Sunday, December 20, 2009
Insufficient Funds: The cure for the common cause
By Mike Lake
A serious affliction is infecting a large number of people who aren’t even aware of the affliction, much less that they’ve been carrying it for a very long time. It’s invisible to them, and even though they are vaguely aware of the symptoms, they actually believe that these symptoms are a sign of health. They therefore nurture and justify their affliction with their entire identity.
Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Well, the affliction I am writing about is what I’ll call the Wealth Scarcity Mentality. It also goes by the other name: Starving Artist Syndrom. It affects 1 out of every 3 small business people (I made that up). Exactly how many people it affects, I have no idea, but as you read this think about yourself.
There’s one group of people–a profession–that I see as consistently plagued by the wealth scarcity mentality. And to help address this, my wife, Christine is leading a provocative workshop at 7PM on November 5 at The Nurtured Spirit in Warwick to speak to these professionals on this very topic. Specifically, the group to which I am referring is the holistic health professionals, but again, the wealth scarcity mentality affects a much greater number, than just these good people. Her talk will discuss this dis-order and share wealth creation secrets known by wealthy people that can be applied to anyone.
As holistic healers know better than most, any dis-ease within the body reflects some sort of blockage or conflict. Remove the blockage or resolve the conflict and you will have replaced dis-ease with vibrant health. But, what’s this got to do with money?
My observation and the observation of many with whom I have discussed this see an overwhelming number of spiritually-oriented health practitioners who are broke. I could write that softer, but the fact is that I am aware of only one holistic healer who doesn’t seem to be struggling to make ends meet. In fact, without a tinge of guilt, he seems to be running a bustling profitable business. Okay, two–Deepak Chopra is another.
One sign of the problem appears with many who seem apologetic when collecting their fees. I can see the faint look of guilt in their eyes as soon as it becomes the dreaded time to collect their payment. And there is often passionate pushback at ideas I might propose to them that would boost their business and income. It is as if making money is in direct conflict with the very nature of their chosen profession. Think about it: Their lives are dedicated to giving. Giving relief. Giving health. Giving life. Receiving money, therefore, to many of these professionals, seems at a deep, barely perceptible level, contrary to their life’s work.
Why does this appear to be different from western doctors? Well, I know broke doctors too. Western medicine has only recently become remotely comfortable with marketing. Advertising for them used to be considered unethical and therefore, against the rules.
Here’s the question: Is the giving art of healing–at root–in conflict with receiving money?
Consider other professions that have inherited the false believe that making money is in conflict with serving, or giving the fruits of their labor. I received a call yesterday from the head of a local arts council who asked if I would have anything to say about marketing to his association of artists. He explained that many in his artist community believe that marketing or selling is inappropriate, ineffective or impossible. Yes, I told him, I do have something to say about that! After all, I too am a musician.
Despite what Hollywood, the tabloids and pop television preaches to us daily, making money is NOT the root of evil. Rather, it is the reward for giving value. It is the currency of trade. If my local yoga center fails to make enough money to stay open, the community suffers the loss of that value–the personal value to the people whose lives are made better through the benefits of yoga. If the reflexology practitioner is forced to get a full-time administrative job at the local car dealership, I lose the healing benefits of her practice.
The answer to all is to enthusiastically embrace the concept of making money proportional to the value you provide. I know of no holistic healer or artist who doesn’t believe that they do great life-changing work. In fact these people believe much more passionately in the value they provide to their customers than the average stockbroker or M&A executive. (They should hold their head up high as well, but that’s another post.)
So I say embrace marketing and selling your services. That means subscribe to ManiacalMarketer.com, talk to your local newspaper about doing an article about your work, lead a seminar within your community about topical issues related to your practice, embrace the Internet in spreading your ideas and your work. And then devise ways to create business and your wealth birthright from each of those activities.
Last, here’s your assignment: Before going to bed tonight and every night hence, tell yourself that it is your purpose in life to earn wealth from your profession and your passion. You deserve more than a living. You’re entitled to a grand life. Remind yourself that value begets value. Show guilt the door and reap the monetary rewards of the health you provide, the music you perform and the paintings or photographs you place in people’s homes.
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