Continually investing back into your business is always a good idea.  However, oftentimes, opportunities come up when we least expect it or, perhaps, are least prepared for it. My philosophy and practice is to always say YES (when it is the right fit!).

That always begs the question then – ‘where am I going to find the money’?  It is critically important to have the right mindset in this regard. I never think ‘I can’t afford it’ – that is scarcity thinking. But, rather, change the way you think to ‘HOW can I afford it?”

When you change the way you think about things, you can grow your business quite quickly.  It is our thinking that gets in the way of progress and success.

When I made the commitment to a recent ‘great opportunity’ (and, translated, meant a HUGE financial commitment) and got past the nerves and butterflies that naturally ensued, it was time to take action. It was time to make some money!

Let me give you the 3 ways that always work for me. If you follow my work at all, you know I believe in keeping things simple. I follow the E.L.F. formula – Easy. Lucrative.Fun.

 #1 – GET CLEAR ON THE NUMBERS. When I make a commitment to an investment, a sponsorship, a speaking opportunity, a trip, new technology, a new team member – whatever it might be – I always sit down right away and work with the numbers. And I have also learned that it’s always good to ‘add a little extra’ for good measure. So, get clear on your numbers. Don’t let them scare you – not even the BIG ones, LOL! Embrace it – get excited – and take charge.

#2 – IDENTIFY SOURCES OF REVENUE. This is often where many of you make it much more difficult than it needs to be. One place I always start is with current and/or former clients. It’s much easier to reach out to them because they already know, like and trust you. So, I identify a source of revenue – in the most recent case- it was to create a 2-day workshop that was focused on Public Speaking and which specifically met the needs of quite a few of my clients. Then I identified how many people I wanted in the workshop and priced it accordingly – giving me the end number that I wanted/needed for the investment I had made.

#3 – START CALLING. In this particular instance, I simply sent out some emails – personalized – and to the point. I had an opportunity coming up – that met their specific needs – that was scheduled in the near future – and priced very reasonably for what they would be getting. Within 48 hours, I had the workshop filled and I could move on to a different project.

IS IT REALLY THAT EASY, YOU MIGHT BE ASKING?  Ahhhh, YES! It really was and is. You can do this, too. Again, I believe that many of you are not making the money you want because you are over-complicating things. You have LOTS of intellectual property and expertise that can be monetized. Follow my steps and I guarantee you success with it. (and I want to hear about it, too!)

We should all be investing in our business and in our professional development on a regular basis. Do not let money hold you back or get in the way of you making good business decisions. It is easy to make money. I just told you how.

Your customers will be happy.

You will be happy.

AND you will make money.

Enough said.

What will you do this week to generate some cash flow?

Please share your thoughts!