Sometimes it feels soooo hard to invest in yourself (& your own business) -- but here's why it MATTERS.
But first -- why are we talking about this, Female Solopreneur Friend?
So I can inspire you to invest in... the RIGHT THING for YOU.
And I mean that with all my heart.
ThEsE 6 QUESTIONS will help you with ANY investment decision for your business.
For some of you that might mean investing in marketing, creative, strategy, or coaching...
...for others of you this might mean investing in some daycare help, or a house cleaner (so you can do more visionary business work), or a virtual assistant, or a bookkeeper.
So no matter where you're at -- this conversation matters to you.
And let me just start by saying -- as BIG-HEARTED WOMEN -- who tend to be giving & serving & compassionate, we may find it extra hard to invest in ourselves.
And yet -- I believe so very deeply that purpose-driven women like you have the most POTENTIAL to change the world through your businesses, because the ripple effect of your success is so very great. 💙
Hear that? Your success creates a ripple effect of GOOD.
Ok -- so let's get into it...
Why does INVESTING in our businesses (ourselves, really!) feel soooo hard?
HERE ARE 6 REASONS:
💙 1. Sometimes you don't see anything TANGIBLE.
When you make a big purchase, like a car or a TV, you usually get to take it home. It's there. It's visible. You can touch & feel it.
When you invest in your business education, or a service that's supposed to support you personally (say, a massage, exercise program, or therapy), you're not taking something tangible home.
And yet, long-term, that car and that TV are decreasing in value.
Whereas investments in yourself and your business can INCREASE in value down the line...
So yes -- not being able to see something makes it harder to invest in. But tangible does not relate directly to the value something brings to your life.
💙 2. You don't feel like you're getting anything IMMEDIATE. But are you?
Maybe you don't get an immediate "end result," but you might get immediate:
peace of mind
dose of time back
sense of feeling fully understood by someone
motivation and exhilaration
or feedback on what's the "next right step" for you, instead of wasting time (weeks, months, years!) being unsure or taking the wrong steps.
It's always helped me to remember that investing in a college degree is completely normalized, even though it costs tens-of-THOUSANDS (or hundreds-of-thousands) of dollars and takes years to go through.
WHY?
Because it sets individuals up to do something they love & make a living at it (while also teaching them life lessons along the way, right?).
Isn't investing in your BUSINESS the same way?
(Except, waaaay less expensive??)
Hmm...
💙 3. You don't feel "READY" yet.
Let's just squash this one right now.
Does a college freshman feel "ready" to jump into a full-time career? Nope. That's why education is the bridge.
Does a baby feel "ready" to walk? Nope, he just tries. He wobbles, rolls, crawls, and falls down a lot. And then... hey, he gets there! (as we record it all on our phones).
Investing in your business isn't about feeling ready...it's about deciding WHERE you want to be down the road, and making a COMMITMENT to set yourself up to get there.
Boom, done, end of story!
💙 4. You convince yourself you can do it BY YOURSELF. And hey, let's be honest, some of it you can!
But what you CAN'T do on your own might be the VERY one or two things holding you back.
Some things you just plain can't get on your own include:
the accountability to make you take the action steps you say you're going to take
the feedback when you're staring at your notebook for the 100th time, deciding between two directions to go
the feeling of being totally & fully understood by others like you, when no one else seems to get this whole online business thing (or mom-thing or whatever thing in life you're going through)
the hands-on support of having others in your corner to lean into or even take things off your plate, for your benefit
the expertise in just the right area that isn't your strength, at just the right time
the fierce encouragement to remind you that you ARE going in a worthy direction, even in the messy-middle when things feel hard
And actually... when you do some things yourself -- there is a risk that you might HURT your chances of business growth.
Because while parts of your business may be unbelievably strong (areas that are your zone of genius), other areas that are done unprofessionally may actually REPEL customers.
For instance, poor graphic design may make YOU look like an unprofessional accountant (even though we all know you're amazing).
And social media done poorly may make YOU accidentally look like a slimy salesperson, when really you just want to help people with something you love, but don’t know how to communicate otherwise.
So I'm not knocking free and I'm not knocking diy (I love your big female entrepreneur heart to just go for it)... 💙
BUT... It’s worth asking yourself – what if the DIY approach is causing me to actually LOSE money in the long run?
Eeks.... Something to think about, for sure.
💙 5. You may have to have some hard money conversations (that you may prefer to avoid).
Statistics show that money conversations make us nervous. I get it.
But they also tell us it's best to be straightforward about all things money anyway!
If you're married or have a financial partner or family member you turn to for big investments, you may have to tell someone else what you’re desiring. And of course -- that feels vulnerable. Plus, you want unity & wisdom about how to invest your money.
From my personal experience, the very best approach is to be matter-of-fact and honest. Something like...
"Here's something I have been thinking about and genuinely think I want to experience. I think this would make a big impact in my life/business. My heart is definitely feeling pulled to it, but it also makes logical sense... here's why" (and then have some statistics or testimonials on hand to bring some clarity to the conversation).
I've almost always been surprised by how supportive someone is of my desires when I just tell them what's going on in my head and heart.
💙 6. Investing is a RISK.
Yep, it is. We all know that successful entrepreneurs recognize that risk is part of their success equation.
I've never heard one entrepreneur say not to take a risk... and most successful business people point back to risks they took as the MOST VALUABLE decisions of their life.
HOWEVER... they do advise taking calculated risks (and that's where I hope these tips are valuable!).
Weighing options wisely and asking yourself these 3 questions can help:
What's the BEST that can happen?
What's the WORST that can happen?
What will PROBABLY happen? Something in between? (And if that were to be the case, would I feel good about this investment?)
