Max Simon
If you’re reading this, I know you’re all about finding balance in your life. You balance your body and mind through Yoga, food, and self-care. But what about money? How are you doing with balance in that area of your life?
If you’re out of balance, you’re probably stuck in either one of two places: You have a job that pays your bills and is safe, but is not an expression of your unique purpose (i.e., it sucks); or you’re doing what you love, but you haven’t managed to turn it into a lucrative business, and thus can’t pay your bills. Both sides are less than ideal.
Why are you stuck?
Many of believe that yogis can’t, or shouldn’t, be rich. We get stuck in the either/or mentality – you can either be spiritual or you can be rich. We assume there can’t be a balance between the two. It can be hard to wrap your head around the idea that we can be of service and also make money. We feel guilty about receiving money for helping others because we’ve created beliefs that service should be free. It’s also counterintuitive to believe that you can create a highly profitable business around what you love and what youíre good at. We feel like there has to be a huge gap between Work (what we have to do) and Fun (what we want to do). And in our society, with so many companies that focus only on the bottom line, there aren’t many good models of people who have a business that’s good for the world and is also highly profitable.
The answer to moving past these limiting beliefs so you can achieve new levels of fulfillment and success is to become what I call “An Enlightened Entrepreneur,” meaning, you are using business as your vehicle to make a difference in the world while making a ton of money doing it.
Don’t believe it’s possible? Let me share a story with you.
Today, I run a business that helps thousands of entrepreneurs all over the world to create an on-purpose, in-service business that genuinely helps others. This year, we will make millions of dollars.
How did I get here?
I started as the Director of Consumer Products for the Chopra Center, where I created a multi-million dollar products business. But even more important than the financial success was the realization that it was possible to create a business that makes a huge impact and great money. I had found my first model.
However, when I started my own business, I immediately ran into walls. Now that the company was about me, I felt a much bigger shadow around charging for my stuff. When you’re running your own business, marketing and promotion can feel egotistical, arrogant, and, well, self-centered. I realized that in order to be successful, I had to make a big shift in my beliefs and get out of my own way.
So I attended events and got a coach who helped me see that I could help a lot more people with a successful business. As my business grew, I was able to devote the resources to inspire more and more people. This keeps the cycle of goodness (and prosperity) going, growing and expanding.
I’ve now found the balance between service and success. Our live events always sell out, and the impact we are making is profound. And the most important realization I’ve had is this:
If I can do it, you can do it.
So if you’re game to step into a new zone and become an Enlightened Entrepreneur (and then a Rich Yogi!), follow this map to create a profitable, purpose-driven business:
- Realize that your business is about solving problems, and feel great about receiving compensation for doing that. Think about buying food or hiring a gardener – we don’t worry about paying them, so why should you be any different.
- Determine exactly who you want to speak to (your tribe) and get really clear on a specific problem you want to solve for them. Don’t try to help everyone, because you won’t help anyone. Go narrow and deep. A jack of all trades is a master of none.
- Move away from the dollars-for-hours model where you trade time for money. Package your products and services into extended programs where you can go deep, and don’t work with people for any less. Larger commitments give rise to deeper transformations. Don’t allow people to get in their own way.
- Design your business around your life, not the other way around. Most people allow their business to take over and fall out of balance. They then get totally burnt-out and resentful. Schedule in the things you love, the things that keep you balanced, the things you want to do, first. Stay true to those commitments above all else.
- Surround yourself with Enlightened Entrepreneurs. Jim Rohn said: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you are hanging out with others who don’t have the same drive, ambition and goals you do, you will take on their energy and stunt your growth and success.
- Invest in your own learning constantly. You are your most important investment. Attend seminars, hire coaches, read books, and learn the tools that will make your business flourish. The most successful people on the planet are phenomenal students. Learn, learn, learn.
- Enjoy the ride. It’s not always easy, but it’s amazingly fulfilling. For example, we’re taking our entire team to Hawaii for a month as a result of our success. Stay focused on what you want to create and always keep moving towards it. Take constant action. Be a recovering perfectionist. Fail fast. And have fun all along the way.
Max Simon is a leading global authority for teaching entrepreneurs how to create a powerful business that’s on-purpose, in-service, and highly profitable. To get a series of free gifts and advanced access to his live events, visit: getselfcentered.com/LAYoga
By Max Simon
