Money is a conversation that stirs up the pigeons. Not certain if that’s a universal analogy, but here in the UK it means the subject can cause a lot of flapping and squawking.
Most of the time the flappy squawk dance happens inwardly, anchored to erroneous attitudes and patterns of thinking that have nothing to do with the actual value of money at all.
Often it has more to do with how we value ourselves!
The controversial nature of money has many facets, of course, and the love of it has led to some monumental injustices that muddy the waters when we are trying to get clarity on the subject in our own heart.
An honest truth that I have found some people kick against mentally and verbally, but generally agree within their secret moments and their actions, is that we all would like some more of it. I know I do. Even accepting and saying that is a shift for me.
The money conversation was one I either avoided or grappled against, for many years.
The Shift From Cost to Value
The shift in thinking began for me when I moved my focus from cost to value. When someone begins to think and converse with the world in terms of value the picture changes.
What value can I offer to others?
How can I be valuable to this person, help them reach their goals and fulfil their dreams?
In what way can I exchange my support and expertise that will give someone else a leg up on their creative destiny, and open their eyes to the wealth they carry inside?
I mentioned Zig Ziglar’s famous quote previously:
“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”
I also want to bring another wise meditation to you today from Bob Burg’s life-changing little book, The Go Giver. In the book, Bob speaks about the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success.
I planned to pull just one of them, but every single one is relevant to what I’m sharing here:
- The Law of Value: “Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.”
- The Law of Compensation: “Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.”
- The Law of Influence: “Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interest first.”
- The Law of Authenticity: “The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.”
- The Law of Receptivity: “The key to affective giving is to stay open to receiving.”
Print them out and stick them on your mirror. Each one of them is a vital truth worth living by. They will help you navigate the cost/value conversation.
Give in value, take in payment. It is an exchange.
Focus on what you can give in value, make that your great quest, and then be open and receptive to the rewards. Know that what you offer is worthy of compensation.
Instead of thinking, “How can I get more of what I want?” Ask the question, “How can help others in a genuine and authentic way to get what they want?”
I won’t pretend that I have mastered this conversation, it is an open discussion for me, one that bounces back and forth between numerous voices who want to have their say; limited thinking has his moments at the table, self-esteem ebbs and flows into the boardroom, ambition and courage sometimes stake their claim.
It is not an easy one to win, because in truth, for many of us who live in countries where we have liberty too choose our path of life, the only limits we live by are ones we place upon ourselves.
I have certainly found that looking at money as a convenient means to exchange value is better than esteeming it in other ways because this philosophy focuses you on two things:
1. Value what you have and who you are more fully.
Don’t underestimate or undervalue who you are, what you know, and how you can help change someone else’s life. The real work of expansion and growth is one of self acceptance and self worth. You are bigger, better, and more powerful than you think.
2. Find ways to share that value with others in an authentic way
This is the primary focus of the Christian Creative Academy, helping Christians to crystallize their amazing worth in ways that can be consumed and shared by others. There needs to be a conduit for your wonder, and technology has made this easier than ever.
