Mistake #7

So I have a question for you…

On a scale of 1-10, (1 being low – 10 being high) how financially savvy would you consider yourself? (1 being you don’t know or care much about finances and someone else handles it for you and 10 being you could rival the Sharks on Shark Tank.) I mean, how much do you understand about money and how to make it and manage it?

You may be thinking, Julie, why all this talk about money? I thought you were here to talk about vision and far more altruistic topics like making a difference in the world.

Well, recently it has occurred to me as I have been addressing the mistakes women make that stop them from living out their visions how the enormous knowledge gap when it comes to finances is killing our ability to help others. That’s why all this talk about money.

This is an avoidable mistake.

So if you are a woman who wants to make a difference in this world but have limiting money issues, fears or ignorance, it is eventually going to come back to bite you and prevent you from making the impact you could.

So that is why I am talking about money because it’s not just that most women I talk to are not clear on their own strengths and the value that they bring, but they also don’t have a strong money mind. And mostly because of the way we have been raised. Not to blame anyone, but how many personal finance classes were you required to take in school? How many savvy money mentors offered to teach you? What kind of conversations happened in your home about money?

You are probably getting my point now about the knowledge gap.

So whenever I get to such stumbling blocks on the road to living my vision (and there have been many, like working with technology, like fear of what will people think, like marketing, etc) I use them as opportunities to learn…finances are no different.

I learned I don’t say to myself anymore: “I can’t figure out Facebook marketing, I don’t have time, I can’t afford that, etc.“

Instead…

I say, “How can I & who can help me figure out FB marketing? What time do I have and how can I afford that?”

See the difference? A statement closes down the mind to solutions. And a question opens up the mind to solutions. So you see it’s a matter of how you use your mind.

And yes, you have to have the right mindset or you are in trouble. But if you are lacking knowledge or skills you are also in trouble. And if you are like me and many of the women I work with, you have had very little training, if any on finances. Maybe a class at your local church but that’s the most I’ve seen.

Anyway, a big mistake is not getting the training you need to be able to allow you and your vision to really live. But again that is avoidable.

Knowledge is power, right?

When we learn how to drive our cars, wow, can we go places. When we learn how to use our phones, it’s amazing the connections we can make. What could we do if we learned how to use our finances?

So that is why I have expanded the newest component of Live Your Vision 4 to have a mini finance component called Your Money Mind: Financial Wellness that will allow you & your vision to thrive. It is a special mini personal finance course that is made for women entrepreneurs and executives, so they do not have to say ever again, “I can’t afford that.”

If you don’t understand money and you don’t have a good grasp on how to make it or manage it, how do you know what you can afford or what you cannot?

So along with all the others on this list let’s avoid the mistake of letting your limiting money story combined with your lack of knowledge stop you.

Let’s rid ourselves of any of these potential Vision threatening mistakes…

And let’s add this one to the debunked mistaken thoughts list:

Mistake #1:  It’s only for a select few.
Mistake #2:  I may have to I leave behind those I love.
Mistake #3:  It’s not in the cards for me.
Mistake #4:  I have to become someone I’m not.
Mistake #5:  There is nothing special about me.
Mistake #6:  I can’t afford it.

Mistake #7: Your limiting money story and knowledge gap

So be sure to do something about your own financial education. Become savvy with your money. Don’t let ignorance or stop you, cause as you’ve heard me say the world needs what you have. And having a savvy money mind is not just about you.

To Your Money Mind!