I remember the first time I had the big a-ha around money mindset. I was in a mastermind with a few other entrepreneurs when one of the members who was not having a good financial year said to another, “If you want to increase your revenues you have to start thinking like a high earner instead of a struggling entrepreneur.”
It didn’t take me long to figure out that people who struggle think VERY differently than high earners. High earners have conditioned their mind in alignment with wealth and abundance. Here are a few of the ways that high earners think differently than everyone else.
High Earners Have a “Go for It” Mentality; Strugglers Wait for Something to Happen
Most entrepreneurs who struggle get stuck in the “how.” Ruminating on how much work or not knowing what to do next, the struggler gets stuck in the journey and never achieves their big goals. High earners don’t focus on the path between here and there. They jump in. By deciding that they will have the outcome, they activate resources and support. A high earner makes the goal be more compelling than their fear or doubt. Instead of waiting for something to happen they make things happen.
High Earners Leverage Profits for Growth; Strugglers Over Extend
A cash-poor entrepreneur tends to make bad short term decisions hoping to generate that next big win. With every last penny they have, a struggler over extends trying to get the big pay day. High earners handle growth very differently. Instead of using income cash flow to fund risky growth investments, high earners leverage profits to fund growth. Instead of spending money recklessly they look at the best strategic investment to move them towards the goal. This powerful distinction causes the small business owner to grow profits, and not risk essential cash for new, unproven growth ideas.
High Earners See Opportunities in Problems; Strugglers Get Stuck in the Problem
Instead of seeing problems, high earners have trained their mind to see opportunities. Every situation or issue has an opportunity in it: a breakdown in delivery means a system is missing; a poor performing offer is a sign that it’s positioned wrong; a financial downturn in the marketplace causes them to look for ways to reposition their offerings to capitalize on it. Strugglers get stuck in their problems. Their problems consume them and they never get their head above water.
High Earners Master Their Emotions; Strugglers Let Emotions Take Over
Another significant difference is that high earners have learned how to master their emotions. Everyone has emotions but strugglers allow what they think and feel to define their reality. When negativity arises the struggler loses traction because their emotions overwhelm them. They personalize situations and let their self-confidence take the hit. A high achiever notices their emotions, takes stock of the situation, but resorts to internal mastery to override energy derailers.
High Earners Love Learning and Growing with Wealthy People; Strugglers See Wealthy People as Snobs
A significant difference is how strugglers and high earners see wealthy people. The high earner surrounds themselves with success, intentionally getting involved with people who they can learn from and be inspired by. The struggler on the other hand judges wealthy people and attaches negative labels on their choices and behaviors. Instead of learning from them, the struggler rejects wealthy people as snobs.
High Earners Believe They Can Have It All; Strugglers Fear Losing Love with Success
Most people who struggle financially also struggle with balancing love and success. Deeply afraid of losing the love of people in their life, they hold back from really going for it. Strugglers have a limiting belief that success requires painful sacrifices. High earners on the other hand pursue success while integrating time for family and life goals. With deep conviction, high earners believe they can have it all and consciously create that outcome.
High Earners Embrace Uncertainty; Strugglers Loathe Being Uncomfortable
Change is constant. High earners have learned to not only accept that things will change but they embrace it. Successful people learn how to adapt, be flexible and have strategies that allow them to move through change relatively unscathed. On the other hand, strugglers fear being change as it makes them uncomfortable. Changes rattle them to their core and destabilizes their focus and momentum. Instead of riding the waves of transformation, strugglers avoid change at all costs.
If you see yourself in any of the “struggle” categories just know that you can shift into the high earner mindset simply by training your mind to THINK like a high earner. These are a few of the mindset shifts you’ll want to make but you can also learn how to rewire your internal success blueprint too.
