| Click here for your FREE subscription to Home Office Weekly Free weekly advice on how to happily & successfully live and work under the same roof...tips on business success, organizing your office space, time management & more! |
The Dangers of Having a "Something for Nothing" Mindset
By Laurie Hayes
How many times has someone tried to get something from you for nothing or at a
cost that strikes you like a blow to the gut?
How many times do you find yourself doing the same?
You see it every day, but the big question is, what kind of impact does this limited
thinking have on business success?
I recently sent a survey to a group of local entrepreneurs to gather data on what
they were looking for in networking events.
One question provided several cost options for a year of dinner meetings, including
display tables and guest speakers.
The price options were made up of actual annual costs of several networking
organizations nationwide. I also included one fabricated figure that was
significantly lower than the lowest actual membership cost listed.
Seventy-five percent of those surveyed selected the lowest price listed. This price
didn't cover the cost of meals, let alone taxes and gratuities, gifts for guest speakers,
room set-up or costs for processing payments or basic supplies.
Business owners who presumably understand you won't be in business long if your
expenses exceed your revenues, selected the fictitious price that couldn't logically
support such an event taking place.
They want a professionally organized event that will provide them with marketing
and sales training, access to expert speakers, opportunities to promote their
business, create alliances and grow their circles of influence, yet they want it for the
cost of a large pizza.
It seems absurd when you see it in writing, but it's a reality within the business
world, particularly small and home-based business.
They'll justify $40 a month on hair care, but not on building their business. Is it any
surprise why so many small businesses fail? They're applying small thinking to
small business.
Cost is certainly a factor when you're starting out or running a small enterprise, but
if you want to grow your business to a size that will allow you to take real vacations
without a laptop strapped to your back and without having to work 60 to 80 hours a
week, it's important to shift to a business success mindset.
Investing in networking events, learning programs and specialized products and
services is just that, an investment in your business. There is a return on that
investment in the form of increased profits from connecting, promoting and
enhancing business skills.
Last night I participated in a call hosted by two multi-millionaire entrepreneurs
who discussed this limited thinking phenomenon common among many business
owners who find themselves struggling.
They referred to it as the "lottery mentality," the "I can get lucky" line of thinking,
believing a self-sustaining, freedom creating business can be built for next to
nothing. This line of thinking is not only unrealistic, it's dangerous.
The truth is there is a price to be paid if you want to succeed in business, but it's
worth it and your level of success will be directly proportionate to the investment
you make in yourself.
Look at the business success stories and you will discover that they re-invest a
significant amount of their revenue into networking, learning and growing every
year.
This doesn't mean you have to spend thousands or hundreds of thousands a year to
grow, but it does mean your investment in yourself has to be relative and not
considered an avoidable expense with no return.
The next time you're presented with an occasion to learn, grow or connect, consider
the value it can offer to your bottom line. Look at it from an investment perspective
and treat it as such.
The adage "You get what you pay for" is timeless.
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
About the author
Laurie Hayes, Director of The HBB Source™ helps self-directed employees break
free of their jobs to live their dream of running a home-based business. To subscribe
to her FREE e-zine for valuable tips, strategies and resources to help you build your
ideal business, visit www.thehbbsource.com
By Laurie Hayes
How many times has someone tried to get something from you for nothing or at a
cost that strikes you like a blow to the gut?
How many times do you find yourself doing the same?
You see it every day, but the big question is, what kind of impact does this limited
thinking have on business success?
I recently sent a survey to a group of local entrepreneurs to gather data on what
they were looking for in networking events.
One question provided several cost options for a year of dinner meetings, including
display tables and guest speakers.
The price options were made up of actual annual costs of several networking
organizations nationwide. I also included one fabricated figure that was
significantly lower than the lowest actual membership cost listed.
Seventy-five percent of those surveyed selected the lowest price listed. This price
didn't cover the cost of meals, let alone taxes and gratuities, gifts for guest speakers,
room set-up or costs for processing payments or basic supplies.
Business owners who presumably understand you won't be in business long if your
expenses exceed your revenues, selected the fictitious price that couldn't logically
support such an event taking place.
They want a professionally organized event that will provide them with marketing
and sales training, access to expert speakers, opportunities to promote their
business, create alliances and grow their circles of influence, yet they want it for the
cost of a large pizza.
It seems absurd when you see it in writing, but it's a reality within the business
world, particularly small and home-based business.
They'll justify $40 a month on hair care, but not on building their business. Is it any
surprise why so many small businesses fail? They're applying small thinking to
small business.
Cost is certainly a factor when you're starting out or running a small enterprise, but
if you want to grow your business to a size that will allow you to take real vacations
without a laptop strapped to your back and without having to work 60 to 80 hours a
week, it's important to shift to a business success mindset.
Investing in networking events, learning programs and specialized products and
services is just that, an investment in your business. There is a return on that
investment in the form of increased profits from connecting, promoting and
enhancing business skills.
Last night I participated in a call hosted by two multi-millionaire entrepreneurs
who discussed this limited thinking phenomenon common among many business
owners who find themselves struggling.
They referred to it as the "lottery mentality," the "I can get lucky" line of thinking,
believing a self-sustaining, freedom creating business can be built for next to
nothing. This line of thinking is not only unrealistic, it's dangerous.
The truth is there is a price to be paid if you want to succeed in business, but it's
worth it and your level of success will be directly proportionate to the investment
you make in yourself.
Look at the business success stories and you will discover that they re-invest a
significant amount of their revenue into networking, learning and growing every
year.
This doesn't mean you have to spend thousands or hundreds of thousands a year to
grow, but it does mean your investment in yourself has to be relative and not
considered an avoidable expense with no return.
The next time you're presented with an occasion to learn, grow or connect, consider
the value it can offer to your bottom line. Look at it from an investment perspective
and treat it as such.
The adage "You get what you pay for" is timeless.
2006 © Laurie Hayes - The HBB Source
About the author
Laurie Hayes, Director of The HBB Source™ helps self-directed employees break
free of their jobs to live their dream of running a home-based business. To subscribe
to her FREE e-zine for valuable tips, strategies and resources to help you build your
ideal business, visit www.thehbbsource.com
home|your business|your office |your time |your home life|yourself |art|books|tools|site map|about us
|
home|your business|your office |your time |your home life|yourself |art|books|tools|site map|about us
Home Office Weekly is a Backporch Publishing site Marcia Passos Duffy, Publisher & Editor Author of Be Your Own Boss Contact |
| Home Office Weekly Your guide to successfully living & working under one roof! |