This month, I invite you to play a little money relationship game with me. Here we go!
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the greatest intensity) how intimate are you with your money? Write down your intimacy number here ______. Based on the number you wrote down, how would you describe your relationship with money?
If you wrote down a number between 1-3, is your relationship one of discontent, tension, avoidance or conflict. Are you on speaking terms? Are you in the midst of a separation? When is the last time you sat down with your finances and really had a heart to heart talk over lunch or a good cup of coffee and really opened up about what was on your mind?
If you wrote down a number between 4-7, are you on an acquaintance basis flirting with wanting companionship? Do you want more but not quite sure how to go about getting it? Are your desires pulling you into wanting to spend more time together? Do you have a growing interest to bring a better understanding to your relationship? Would you like money to hang in your orbit longer, rather than brief comings and goings? Does your heart yearn for more?
If you wrote down a number between 8-10, have you gone all the way with your relationship with money? Have you shared communication between the sheets (balance sheets that is)? Do you daydream about how money can nourish your deepest desires? Does it know what makes you happy? Is your relationship based on trust, respect and conscious communication?
SIX STEPS IN HOW TO SET A FEE STRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR BUSINESS
If you are in business for yourself you know first hand the inner struggle that can result when you initially set your fee structure or when you change your fee structure (which needs to be done yearly). Charging what you think your product or service is worth is both a personal decision and a decision about what the market will bear.
"What should I charge?" "How much will my target market pay?" These are the questions every entrepreneur needs to be asking on an annual basis. Each year, you evolve and when you evolve, your business evolves. Your evolution increases the value of your services. Each year you become more of an expert and your fees need to reflect your "added value" to your client base.
Following are guidelines to support you in creating a fee structure to give your business a solid foundation which in the long run will allow it to thrive and keep you in business!
This piece is written by Bob Schwarz in his book, Diets Don’t Work! It’s about being “conscious,” something we are being called to do more of right now and in my opinion is the silver lining in this economy!
Eat when you are hungry
Spend when it’s necessary
Eat exactly what your body wants
Buy exactly what circumstances require
Eat each bite consciously
Record each expense as it happens
Stop when your body has had enough
Stop when the need has been met