I used to mindlessly chase revenue goals,
My wellbeing was directly tied to how many sales I made, or the size of my clients.
I suppose it’s better than tying my ego to the size of other things 🥒
(certainly, there’s enough people like that about already ) 🤣
3 years ago my goal was to make enough money to match my full-time job and quit.
By the end of that year my Design Hero income had doubled my full-time wage.
Another year later I was earning more in some month than I had in a year in my 9-5
I’d have called that a huge success.
And yet…
I don’t think I was any happier earning £20k/m than I was only earning £2k/m
In fact there were times where I was miserable,
My fulfilment systems in my design agency hadn’t caught up with my offer and sales skills yet, so I was exhausted and burnt out.
Fame and riches should only ever be seen as fortuitous side effects. But they are more likely to come if you focus on developing what is under your control: your talent and efforts
– Derren Brown, happy
This is the problem with monetary goals:
When you reach them you won’t suddenly decide to pack up your tools and go home.
You’ll set a new, higher goal and keep on striving.
Goals are important to keep us motivated, but that’s all.
Goals don’t lead to happiness and fulfilment.
So make sure you set the right goals.
Here’s a belter from “Happy” by Derren Brown (yes, the magician).
His book is life-changing, and introduced me to Stoicism as a life and business model.
My happiness seems to me no more attached to what earn (once past that watershed point of not having money troubles) than it does to my wallpaper. And know more than my fair share of wealthy people and they’ll tell you the same. Money, fame and success exist on the other side of that line in the realm of external indifferents: nice to have, but outside of our jurisdiction. They may be rewarding by- products, but they will never prove gratifying if they are chased directly.
– Derren Brown, Happy
This was an important stage of my life as I shifted from monetary goals to more purpose led goals.
I had been chasing monetary goals as a measuring stick, because I was seeking external validation of my worth or abilities.
Once you realise this and switch to internal validation it’s much easier to be happier with where you are.
I quickly realised the oldest cliches are the most true:
more money won’t make you happy
(after a certain point, of course 🙂)
Money buys security.
it buys stability
it buys options.
But I have a feeling (let me know if I’m wrong, you can email me)…
I think most freelancers would be just as happy
with £5k/m
as they would with £50k/m
The goal with my business is to make enough money to sustain my ideal lifestyle.
Now,
“enough” is different for everyone.
But if you don’t decide what ‘enough’ looks like,
you will always be chasing more, more, more.
I never want to be one of those poor lost souls,
posting pics of the fancy car,
‘accidentally’ flashing the rolex,
Playing desperate status games so others can see my “success”.
We can smell your desperation,
and you’re not fooling anyone.
Here’s a few snaps from Instagram when you search for #success.
I feel especially sorry for the one dude who obviously didn’t get the memo,
and turned up to the jetski orgy in a Porsche👇🏻
You don’t have to play the status game
I still have ambition.
I still have goals.
I still strive for better and work hard for more.
It’s just that I had a peek behind the money curtain,
I didn’t like the look of the party in there,
So I’m taking my attention elsewhere.
In other words, I have different priorities.
For me,
being successful means something very different than boasting about revenue…
Your revenue means nothing.
Tell me about your profit.
Still meaningless.
Tell me your profit ÷ time…
We’re getting somewhere.
Now tell me how much spare time you have.
Finally, tell me how you spend your spare time.
Now you have a clearer picture of your success!
Success in a lifestyle business
is measured by freedom.
Remember….
Life is short.
Then you die.
I believe in writing things down.
So I got this tattooed on myself recently as a constant reminder.
True fact.
So why did you start your business in the first place?
Was it to make £1M?
Or was it for freedom?
Don’t fall into the trap most freelancers do…
Most people start a business for freedom,
get overwhelmed chasing money,
then try to fit in life around what little time remains.
Please,
design your life first,
then grow a lifestyle business around it!
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