It is amazing how an executive earning $600,000 a year can lose his position, and in 6 months to a year get another position earning just about the same amount. Why is that you think? I want to venture a couple of answers, then I want to hear from you. I think this executive saw himself as a $600,000 a year worker, and it would be beneath him to work for $150,000 a year.
That is the issue here, I believe. How do you see yourself? What do you think about yourself is all important, not what others think about you.
So to earn more, we have to change how we view ourselves. “Without change there can be no breakthroughs, and without breakthroughs there can be no future”, the ancient proverb goes.
One crucial thing that has to change is a shift in our relationship with money. Being thankful for the money we do have. Being willing to give it away to worthy causes.
Another crucial change I believe to have a healthy relationship with money is to know how much you need each month to power your machine; your life. I believe a major source of vagueness in relation to the money we are allowed to manage, is not knowing where it goes. A good exercise to help combat that “in the fog,” feeling about where your money goes is: for one month or two write down what you spend. Down to that soda right up to that utility bill. If it takes $3,500 to make ends meet, plus put something set aside, and you are spending $4,000, with credit cards making up the difference, that is a problem. Also writing down what you spend and the date you spent it brings you into the here and now.
After you have a record of what you have spent for a month or so you are ready to make a Spending Plan. This is different from a Budget. A Budget deals with deprivation and penny pinching. Budget is ole school, and we want to press on to the new. A Spending Plan deals with flexibility and choice.
On a spread sheet list your 25 or so categories that encompass your life. The Spending Plan is broken down into four week periods. At the end of the month add up the categories to see just how much you actually spend per month.
Another critical step in changing your relationship to money is to join a support group. With your group you will be able to do far more than you could ever accomplish alone. It will get you out of isolation and give you a platform to talk about your money issues. There are plenty of such groups out there, so shop around. Commit to your group and, you will be amazed at the progress you will make. There are many such groups, such as, Debtors Anonymous, which is based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. This Twelve Step group has stood the test of time, and is in most big cities or you can contact the main office at Debtors Anonymous. Org to find zoom meetings. Jerrold Mundis’ book, Earn What You Deserve, has been a helpful resource for me.
After finding a support group, put these meeting times on your daily planner, commit to them and you will see dramatic changes.