Managing an Elevator Cash Flow

By Catherine Franz

Jannice K., a past Virginia resident, now California
resident, worked in Burger King for ten years. Back when I
was a junk food addict, she passed me the bag and drink
through the drive through window. Occasionally, I would go
inside to eat. We became friends and soon had regular times
together early afternoons during her break. It wasn't long
before I discovered Jannice’s real buried passion was
grooming dogs. She sparkled whenever the topic came up.

Later Jannice and I worked together to write articles and
other materials on her passion. Now, Jannice lives in
California, owns three grooming parlors, and is quite, quite
well off. During a recent phone conversation she shared how
no matter how far she’s come in just the few years, she says
she’s never gotten used to living with a fluctuating cash
flow.

This is an experience shared by many self-employed
individuals.

After living on predictable cash flow, having a variable
cash flow can be nerve racking. Even over time, as you grow
maturely philosophical about money, knowing that it can be
here today and gone tomorrow requires being on your toes.
And, in order to transition from toes to flat foot you must
learn to integrate a prosperity consciousness in order to
survive emotionally. A prosperity transfer means shifting
from the perception of scarcity, to being in abundance.

The secret to handling this elevator ride is to get to the
point of contentment with who you are and what you are
doing, and not have an emotional response to money. This
platform, of course, takes discipline and experience. Over
time, as you learn and become comfortable with a new way of
thinking, you also learn to stay focused, know what "really"
matters, stop wasting time, and relax into a set of
processes and systems that become the rhythm for your
business. This calm approach always accelerates prosperity
and, in turn, allows the cash flow elevator to slow down and
stop on various floors.

During the fast elevator days, tips always help to remind us
to punch the button in order to stop at the next floor.
Here are a few tips to help you push the right buttons:

1. Where you focus is what you will attract. If you focus
on your surplus, the surplus will grow. If you focus on
lack, the lack will grow. Hence, it’s common sense to focus
on surplus, wouldn't you say. Learn to see abundance in all
that you do, say, and feel. This doesn't mean giving away
your services if you are business owner. It means in being
in balance with it. Be abundant with your gestures, open
the door for a person, it doesn't matter on gender.

When someone takes you to lunch, see that as surplus, the
money didn't come out of your pocket. It’s abundance from
their life to yours. Yes, the good ole, attitude of
gratitude, philosophy is what I'm talking about. It
actually is a secret weapon of the wealthy. Again, of
course, in balance. This same attitude is available to
everyone, including you and I. If it takes fewer muscles to
smile, then of course, it takes less energy to be nice.

2. Know what you're worth and be consistent about it. If
you take a long lunchtime or spend time browsing the book
aisles or Net, associate your hourly rate to this. When you
associate time to money consistently in your thinking
process, cash flow will follow. With a focus on what
"really" matters and you follow that up with massive action,
it all begins to sink in. This internal awareness will, of
course, again, be attractive.

3. Some is better than none. Partial payments are better
than no payments if you can't meet your obligations. Even
the telephone and utility companies can cope with partial
payments. Send what you can with an explanatory note.

We both know that bill collectors aren't the most
compassionate souls. If you deal with them, try not to be
defensive nor try to ignore them. Silence isn't golden in
this instance. However, you can't let them intimate you or
make you feel guilty either -- and they surely will try too.
Bring no emotional attachment to their call, conversation,
or even after you hang up. This will affect your energy and
zap your progress.

Just imagine having one of these a day, and if you do, it’s
a-no-wonder why you're feeling drained, unattractive, and
not making any money. This spiral emotional ride puts you
on the fast elevator ride to the basement.

4. Maintain a list of emergency money generators. These
are items that you can use that require little or no
planning, either because you have it done or it just doesn't
need it, that deliver short-term cash. This is an insurance
cash flow list for your business. Everyone needs this
whether running a business or not, even if it means
unloading boxes at your brother-in-laws warehouse.

If you list a temporary agency, who are they, have you gone
over there already and established a relationship. Set up
the groundwork so that it’s easy to jump into when "you"
need it. Being mindful of all your options, and not
mindless, adds to your confidence and ability to manage your
cash flow during shortage.

5. Separate emotions from money and separate thoughts of
debt that is an investment and debt that is due to
irresponsibility. If you are going to operate a business,
be accountable, especially if you have employees. People
say to me that one of their number goals is to be debt free.
If you have a habit of creating irresponsible debt then even
when you become debt free it will not last because the
mindset and habits didn't change.

Change your attitude and remove the emotions. Separate
investment debt from the other. Why wait to be happy, live
your life with a debt free mentality now. Most children
grow up without understanding money and base their knowledge
on emotional expressions they hear from others. Then as
adults they are thrust into the world and told, "You're
suppose to know better."

Take a class on money management, stop reading the books if
they aren't helping. If you already taken a class, hire a
money coach. Keep debt manageable and be an responsible
adult and business owner. There aren't any excuses for poor
money management.

6. Don't spend yourself poor with feast or famine. Don't
be tempted to pay off all your old bills and leave yourself
impoverished all over again. Your mental health will be
stronger if you set aside some money and watch it
accumulate. Just knowing you have even the smallest of
funds stashed away will lighten your walk and smooth your
sleep.

7. Get smart about your money. I mean, SMART. Get
Specific, Measure it, be Accountable, make them achievable,
Realistic and the Time is now. Our beliefs today have no
resemblance to the beliefs of money our parents have, nor
will the next generation have with yours. Challenge all the
early assumptions you have about money. Challenge them
every day until. Do it until you learn to manage it. Do it
until it works for you.

Get off the elevator cash flow ride, have less paper, scotch
tape, and paper clips around, and put some money away for
that rainy day. I don't think either of our grandmothers
where wrong on that philosophy.

(c) Copyright 2005, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.