|
Training for Book Authors
|
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profitability: How To Get From 'Just Enough' To 'Extra.'
Copyright (c) 2005-2023 Mark Silver
During the last Heart of Money class someone was asking why scraping by is the norm, and it's so hard to come by having extra money.
It came up in the context of paying yourself first. I had told them that you have to pay yourself first, into a savings account or other account, before you paid your bills.
"How in the heck I can pay myself first, when it feels like I don't have anything left over after my expenses are paid?"
Listen to that question: it just revealed a very important Divine law. The reason there isn't ever any extra, is because the concept of "extra" is a human idea, and doesn't exist anywhere except in our minds.
Look around you. Is there "extra" in nature? An apple falls from the tree, never picked by anyone. Is it "extra?" Nope. Whether it's by you or by Adam, by a worm or by microorganisms, the entirety of it will go to nourish something else. And, each of those eaters will, in turn, nourish something either through their actions, or eventually through their decomposition.
I'm not trying to be gross, it's just true. If you want to have "extra" in your business, I suggest you forget about it. Instead, focus on how you want to serve- not just your customers, but your family, yourself, your neighbors. By coming into service, even into serving yourself, suddenly there is a reason for "extra."
Okay, so the first step is to move your need for resources from the "someday when I have extra" column, into the "necessary resources to serve," column. But, you aren't done yet.
Simply using your head, or your own wishful thinking, to move a desire for a shiny black Lexus from one column to the other doesn't make it so.
Critical ingredients in service are humility, surrender, and generosity. Most of the time when we are needing "extra" we are on the edge of, or deep into, fear and panic. Not very conducive to being generous or humble.
I've seen a lot of people make a lot of effort to produce material goods from sheer will power, whether that's working 24 hours a day, or whether it's saying 1000 affirmations a day. Either way, if your heart isn't already in generosity and service, there is a quality of trying to bludgeon reality into changing.
Exhausting and usually ineffective. And, when it IS effective, not very satisfying.
Take a breath. Relax a little. And, bring your heart into gratitude and humility before looking at what "extras" you need. Take some time to be in relationship with your goals, and see if they truly feed your heart, or if they are things you are chasing after because you think they will "fix" something about you or about the world.
I have found, on more than one occasion, that when my wife and I have one of our weekly money meetings, the income and expenses match up, bizarrely, often within $10 of each other. And, this was true before we set aside savings and other goals, and afterwards. And, many of my clients have reported the same phenomenon.
When you find the truly nourishing desires, plan them into your necessities. You'll find that the resources will show up to support them, either because you'll suddenly see what needs to be done to achieve them. Or, sometimes, miracles occur. You do believe in miracles, don't you?
Keys to Creating "Extra" Profit
* Surrender is key. Surrender in this situation means accepting what is, as much as it means letting go of your attachment to what might be in the future. If your hand is balled up inside the cookie jar, you can't pull it out.
Take a moment right now with your business. Drop your desires to make it different than it is. Breathe into your heart, and notice what is going on with your business. What does your heart really show you about what's happening right now? See if you can allow your heart to show the gifts that are already here in your business, and to feel genuine gratitude for what is.
* Desire is never wrong, just sometimes unfulfilling. What are you wanting that has been in your "extra" column? A new computer and software? A new desk? A big vacation? Take some time and face this thing that you are wanting. Be honest and gentle with yourself as you ask your heart to show you how fulfilling this thing really is. Be truthful.
Note: Just because something feels or doesn't feel fulfilling right now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. You might be longing for a new computer, and then realize that you heart shows you that it's not a true necessity in the moment, but that if you check in again in a couple of months, the timing might be right.
* Be an adult with your desires. Being an adult means that you can have an extra cookie after dinner, or before breakfast, if you want. But being an adult also means that you can be aware of the consequences of your choices. Sometimes goals come in miraculously. Sometimes they take meticulous planning and discipline.
What is your business teaching you about your desires? Is your heart asking you to learn to trust in the miraculous a little more? Or is it asking you to come into the next level of responsibility by bringing in some compassionate, graceful discipline in working towards your goals.
There is no cookie-cutter here, you have to take the time to listen to your heart to get true answers. But if you do, you still get the delicious cookies, even if they are free-form.
My very best to you and your business,
Mark
|
Mark Silver is the founder of Heart of Business, and the author
of the forthcoming book, "Unveiling the Heart of Your Business:
How money, marketing and sales can deepen your heart, heal the
world, and still add to your bottom line." He has helped hundreds
of people in small business succeed without losing their heart.
Mark integrates more than 1500 years of spiritual tradition with
down-to-earth, no-nonsense business practices. Get his free
workbook excerpt of his book, among other free resources, online:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com
|
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Mark Silver
Hey! Why the Long Sales Pages?
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2009-04-01 |
Word Count: 868 |
Page Views: 3393
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 1.71
So, you get one of those emails from someone whose business you
kinda like. And it's got some enticing little message in it - so
you click to take a look at the offer. And suddenly you find
yourself in highlighter land. Broad streaks of yellow, lots of
exclamation points, and pages and pages of words making all kinds
of claims and promises. And when you scroll allllllll the way
down to the bottom, there isn't even a price. You need to click
on an 'order now' button before they even tell you the price.
How To Write A 300 Page Book In Four Months
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2009-02-26 |
Word Count: 821 |
Page Views: 4982
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 1.42
There's a lot of hoopla about becoming an author of your very
own business book. The promise of fame and fortune is very
alluring. Yet your book remains perpetually 'about to be'
written. Or, you've sequestered yourself for weeks or months to
write your book, only to come out with something you feel
luke-warm about.
How To Get Feedback From Colleagues That Makes Sense
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2009-01-27 |
Word Count: 841 |
Page Views: 8281
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.82
Okay, you've just written a new website, or a new sales page. Or
maybe you've just created a new product or offer. Or even just
tried on a new suit. And you turn to your friend and ask: "Can I
get some feedback from you? What do you think?"
The Role of Hunger in Your Business
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2009-01-21 |
Word Count: 1016 |
Page Views: 3497
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.86
Hunger and fear are good for your business. Not abject hunger and
despairing panic, mind you. That's too much. But a little touch
of hunger and fear is very useful. I know there are many people
out there who would prefer that not to be the case. And I'm one
of them. I wish inspiration and love were big enough motivators
for action. But for us humans who aren't yet enlightened, they
don't seem to work so well.
Spirituality in Your Business Without Scaring Clients
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2009-01-05 |
Word Count: 1101 |
Page Views: 3320
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.50
You've been deepening your spirituality, and it has seeped into
everything you do, or is starting to. The thing is, will it freak
your clients out if you go all woo-woo and bizarre on them? Even
if you're already using spirituality strongly in your business,
I'm guessing there are places you just don't want to go, things
that are too blatant or strong. You don't want to evangelize,
you're not looking to convert anyone. But something's missing.
How a Personal Secretary is Critical to Your Response Rate
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2008-12-23 |
Word Count: 1037 |
Page Views: 3283
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.80
In a past Moneyflow class, one of the participants was promoting
a seminar. 'People aren't responding to my emails. What do I
do?' 'Well, tell me what you've done,' I said. 'Today the
second email went out. I've only had 5 people respond so far on
my list of 100. And I've been networking, and making phone
calls, and sending out flyers.' What wasn't working?
Avoiding Financial Trauma Stress Disorder
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2008-12-01 |
Word Count: 1002 |
Page Views: 3796
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 0.43
Day after day we're being treated to news of the global
financial markets being flushed further and further down the
toilet. If you run a small business, it can be hard to hold onto
hope and inspiration, because maybe this time things really are
doomed. Makes you wonder and doubt--did someone not buy simply
because they didn't buy, or is this the beginning of the end of
your business?
Marketing Without Spending Your Life Trolling the Internet
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2008-11-17 |
Word Count: 1160 |
Page Views: 3323
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.38
"I'd rather be rock climbing, hiking, spending time outside
than in front of a computer. And, it all feels so useless, like
nothing works anyhow. I'm spending my life energy in front of
the computer, I feel like , and it's not moving my business
forward!" That's what a client of ours was telling us. And how
about you? You're staring at a screen right now, reading this.
How many hours do you have to spend in front of a computer to
make your business work, anyway?
Why Clients Don't Buy-- and 8232;The Hierarchy of Choice
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2008-11-14 |
Word Count: 1352 |
Page Views: 3237
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.13
So you struggle over getting all the details just right, like
pricing and timing, and all the other features included in your
offers so your best clients will buy from you. So why aren't
they buying? It's because all of those details are actually the
least important part of a purchasing choice. One common
misconception says that human beings make choices based on
what's best for them, but that falls apart really quickly in the
aftermath of several empty tubs of ice cream, as you hold your
stomach and groan, "Why did I do that again?!?"
Can Branding Ever Be Heart Centered?
Written by: Mark Silver |
Distributed: 2008-10-27 |
Word Count: 807 |
Page Views: 3351
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 2.33
Sometimes the world delivers up vocabulary words that are just
plain wrong. Painfully wrong. Words like "branding," which the
world of marketing seems to love, but regular folks and cows just
seem to hate. And it's because of how branding has often been
used. Companies have done psychological studies on how to craft
an environment that gets you to react in the way they want you
to. It's like herding cattle into the searing-hot iron--ouch. Of
course you don't want to use branding. Why would you ever want
to do THAT?
All of Author's Articles on this site: Mark Silver Articles
Most Recent "" Articles
Ann Arbor, MI Offers A Lot Of Year-Around Family Fun
Written by: Jeb Maxwell |
Distributed: 2010-01-20 |
Word Count: 595 |
Page Views: 4811
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a
leading institution of higher education. Ann Arbor is a wonderful
place to visit. The University is co-mingled with the city and
greatly expands the cultural places and events available in the
area.
Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
Page Views: 5983
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane,
Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of
motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special
her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death
of her mother.
Finding the Adventure in Travel Again
Written by: Helen Bergstein |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 718 |
Page Views: 4436
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.64
If you want to experience adventure at every level of your next
trip, you need to go beyond the usual resorts and places to stay.
If you're like most travelers, personal safety remains a priority,
especially in today's world. A growing number of savvy travelers
have found the perfect balance between adventure and comfort.
7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5343
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and
light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these
simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
party.
Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5397
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There
are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is
worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
1569 Unique Ways To Get A Free Lunch
Written by: Steve Robichaud |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3680
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Everywhere you turn - T.V., Radio, magazines, or the Internet,
someone is talking about government grants. What's the real
story? Does the government give away real money, to ordinary
people, to use for whatever they want? Let's take a closer look:
Don't Wait to Start Your Marketing Strategy
Written by: Jo Fulkerson |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3944
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Your novel is finished, youve had it edited by a professional Editor, and youve done the rewrites. What? You havent had an editor edit your work yet? This is a must. There are many editors advertising in Writers Digest.
NEVER Reply to an eGroup Post!
Written by: BIG Mike McDaniel |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 5202
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
eGroups are collections of people subscribed to a
common (discussion list) address. When one member
sends an eMail message to the eGroup address, it
is automatically sent to everyone else on the
list. As subscribers open and read their eMail,
discussion threads take shape with additional
posts and replies. The attraction of eGroups is
the ability to join in at your convenience as
opposed to the confinement of live chat rooms.
Reasons behind Shoulder Pain
Written by: Jessica Horowitz |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 4996
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Pain between the shoulder blades, or any pain for that matter,
is your body's way of notifying you that something is amiss. You
should never ignore it and hope it will *go away by itself*.
There are a multitude of possible causes of pain between the
shoulder blades. We'll discuss common ones in this article and
start with the most serious conditions first:
Effective Managers Need To Coach
Written by: Wendy Hearn |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 4477
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.75
Bearing in mind the fast pace of business today and the
need to stay competitive, it's essential that managers
should be effective. They need to be especially
effective with their people and this requires learning
to coach. For most managers, coaching has been added
to their role anyway, but the majority haven't received
any training in coaching skills.
Most Viewed "" Articles
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY - LIFE'S BIGGEST QUESTION
Written by: Richard Sparky Bryan |
Distributed: 2006-05-07 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 13846
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
When did Americans stop taking responsibility for their own
actions? My friend agreed
that the slide began in the late 1960's with the growth of the
drug culture.
But he was quick to emphasize that although the sixties began
the slide, the real sharp slope did not arrive until the 1990's.
Along about 1993, the slide began to sharpen. It was not until
early 1998 that the slope became a steep cliff.
High Thread Count Bed Sheets. How Many Threads Does A Bed Sheet Need?
Written by: Liz Beresford |
Distributed: 2004-09-14 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 6649
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
High thread count bed sheets, often called percale, are much
advertised, but what exactly does 'high thread' count mean? You
know that it means quality and comfort, but do you know why? It
used to be considered good to have thread count of 180-200 but
thread counts of up to 1000 are advertised these days.. So what
is going on? Does high thread count always mean better quality?
Is there an optimum thread count, and if so what is it?
Muzzling the Motor Mouths: Silence Workplace Windbags
Written by: Bill Lampton Ph.D. |
Distributed: 2005-12-01 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 6380
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.50
During my twenty-three years in management, I dealt with
blabbermouths frequently, so for the last ten years I have
advised clients on how to silence the workplace windbags.
Here are my suggestions for muzzling the motor mouths:
Better Than Botox is there a Safer Substitute?
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2005-09-08 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 6267
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
Women since time immemorial have always looked for ways to
enhance and prolong their beauty. This of course becomes more
difficult as they age.
12 Ways to Promote Your Business And Website for Free
Written by: Ivana Katz |
Distributed: 2005-03-29 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 6244
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
You are very excited!! You have finally created your own
website!! But the trouble is customers aren*t knocking on your
website door. Why? The most probable answer is...
Transform Your Work Area into a Homey Environment
Written by: Ted Roberson |
Distributed: 2006-02-24 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 6075
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.25
Nothing enables one to think and work better than a comfortable
working environment. Especially if you have a sedentary job,
you've got to have little knick knacks around that will enliven
your spirits or which you can look at for inspiration or just
to zone out in relaxation.
Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
Page Views: 5983
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane,
Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of
motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special
her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death
of her mother.
Sell Yourself, Not Your Products or Services
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2004-05-03 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 5725
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 0.50
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we
need to make is that your products and services will change
over time as your business adapts to the realities of the
marketplace.
Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5397
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There
are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is
worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5343
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and
light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these
simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
party.
Highest Ranked "" Articles
Saying "Yes" to Life
Written by: Bruce Elkin |
Distributed: 2006-04-27 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 2019
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 3.20
Do you ever gripe and complain about life? About what happens to
you, or what you have or do not have? I used to, a lot. I hoped
complaining would make things better. But it didn't.
Finding the Adventure in Travel Again
Written by: Helen Bergstein |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 718 |
Page Views: 4436
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 2.64
If you want to experience adventure at every level of your next
trip, you need to go beyond the usual resorts and places to stay.
If you're like most travelers, personal safety remains a priority,
especially in today's world. A growing number of savvy travelers
have found the perfect balance between adventure and comfort.
Freedom- or Burden of Choice?
Written by: Patsi Krakoff |
Distributed: 2004-09-30 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 1136
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.57
Everyday decisions have become increasingly complex due to the
overwhelming abundance of choice with which we are presented.
A trip to a typical supermarket reveals enormous choices such
as 85 different crackers, 285 types of cookies, 230 varieties
of canned soup, 80 different pain relievers, and 360 kinds of
shampoo. Does this improve the quality of our lives?
Building your Credit to get a Mortgage
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 840 |
Page Views: 5397
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
You are thinking about purchasing real estate. However, you are
not sure if your credit is good enough to get a mortgage. There
are things that you can do to build your credit so that it is
worthy of any mortgage that may interest you.
Flowers Are The Perfect Gift For Father's Day
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF |
Distributed: 2008-02-20 |
Word Count: 486 |
Page Views: 5983
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 2.24
Dads everywhere have Sonora Smart Dodd to thank for getting
Father's Day started. In 1909, Sonora sat in a church in Spokane,
Washington listening to a sermon expounding on the virtues of
motherhood. But, as she sat there, she thought about how special
her own father was since it was he who raised her after the death
of her mother.
Testimonials and Reviews Increase Your Real Sales Potential
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2006-02-10 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3005
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.00
The one essential ingredient for online success in
any endeavor is gaining your prospect's trust.
7 Tips to Hiring a Good DJ for your Party
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-05-11 |
Word Count: 563 |
Page Views: 5343
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 1.36
If you want to have a party that everyone will be talking about
for days and years later, hire a good DJ to run your music and
light show. Hiring a DJ can actually be fun. Just follow these
simple tips, and you are sure to have a fabulous DJ for your
party.
Ann Arbor, MI Offers A Lot Of Year-Around Family Fun
Written by: Jeb Maxwell |
Distributed: 2010-01-20 |
Word Count: 595 |
Page Views: 4811
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 1.25
Ann Arbor, Michigan is the home of the University of Michigan, a
leading institution of higher education. Ann Arbor is a wonderful
place to visit. The University is co-mingled with the city and
greatly expands the cultural places and events available in the
area.
How to Decorate Your Home on EBay
Written by: Pamela Cole Harris |
Distributed: 2005-09-14 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 2203
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
If you are on a budget (and who isnt?), a wonderful place for
find home decorating accessories is auction sites like eBay. But
before you go abaying, here is some advice...
The "Proprietary Blend" Nutritional Supplement
Written by: Will Brink |
Distributed: 2006-02-10 |
Word Count: 0 |
Page Views: 3556
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.60
In a nut shell, I went onto cover each of these common marketing
terms that are used to sell supplements to unwitting consumers
and explained each in detail as to what I view as their common
misuse within the market place.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 0
Total Views: 1803
Article Rating: 0.50 of 5
Votes Cast: 2
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2005-07-22 03:13:51
Internal ID: #842
|
|
|
Home