At this stage in my business, I know I’ll be fine when it comes to paying my bills each month. I know the money will show up and I know I can be responsible. I trust myself to do what I need to do and I trust that the opportunities to make money will come.
However, it wasn’t always this way. It took me years to realize that yes, I could make money as a freelancer. In fact, I could make more money than I ever did at a desk job (in 2015, I actually nearly doubled it.) What really made the difference was actively working on my money mindset while I was building my business.
Money mindset refers to how we think and feel in regard to money. For example, do we even like the money? Or do we consider it scary? Do we think there’s enough money to go around? Or do we worry about competition? These things greatly determine our ability to succeed, and they most certainly affect whether or not we can see the opportunities available to us.
Here are two money mindset shifts for freelancers so they can begin to feel more comfortable with finance.
Freelancing Is More Secure Than a Day Job
The first money mindset shift for freelancers has a lot to do with the idea of job security. We’re told that regular jobs are more stable and secure than starting a business.
It’s not. Trust me, I was a recruiter. I frequently interviewed people who lost their jobs (and all of their income) from one week to the next. The reality is with freelancing you may lose a client, but you haven’t lost all your income in one fell swoop. Because of this, you actually have more control over your money than you would at a day job.
The moment I realized “job security” was a myth was the moment I mustered up the courage to quit my full-time job and pursue my business. Realizing that I have more control as a freelancer also helped me keep going whenever I was met with challenges.
There’s Plenty of Money to Go Around
One of the most profound money mindset shifts that a freelancer can make is to realize that there’s plenty of money to go around. There are more than enough clients, more than enough people to read your stuff, and more than enough money to go around.
This is in stark contrast to what we’re usually taught: only a select few people make all the money, competition is scary and there is no opportunity out there.
One way in which this manifests in your actions is when you start comparing your success to that of others. Before you know it you’re spending all your time beating yourself up instead of building your business.
Instead, try celebrating the success of others. Realize that if they could do it, you can do it too. This one simple shift alone helped me boost my income tremendously in 2015. The moment I stopped comparing and feeling sorry for myself is the moment opportunities showed up.
Final Thoughts
A money mindset can be a little more complicated than what is mentioned in this article because everyone has unique experiences around money. It’s so intense I’ve written an entire book on the topic and there’s still more to say. However, these two shifts alone will make a tremendous difference in your life and in your business.
