Here’s what I know to be true: as a business owner, it IS important to make money, AND you can get paid in ways other than literal dollar bills.
Personally, I think both forms of payment are important. AND, both forms of payment on their own don’t serve you or your business.
Making money is what allows you to stay IN business, to pay your business expenses, taxes, and to pay yourself...so you can support your human needs and invest back into yourself as a CEO and human.
And, frankly, trying to grow and scale a business for the sake of making money alone, doesn’t feel all that great. I’ve rarely - if ever - seen that succeed and be sustained for the long term.
Because how you make your money matters.
Which is why I also believe there are many energy exchanges that can pay you in ways money alone can’t.
The energy exchange of experience.
The energy exchange of doing work that sets your heart on fire.
The energy exchange of word-of-mouth marketing and social proof.
The energy exchange of working with clients and people you love, believe in, are inspired by.
The energy exchange of giving back (don’t kid yourself, this usually gives the giver the most!).
The energy exchange of data, of building relationships, of opening new doors.
But, just like making money only for the sake of making money is a rough road to ride and sustain in business, looking to your business only for an energy exchange outside of bank deposits also doesn’t serve you if your goal is to be in business for profit.
These energy exchanges without money in the mix can quickly deplete and drain you, leave you feeling resentful, and will put you out of the very business that allows for these exchanges and forms of payment to exist.
What’s served me for six-and-a-half years in business, is the school of thought that believes the path to growing and scaling a profitable and sustainable business is paved by BOTH caring about money and HOW you make your cash as well as the ways you get paid without literal dollars.
Think this is something that just sounds nice but doesn’t make practical cents and dollars for you in business?
Caring about income and profit AND getting paid in ways other than literal dollar bills is what’s allowed me to grow and sustain a booked out, multi-six-figure 1:1 coaching practice for over four years. I’m pretty sure if I had scaled for the sake of scaling or chased only one form of payment, literal dollars or non-monetary forms of energy exchange and compensation, I’d be sharing a very different outcome now or not all because I’d likely have burned down my business or be burnt out myself.
Ready to integrate BOTH forms of payment to support growing and scaling a profitable AND sustainable business? Here are some questions you can play with this week:
What form of payment are you currently prioritizing: literal dollars or non-monetary?
How might focusing on one form of payment be holding you back or limiting your capacity to earn?
What would it look like to welcome BOTH forms of payment and energy exchanges in your business and how might that serve you?
Then, hit “reply” and let me know your biggest takeaway!
Wishing you your version of success!
P.S. Know how you make your money matter as much as the money you’re making and ready to grow and scale a profitable and sustainable business that also pays you in ways other than dollar bills alone?
Ready to invest in the kind of 1:1 support that’s dedicated to helping you find the strategy and path that works for you to market, sell, and book out your business?
Book a free coaching consultation here to talk about how I can help you with the clarity, mindset, strategy, and action that allows you to make six, multi-six, and seven-figures on your terms.