don't have enough customers.

** Marketing my business too much is "bad" or "pushy."

** I have to struggle because I work for myself.

** There isn't enough business to go around for my competitors and me.

** Money doesn't grow on trees (meaning it's hard to come by).

** You have to work really, really hard to be successful.

** I'll never be successful in growing my business.

Do any of these statements sound familiar to you?

Every time you have a thought like the ones above, there is a feeling that goes with it that affects your brain, body, and actions. The feeling might be depression, fear, stress, or anxiety. These feelings that go with the thought can bring up even more thoughts, which in turn lead to more feelings until we feel hopeless and overwhelmed. It is a downward spiral that is based on fear - not reality. And yet, it is so easy for many of us to work ourselves into this negative thought frenzy.

When you are in a constricted, oppressed state like this, it works against your creative, expansive, attractive energy that allows business and money to flow effortlessly to you. Every time you have thoughts of scarcity, they prevent you from attracting the very things you want - success, ease, and joy in your business and your life. When you are mired in a scarcity mentality, you cannot see opportunities and you radiate an energy of despair that your prospects can sense. People are attracted to success and they are repelled by scarcity. Your belief system makes itself apparent in the things you say, the choices you make, and the way you interact with people.

Your scarcity mentality is deeply rooted in you by familial conditioning. We learn these thought patterns from our parents, grandparents, peers, and other family members. You were probably conditioned with the same scarcity mentality that's passed down from one generation to the next. Think about conversations you remember hearing about money while you were growing up. Think about the beliefs you have now. Do you remember the very same thoughts in your head being said by your parents or other family members when you were young?

The good news is you have the power to change your habits, thought patterns, and actions. You can shift your scarcity mentality to one of ongoing abundance. A successful and thriving company leader lives by the following statements: "I am a remarkable leader of a powerful business. I am in charge of my success. I choose the customers I work with. I deserve to get paid for my value. I enjoy limitless opportunities flowing my way."

One easy way to accelerate your success and quickly move your thoughts and feelings into the abundance state is to acknowledge the customers, sales, and opportunities you are enjoying right now. Also, be grateful for all of the new opportunities that are flowing toward you. The more gratitude you express, the less room there is for scarcity thinking. It shifts your mindset into one of ongoing attraction.

Another powerful way to shift your mindset is cultivate an attitude of abundant giving. There are many opportunities to give things away to our prospects and clients. This can include no-cost teleseminars, articles, thank-you cards, gift cards, and reports. To clarify, I am not saying that you should give away your core services or products. In fact, I urge you to avoid doing this because it diminishes your value. In contrast, you should charge a high price for your expertise and you deserve to be paid well.

There is a huge opportunity to give away samples of your expertise and special "extras." These will leave people wanting more of you. In doing this, you differentiate yourself from your competitors and you position your business as one that is operating from a place of abundance. This is very attractive to other people because it SHOWS people the value of your services. An abundant giving strategy builds the value you provide your clients, reinforces your expertise, and nurtures the long-term relationships you have with your clients.

Maven Action Tip: Answer these questions to get at the root of some of your mindset and money beliefs: What are some of the beliefs that you have about money? Which beliefs are sabotaging you in your business? How do these beliefs make you feel? How can you shift scarcity beliefs into an abundant mindset? List all of the things that you are grateful for in your business right now.