Scarcity and Guilt in the Service Industry

Recently I talked to a group of mental wellness and life coaches about overcoming the whole scarcity mentality whenn it comes the time to charge for their services. Now you might relate to this, or not...not everyone has a problems with setting prices and collecting from your clients...but that only sets you in the low percentage, most battle with this.

So here some light on the matter.

In the pursuit of making your entreprenunership, specially if you are providing services, a successful one, it is important for us to start with our mindset. I completely understand that many of us struggle with this. It could be due to the imposter syndrome, our own limiting beliefs, or simply the fact that we are unsure of where to begin. With that in mind, I want to emphasize the significance of modifying our mindset, particularly when it comes to our beliefs about abundance.

For many of us, this concept has been a challenge. Questions like how much should I charge for my services? Can I even charge for my services? Perhaps, we doubt our abilities and feel that we need more recognition before charging for our services. Consequently, we may end up offering our services for free. It's understandable. However, it's crucial to address one of the biggest hurdles faced in the service industry, which is: having the audacity to expect compensation for their good work.

Sometimes it's tough to accept that we can make money while doing good. After all, Mother Teresa and Gandhi didn't rake in a fortune. In fact, many influential individuals were not affluent and had no such aspiration.?

This contradiction leaves us pondering: Can we be of service to the world if money matters? So, what's the deal?

You must work on reframing those beliefs, that tell you money is wrong, making money makes a bad person, and so on. WE need to understand money is super powerful, it is pure energy...forget the paper and the coin. Think of the law of abundance and believe that money is energy; and like any kind of energy it can be devastating and use for ill sake or it can be a force of creation, with it you can do great deeds. Most importantly, you most think of making a profit as a way to better serve your community and clients.?

Remember the scale of Maslow? if you are unable to attend to your very basic needs, how can you expect to grow, learn and eventually excel or grow continously?

So let's work on our belief system and change our mindset from scarcity to abundance.

Again, don't think of it as paper and coin but in terms of energy that will fuel your continuous growth. Part of this energy is success; you must be successful in what you do to build up your energy. Success has many interpretations, yet whichever you believe it to be, it is still success. In order to be successful, you must first believe yourself to be successful and believe that by being successful, you will eventually be wealthy. I know it sounds like a hippy bs, but this is about mindset.

Now for you to change your belief systems of success, wealth and the power of money, you must truly live in alignment with your thoughts, beliefs and actions - which by the way to my criteria is the only way to manifest something.

In short, in order for real success – and wealth – to come your way, three things?have to be in total alignment: your thoughts, your beliefs, and your actions.

I am not going to lie, this is not an easy story to overcome because of all the social conditioning that has occurred around this subject.

However, once you do overcome this, you’ll see that money and service can easily coexist without any friction whatsoever. So here is what I want us to work on together, the following steps will help us align our belief, free our guilt and re-learn how money can support not only our journey but that of who we want to serve.

Step #1: Align your story

As a society, we have a problem when it comes to getting paid to do good. Throughout history, institutions have told us that wanting money is greedy. They say we should give away stuff to be charitable, and industries, like non-profit work, often work employees too hard because they're doing good and not supposed to care about money. The media and people around us blame greedy corporations and politicians for our financial problems. Basically, we've come to believe that money is generally connected to something negative.

So it comes down to a lack of alignment with our values, beliefs, needs and wants.

The whole idea is to really understand what the story means to you and then just ask yourself, "Where the heck did this story come from?

Please note, do not ask yourself “Why?do I have this story?”

according to?Ajit Nawalkha from Mindvalley, asking "Why,?will?only get a scripted response from your ego who has probably rationalized your story forwards and backwards to try and convince you it’s correct"?Instead, ask where. This gets you out of your logical mind.

Now let's get aligned

First – your thoughts.?Do you really think you're worth the investment your clients make in working with you? If not, you're out of sync. It's important to grasp the value and unique skills you bring. Clients choose you because they trust you can deliver exceptional results. Building confidence is crucial for attracting and keeping clients. Think about your achievements and acknowledge the impact you've had. Own your expertise and recognize the value you provide. Remember, your clients are putting more than just money into this – they are investing not only in themselves, but also in you and your potential.

Embrace your worth and let it shine through your work. Believe in yourself, and others will too.

Next – your beliefs.?You might think these are kinda the same thing, but they're not, ya know? For example, if you wanna make more money but believe all wealthy people are scumbags, then you're out of alignment. On the other hand, if you're like, yeah, money is just a tool and having lots of it can help you make a positive impact in the world, then you're aligned with your desire for wealth. Let go of those limiting beliefs and embrace abundance. Also, it's important to realize that being rich doesn't define a person's character. There are actually some pretty generous folks out there who have made big fortunes and use their wealth to support good causes. So, separate wealth from the person and remember that money itself is neutral. In conclusion, when you align your beliefs with your desire for financial abundance and truly understand what wealth is all about, you can totally create a meaningful life. Embrace abundance, yo, and remember that being wealthy doesn't automatically mean you're greedy or have evil intentions.

Then – your actions. If you believe your clients should pay more but let them avoid their debts, you're not in alignment. If you think your skills are beneficial and you have a gift but haven't raised prices in five years, you're not in alignment. Act accordingly and practice what we preach. Self-care benefits us personally and sets an example for clients, demonstrating commitment to well-being and building trust.

Aligning beliefs and actions enables us to make a positive impact. It fosters a thriving career while prioritizing client needs. By consistently reassessing alignment, we grow professionally and personally, fostering fulfilment and success.

Step #2: Realize that it is ok to be wealthy.

?What’s the best way to eliminate the false belief that getting paid for doing good is wrong? By recognizing that it's actually more harmful for the world if you don't get paid. In fact, it can even be considered spiritual to be wealthy.

Taking care of your finances is an act of self-love.

And by the way, taking care of your finances goes beyond just budgeting, spending less than you earn, and saving money. It's crucial to prioritize getting paid too. Failing to do so has consequences - you won't be able to achieve your financial goals, you'll overwork yourself and won't provide your best service to clients, and you'll eventually become resentful. This can lead to a constant cycle of feast or famine. you will create a mindset of scarcity and ... remember the Maslow Principle.

Many of the world's problems can be solved with a little dough. It won't magically fix everything, but let's be honest, cash definitely greases the wheels. You support yourself and your family financially. Boosting the economy begins with a healthy cash flow. For instance, by increasing your income, you can employ someone, making them breadwinners for their family. Neglecting your fiscal well-being will quickly lead to business failure, preventing you from assisting others.?

So as you can see, it is genuinely important to earn and profit. Not only do you need money to support yourself and your family, but you also need it to continue being of service to your clients. Furthermore, you can use that money for good works of your choosing.?

Bottom line: getting paid to do good not only helps the world but also makes your bank account happier.

Step #3:?Remove Guilt

To further elaborate on the last point, we will discuss some techniques that will help you stay committed to serving while engaging in sales. Why focus on sales in particular? Well, sales is where you receive compensation. Consequently, it is here that the notion of "you shouldn't get paid for doing good" tends to arise. It is during this time that coaches lower their prices, end up performing free work, feel anxious about negotiation, and experience guilt about charging. However, you can address all of these issues by maintaining a focus on service throughout every stage of the process, from marketing to finalizing the deal.

If you don't know how to charge for your services and there is no exchange of an offering after your assistance, you run the risk of the cycle of reciprocation. tHere is something out there known as a cycle of reciprocation. People in any form of negotiation deeply appreciate the power and certainty behind the cycle of reciprocation. ?Here's how it works: Whenever someone does something genuinely kind for you, you become engulfed in a cycle of reciprocation. This means that you feel compelled to repay their kindness and restore equilibrium in the process. It allows you to find equilibrium once again.

Furthermore, this could potentially create guilt inside your clients and yourself. Once I truly understood this, I immediately started asking for an offering.

Step #4: Building Temperance in Entrepreneurship

First of all, I want to remind you that you are now an entrepreneur. Please don't be afraid, but it's important to acknowledge that you are a solo entrepreneur, at least until you establish your business. Now the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship, where passion and ambition take center stage, the importance of temperance becomes clear.?

That is why building tempreance, in my book is not just a virtue; it's a cornerstone of long-term entrepreneurial success. It influences how leaders handle challenges, successes, and the inevitable uncertainties of business.Temperance, with its emphasis on moderation, self-control, and balance, guides entrepreneurs on their journey. It acts as a compass, guiding decision-making in turbulent times and ensuring deliberate and measured actions.

?By practicing temperance, you can avoid impulsive decisions and burn out, fostering sustainable growth. It's not about suppressing ambition, but rather channeling it wisely and creating a harmonious balance between ambition and wisdom. In the pursuit of success, temperance becomes a strategic partner, enabling entrepreneurs to make informed choices, develop resilient businesses, and maintain a sustainable pace in the marathon of business endeavors. The significance of temperance is all about how it can completely transform things, you know?, it doesn't just impact businesses, but it also helps shape the whole character of entrepreneurs. And that's what leads to long-lasting success and a legacy of well-rounded leadership.

Step #5: Profit from a place of service

I understand that this point may come across as harsh, and I acknowledge your perspective. However, I urge you to consider the importance of promoting your services in order to reach and help a broader audience. Failing to do so would be a disservice to many individuals..

It is important to remember that when asking for money, you are still providing a valuable service. Sales should come from a genuine desire to help, rather than a simple profit motive. This approach not only feels more genuine, but it also yields better results. Ultimately, exchanging money for your service is just a fair exchange of value. You give them something, and they give you something in return.?

It is natural for your ego to object and argue against receiving anything in return for being of service, but be aware that this objection is rooted in old social conditioning. Stay vigilant and remain true to your sincere intentions.

Just remember that this isn't your run-of-the-mill tale anymore. It's undergone a delightful metamorphosis and is now something truly captivating and entertaining, courtesy of your witty charm. So be prepared to dazzle your audience with this new and improved story. It's time to take center stage, my friend!y.

Anytime these 5 things fail to align in your heart, mind, and practice, you'll unwittingly undermine your own success. Every. Time. Consciously or unconsciously.

Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt. But I am changing my story, what about you?