by Maria Tan
The first thing that often comes to mind when one thinks about about money is CASH – either the amount one has with them at that exact moment, or what one has in his/her bank account. Yet money is more than CASH. It is the totality of our wealth, including our ability to make money in the future. This is why insurance companies have mortality tables and why the amount paid out relating to any death caused by an accident factors in future earnings.
Yet often when we hear the word money, our immediate response is to think of how much of it we are currently lacking. In some countries, especially in the US, people often use credit cards to relieve the burden of low cash on hand, but instead of the relief that credit cards should be giving the owner, these cards often only cause more anxiety – fretting over the inability to pay off the debt and perpetuating the debt cycle. Thinking of money in terms of lack or inability, and worrying about financial debt is often the numero uno reason that we often feel limited by our financial situation and are thus apprehensive to commit to anything new – especially to following our dreams and aspirations. And when it comes to finding creative solutions to our financial situations, although we say we want to think outside the box, often we can only see the actual box we are in. In most cases, that box is our current bank account.
So how does one go about not fretting over debts when society teaches us to always pay our dues? A lot of books and experts talk about the power of positive thinking.. They share how the more you focus on the ability to pay the debt, the faster you can pay it off. Though that does help a little, what a lot of “experts” fail to touch on is actually focusing not on the money but what that money can create. If you observe rich people with big empires, they have considerably large mortgages, loans, and are often on credit. In fact, most companies who have loans tend to defer their payments to the bank over many years. Some only pay the monthly interest for the first few years before even paying back to capital. Yet most people don’t perceive these companies as being reckless or irresponsible or indifferent with their debt, and in fact, we often trust them with our finances and investments. So what’s the difference between us individuals and those companies?
Instead of focusing on paying back loans, they focus on the intention and reason behind the actual loan: GROWTH & EXPANSION
The more vested one becomes in the idea they want to birth, the more reward (usually in money) that idea brings back.
Maria Tan
Most companies borrow money to fund a new innovation, factory or business expansion. And with the money they’ve borrowed, they put all the resources that money can buy into fully developing the innovation. These companies play the long game of sustaining that new innovation and the least of their concern is to pay back the entire capital, because that payback is built into the growth and expansion plan. Most of the time, because of their commitment to that “risk”, it pays off and the company pays back the entire loan.
That’s where individuals should be focusing when they take on debt: growth & expansion, with a plan. Because that’s where the money we don’t see lies.
This focus on growth & expansion in the area of finance is closely tied to the question of “How can I expand in my life?”
Think of it this way: when anyone or any business focuses on growth & expansion (development of their ideas) and sustainable connection (connecting that creation to the rest of the world), the result will always be money coming in. How often do you hear someone saying “I knew it would be great” after someone has succeeded in an “impossible” idea? The only thing that separated the one who succeeded from those that merely thought the idea would succeed is the amount of energy or focus they gave to that idea.
In short, the more vested one becomes in the idea they want to birth, the more reward (usually in money) that idea brings back.
So when you’re wondering how you can have more money in your life, stop thinking of your struggles. Instead focus on this question: “How can I grow & expand in my life?” Then make a plan and commit to it!
