A question was asked recently about why am I writing all these articles about Internet business, marketing and such when my main business is about becoming the "best parent you want to be"?Your business/your work greatly affects your children.
Don't you think that the child of a multi-million dollar investor would have a different perspective of the world than say child who grew up in a house with parents who are teachers? So that got me thinking about how our professions influence the way we "give-back" to others.
I have recently been doing a lot of reading and research.
I have learned that the best way for me to be the parent and person I want to be is to be as financially successful as I can be.
See, I was trained to be a social worker and practiced therapy for many years with trauma survivors, so, I thought I knew what the best way I could "give back" to my community.
I thought for many years it was the long hours I put in volunteering, working as a therapist, writing up treatment plans, staring down defense attorneys in the court room as I explained the emotional, physical and spiritual toll abuse has on a survivor.
Although those are all great ways to give back, just as I know there are other super great ways to give that many people do every moment, I have come to realize there is an even a better way.
If I was able to make enough money;to become successful/financially free, then, I would not only be financially in good health but also emotionally and spiritually in good health.
See, the doors have been opening up to me and revealing some personal truths.
I have realized that not only is the key to well-being, living a balanced life but living a financially-free balanced life.
Thus, the freedom to choose how I want to spend my money and where I want to spend my money.
Living from paycheck to paycheck and working super long hours was not helping me live a life in balance - emotionally, physically, spiritually or financially.
See although, I graduated with a Master's in Social Work from a great school and always worked super hard (60+ hours/week) I wasn't making even $24,000 a year.
Let alone the emotional drain of the type of work I did.
The rule: work hard, go to school, do well, and you will be rewarded just was not the case for me.
As a newly married person without any kids, it really didn't matter in the beginning because all I really needed to do was support myself but as the years past and I earned only a little more due to our annual 1% raise (FYI: working for non-profits is not profitable!) , I knew I would need to earn a whole lot more if I wanted to go back to work and make it meaningful to be away from my kids.
Plus, in order to do that sort of work I would be looking at long hours again, little pay-off financially, and being away from my kids which I did not want.
Anyway, this brings me back to the reason why I began this article, I can do so much more for my community and people in general if I am financially free.
So, I started my own business - my "American Dream".
I want to become financially free so I can be rich financially, and rich in experiences (emotionally, physically, and spiritually).
As you know we all have to know some practical means to become financially free.
Unfortunately, the reality is most new business fail each year due to not just because they are unfamiliar with the basics involved in running a business, but mainly the people behind the business doesn't keep in mind their purpose for starting their business.
To become financially free.
Stay focused on the goal and the details and fundamentals will inherently find their way to you.
I will be in the small majority of those who "make-it", because I am committed to not giving up.
Are you?.
So, not only do the research but be tenacious.
Don't give up and find the answers you need, regardless of how small your business is now.
Work your business, don't let it run you (set it up, hire and train, and let the people you hire do the work)We build a business for the sole purpose of financial freedom - don't lose that perspective.
The rule of thumb, ask yourself are you giving more than you are getting and you will be handsomely rewarded.