guest post by Bari Tessler

Have you noticed that even for those of us who have “done a lot of work”, we often check out around money? While many of us have other psycho-spiritual practices like meditation, yoga  and exercise, money is often the “last frontier”. If you can relate, you’re not alone. The best place to start? Cultivate your conscious money practice.

In its basic meaning, any “practice” is simply a healthy habit we do on a regular basis that, over time, provides a cumulative benefit. Your “Money Practice” can be defined as the steps you take on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis to help bring more clarity, peace of mind and success to your financial life.

#1: The Physical Level of Your Money Practice

This is where we attend to the practical aspects of our relationship with money. You choose how often you attend to your money practice – daily, weekly, monthly. I invite you to schedule a weekly “money date” with yourself as you’re beginning to cultivate your money practice. Setting aside this time & clearing this space is often the hardest, and most important piece. Once you enter the space of your money practice, here are some aspects to consider, on this “physical level”:

• Learn a tracking system (like Mint, Quicken, or Quickbooks). I used to be TERRIFIED of these systems! Many of us want to outsource this piece because it’s so uncomfortable. However, it can be phenomenally empowering and healing to learn a system, learn this language, and attend to our financial tracking regularly with clarity.
• Save your receipts in a fancy stylish accoutrement. Especially if you have a business (and even for those of us simply looking to bring more consciousness), it’s important to keep your receipts and reconcile them regularly. I keep all my receipts in really cool silver old cigarette case. This small touch I’ve added to my money practice helps keep me awake, inspired, and effective.
• Clear the clutter. Clean your desk & create a nice environment to attend to your money practice. Add candles. Something beautiful. Music. Anything that helps you step more deeply into your conscious money practice.

#2: The Emotional Level of your Money Practice

This is where we bring more awareness to our “money story”. What emotions come up for you around money? What’s your history? Where do you check out, freak out, or become anxious?  Deep breaths and huge doses of compassion are needed here. This level is about deepening in self-intimacy, and understanding our experience with money, and how it’s playing out in our current life.

Here’s my favorite tool to engage with the emotional level of your money practice. Use this tool in each moment of your money practice – as you prepare to have a complicated money conversation, as you approach an important money decision, as you’re sitting down to the computer to pay your bills . . .  

• Body Check Ins: Stop whatever else you are doing. Take a few deep, slow breaths. Be open and curious about your inner experience. Notice any thoughts, feelings, images, body sensations, memories. Acknowledge what you find. Write about your experience in a money journal if you’d like to. Collect data, clues, and pieces of the puzzle to help you come into deeper relationship with yourself & your money story.

#3: The Psycho-Spiritual Level of Your Money Practice

This is where we drill down to the very deepest meaning of your money practice, and align your finances with your values. What is the meaning and value that you are exchanging your money for? What is your vision for your life? And how does that connect to your relationship with money?

• Renaming: Transform boring, or stressful expenses into deeply held and honored values. For example, what if instead of paying your “Mortgage” or “Rent” each month, you invested in your “Sanctuary”, “Home”, or even “Love Shack”?! By renaming in this way, our financial comings and goings are infused with meaning and intentionality.

Wherever you are on your money journey, choose your very next baby step, and take that step. The tools you’ll find here are just the beginning. Remember, the most important step in nurturing any practice is to begin. And begin again. Again and again.

To learn more about cultivating a money practice, working with your “money story” and stepping into a path of Financial Transformation, join Bari on the line for a free teleclass on Tuesday, April 3rd, “Wake Up With Money”. Save your seat here: http://baritessler.com/programs/wake-up-with-money-teleclass

~~~

Bari Tessler is a Financial Therapist, Coach and Mommypreneur. She founded the Conscious Bookkeeping Method – Tools for Financial Transformation in 2001, after a decade working as a body-centered therapist.

The business quickly grew from a one-woman operation into a team of six other accounting, psychology, coaching, and investment professionals. Then, with the birth of her son in 2008, Bari successfully evolved back into a one-woman rockin’ show as a mommypreneur, updating her business model to honor the importance of spending lots of time with her family.

She offers the Conscious Bookkeeping Method: Tools For Financial Transformation™, via these programs: Introductory Video Course, Wake Up With Mint Course, Home Study Program, and private Financial Therapy.

Her teaching combines practical action steps, a wealth of therapeutic experience, and inspiration galore to help her clients transform their relationships with money, body, mind and spirit.

To learn more about Bari and her work, go here: http://baritessler.com/

Jennifer Lee of Artizen Coaching is clearly a kindred spirit – especially with her appreciation for the right side of our brains. She’s doing a tour of her favourite blogs to get the word out about her Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit (February 27-March 9, 2012) and today, she’s popping up on ours!

For her Pink Elephant debut, I asked Jennifer if she’d share the three biggest mistakes she sees creative entrepreneurs making, as well as her recommendations for avoiding them. I love what she’s written for us.

1. Not trusting themselves.

This is the biggest thing I see come up for creative entrepreneurs. They think that they need to look outside themselves for the answers when really the answers are inside and they actually know more than they think they do. We worry about the details like if we’re using the right technology or tools, or if we’re making the right business decisions, or we spend time comparing ourselves to others we think are more successful. However, you and your creative business will thrive the most when you stay true to who you are and honor your values and vision. Focus on what’s most important to you in your creative business, believe in your vision, and trust that you’ll figure out the details that you need to (or get support to do it – see #3).

2. Not knowing their numbers.

I know the financial side of things can tend to be scary for creative entrepreneurs who would rather just concentrate on their passion and not have to worry about the money. And yet, I find that not knowing exactly how much money is coming in and going out actually causes more stress. The Moola Map exercise I share in Chapter 5 of my book The Right-Brain Business Plan offers a fun and visual way to look at your income and expenses. It’s a great way to get your feet wet. I also recommend having some type of bookkeeping system (and no, I don’t mean that shoebox overflowing with receipts) because it will help you track what you’re spending and making. Quickbooks or Outright are popular bookkeeping tools (not sure how to get that set up? See #3). When people take the time to look at the numbers they usually feel more empowered and excited about the opportunities. Knowledge certainly is power!

Note from Carrie: I’m with Jennifer – getting organized around your money is empowering and essential. If, though, you just can’t make yourself go the software route and you’re not in a position to hire a bookkeeper yet, at least start small. Here’s my own computer-free money management system for small business. It’s a step up from the shoe box and way preferable to doing nothing.

3. Not getting help.

Just because you’re a soloprenreur doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. In fact, if you are, you’re probably not being as effective (and profitable) as you can be. It can feel uncomfortable to reach out to others for help, but when you do, you’ll make your life a whole lot easier. I recommend making what I call a “helping hands wish list” where you write down all the ways you can use help right now in your work and personal life. Then identify one or two people you could make requests of. And even if you think you can’t afford to hire help or outsource work, remember that if you’re wasting your time doing things that you don’t like and aren’t good at rather than the things you love doing and make you money, you’re probably holding your business back. Another no-cost way you can get help is to find an accountability buddy. This is someone who you can check in regularly with to share what actions you’re committing to doing and to report back to them if you’ve done them or not. Sure, running a creative business can be challenging. And it can also be lots of fun when you invite others to play with you!

Like Jennifer’s take on things? (Me, too.) Visit her video summit or follow her on Twitter @artizencoaching to get a little more.

~~~

Jennifer Lee is the founder of Artizen Coaching and the award-winning author of The Right-Brain Business Plan. Her bestselling book has helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the world grow their businesses authentically and creatively. Join her live for free at her 2^nd annual Right-Brainers in Business Video Summit February 27^th-March 9^th. You can find her on Twitter at @artizencoaching.

A couple weeks ago, I bought a ticket to a networking event that’s happening tonight. I’m not going to go.

If you’ve read my bio or even just the footer on this page, you know I’m naturally an introvert (that’s what the I in INFJ represents) and as, such, networking events aren’t my favourite way to pass the time. But that isn’t the reason I’m bailing ce soir.

1. I bought the ticket because I felt like I should.

Should is always such trouble. As soon as I decide to do something because I think I should, I completely ignore my own inner wisdom, my own rhythms, my own heart, my own desires. And that ain’t right. Should and Joy rarely coexist. And it’s joyful people who do best in business, dear entrepreneurs.

Always, always, always choose Joy over Should.

2.  I don’t want to.

See the point above. I know I could jolly myself into the mood for this particular event. I could pick out a cute outfit and admire my business cards (they have the best embossed elephants ever!). I could get there, I could. And it would be fine. But I’ve been trying out a new practice for the past six months especially, and I love it. It’s called Pleasure.

“What would please me, tonight?” I ask myself. And, turns out, it isn’t to take the streetcar to eat a buffet dinner, worrying there’s parsley in my teeth as the woman next to me tries to sell me life insurance. Some nights, that would be fun. The meal would be delicious. The insurance lady could become a new best friend. But tonight, what’s calling to me is a solo dinner at the neighbourhood French cafe (Mr. Klassen’s got a rehearsal), then savouring some home-alone time. I’m thinking lavender-salted bath before curling up with the most recent Camilla Gibb. A pot of mint-nettle-red clover tea. The quilt we bought on our east coast honeymoon over my lap. My legs stretched out, full-length, on the couch. That is the scene that feels most energizing to me tonight.

What I have learned – without fail – is that when I pursue what pleases me, I am so much better at pleasing others.

3. Changing the action doesn’t mean the intention’s lost.

When I bought that networking event ticket, I did so because I was intending to connect with some new people. Earlier today, when I was tempted to talk myself into attending, that was one of the arguments I used: But you wanted to meet new people. Here’s what I had to remind myself: There are at least a hundred different ways to do …everything. There are a hundred ways to mix a cupcake batter. There are a hundred ways to paint your nails. There are a hundred ways to pet a cat. There are a hundred ways to expand the reach of a business.

Tonight, I don’t have to “get out there” but because I am still feeling like I’d like to make connections, I checked in with myself about the more fitting how. “What means of connection would I enjoy today?” And what I came up with is writing this post. And after this, while I’m still logged into my website, I’m going to make some content tweaks to improve my search engine optimization for the workbooks pages. Those activities will probably connect me with more people, likelier to find me engaging, than tonight’s event. Even if you don’t love what you’re reading on this page, because I wanted to write it, because it wasn’t forced, because – for me – it was fun… on some level, you, dear reader, will pick that up. And we will connect. And it will feel good because it’s coming from a good energetic place. Right?

A person who is lit up can’t help but be attractive. In any given moment, choose to do what lights you up.

Although there are business coaches who would insist you need to force yourself out of your so-called comfort zone, I think there are more meaningful ways to practice courage and that, indeed, choosing to do what pleases you despite your inner-shoulds IS an act of bravery. And defiance. And it’s the ticket to growing your business.

Despite missing tonight, I think Pink Elephant’s gonna be just fine.

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

This gorgeous recipe comes to you from Elixir Organic Spa. They’re a healthful, boutique spa in Toronto but even if you’re not from around these parts, I think they’re worth following on Facebook just for the great posts.

• 1 cup dried organic rose petals (available in most health food stores)
• 1/2 cup fine pink Himalayan salt
• 1/4 cup Grapeseed oil
• 2-5 drops of essential oil of either Rose or less expensive Rose Geranium

Directions: In a blender or food processor grind the rose petals into a fine power. Transfer into a bowl and add the salt, oil and essential oils. Store in a beautiful glass jar and exfoliate in the shower. Add a silk ribbon and you’ve got a beautiful gift!

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

Do you want to know an embarrassing secret? I sucked my thumb until I was double-digits. (I was a sensitive kid… still am.) Want to know what happens when you’re such an effective self-soother? You get crooked teeth. It’s something that’s always bothered me. Not in a dramatic way but in a gee-I-wish-I-could-do-something-about-this way.

So, at 35, I’ve been shopping for orthodontists. And braces, my friends, are expensive! In shelling out this money, what’s been a surprise delight is the business schooling I’m getting.

Often, clients confide they know they should raise their prices but they’re afraid that no one will be able to afford to hire them if they do that. It’s a completely natural fear – especially when you’re not yet bringing in the revenue you need to feel comfortable. But here’s the truth – as learned through braces shopping – people who want things will find a way. I “cannot afford” to be getting braces but I’m going to, because this is a solution I really want.

You know what else is crazy (but not)? I chose the most expensive orthodontist. There was another who lectures extensively, who was quick to show off an impressive portfolio, who I could tell was very, very good at what he does – but I just didn’t feel a connection. I could pay less money but I knew I wouldn’t enjoy being in his office. I wouldn’t love the experience of it. Instead, I chose the equally qualified but more pleasant (to me) orthodontist. And because I had such a positive interaction with him, it made me happy to pay him a little more. Truly. (And, trust me, I love a deal.)

Do you ever worry when you send out an invoice that it ruins your client’s day? Think of me, smiling to write a cheque for my soon-to-be-straighter teeth. My smile is how your client feels.

And that’s the other thing… I’m grateful to my orthodontist. I’m excited about the work we’re about to do. Do I wish it were a lot less money? Yup. Sure. But my focus is on the outcome. He is going to help me with a problem I am so looking forward to having solved. I am a willing spirit. If your clients have chosen you and you’re doing work for them that they need (and why else would they have called on you?), then they are willing spirits too. Don’t get mired in guilt or shame (“who am I to charge so much for something others really need? I could go without a nice dinner out this week to make my services even more affordable… I could go without…”) and overlook what is truly true: your client isn’t feeling the angst you’re projecting.

I have had clients tell me that they decided to work with Pink Elephant before they even saw the service menu. It just felt right. The same was true for me with my orthodontist. I knew he was the one I wanted to work with before he printed off his estimate. This isn’t a rare phenomenon for me or for the very fine Dr. Newton. It’s how most women make important buying decisions (and over 80% of buying decisions are made by women!).

We only make choices based solely on price when we aren’t that invested in the outcome. Are those the clients any of us want? The ones who are neither-here-nor-there about what we’re doing together? Nope. We want enthusiasm and care and commitment. We want orthodontic clients who will wear their retainers properly because they want the best result. And we want website design clients who are passionate about details and how their businesses are presented in the world (because they’ll most appreciate beautiful work). We want clients who really, really want to get fit and will show up for the workout. Or who are serious about following the meal plan, or who will come in for that 6-week check-up because that’s what their care requires.

I will write a really big (for me) cheque in a couple weeks when I pick up my aligners (I think that’s what they’re called), and then, I strongly suspect, I won’t think about that money again. After the trade, I will be too busy dazzling in the possibility of a really great smile (from all angles!).

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

When I worked a corporate job, I rarely looked at my pay stub to see the taxes being deducted. Up here in beautiful Canada, it’s a big chunk so I was content to focus on what was actually making its way into my account. Let the government (and my fellow citizens) have what is the government’s.

When I became self-employed, however, things changed. There was no longer a payroll person doing the math for me every two weeks, which meant I had to figure it out. I’m not really one for reports and tracking so for the first years in business, I just winged it. I guessed at what I might owe in sales and income taxes and hoped that I had enough in my account. And while my guesses did end up being close, having to guess brought with it a vague and constant feeling of dread. The unknown tax bill hung like a cartoon safe over my head. Will I be able to pay it?

There’s so much more peace in knowing.

So last year, I implemented a new system for tracking revenue and taxes I would eventually owe. It was a binder system and while it was quite a clever thing in theory, I still let the receipts pile up all over the place until the end of the year instead of slipping them into the binder envelopes I’d made. For me, if a process is going to stick, it has to be SO easy. And I think that’s what I’ve got heading into 2012.

I bought an accordion folder (with high recycled content, of course) and named each section based on what I need to report to my accountant come next spring. (If you need inspiration, here are the forms our Dimitris asks us to fill out – they’ll show you various categories. Your accountant can help you refine yours.) I leave it open where I barely need to stretch from my seat to drop something in. Simple, simple. But that doesn’t mean every time I have a receipt I drop it in. Nope. I let them pile up in my pockets, purses and wallet. The printer tray is another great spot. And that’s okay. It’s part of my process. I let them build up and then, on the last day of the month, I sort them.

I don’t total any of those. I might do that quarterly or at the end of the year. I should do it monthly (and, smarter, should hire a bookkeeper to help) but, for now, my profit and loss statements are simple enough that I feel comfortable being inexact and intuitive. Because I don’t like the stress of surprises,  I do approximate what I will owe in sales and income taxes.

To figure out a rough number to set aside for taxes owed, I run two quick reports. I use Blinksale for Pink Elephant Creative invoicing so I can easily see what invoices were closed in a month and what amount of sales tax was collected. (We have to charge the harmonized sales tax – HST –  to fellow Canadians who hire Pink Elephant, and at different rates depending on which province they call home. We don’t  charge tax for clients outside of Canada.) The second report I run is through e-Junkie because it tracks sales for Creative’s sister business (this one), Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs. I add up the amount of sales tax from each report and then I move that amount from Pink Elephant’s chequing account into a business savings account. If I were really on the ball, I’d subtract the total I’ve spent in HST for that month’s business expenses before moving that amount over – since the government requires us to pay what we bring in minus what we pay out – but, as discussed, I’m being casual – I save the exact HST math and return for year-end. This way I have more in the account than I will need. And I like the way that feels.

The next bit of math I do is to total the  revenue (excluding any sales tax collected) from both of the reports and I figure out what 20% of that total is; then I move that into the savings account. That is the money I’ll use to pay my income tax bill next spring.  My tax rate at the end of the year likely won’t be 20% (it will be higher) and doing the math this way doesn’t take into account my business expenses – which will eventually be subtracted from my revenue to show true income – but I’ve found, for my business, that setting aside 20% of monthly revenue ensures there’s enough in the pot at the end of the year to comfortably write that tax cheque. If there’s extra left over, then that’s a trip to the spa (or somewhere more exotic!). You can figure out your own estimate by looking at last year’s tax bill and figuring out what percentage of last year’s revenue it worked out to be. Make sense?

40 minutes each month is all I need. Finding all the receipts and sorting them into my accordion file took exactly 13 minutes this afternoon. To run the two reports, transfer them to Excel so I could save them in a folder on my computer and then add up the totals took 25 minutes. It’ll be quicker next month now that I have a proper process in place. To sign into my banking account and move the funds around took an additional two minutes. If you’re adding, that’s 40 minutes. And now I don’t have to worry about taxes!

Dear creative entrepreneurs: how do you manage your money each month? How do you keep organized? Share your tips for other entrepreneurs in the comments field below.

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

I am a fan of online dating. I am. It is such an easy way to meet people you might not normally cross paths with otherwise. Without Lavalife, I never would have bumped into my now-husband Keith. That thought alone is enough to make me want to sing the merits of online dating from any handy mountaintop. Imagine who you might not be meeting! (The hunky, mountain-climbing, woodworking, haiku-writing opera singer is taken, but there will be others just as enticing.)

I know how hard it can be to write that profile to get started, though. What to say? It’s one challenge to write content that markets your business when you’re so close to it but describing yourself? that’s really hard. And vulnerable-feeling, right? But as tender as this writing might be, it can also be playful. Happy. Fun.

Yes, online dating can definitely be fun. So in the spirit of fun, dear readers, I want you to have this workbook, A mini guide for writing your completely charming online dating profile . It’s a free, instant download. You don’t have to sign up for anything. Just enjoy! (And let me know when you meet someone wonderful.)

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

The day before yesterday, I launched a brand new workbook, Selling Sweetly: How to write your sales page (in truth, the actual title is longer but this is easier to remember) and afterwards, a friend wrote to ask, “How did your project launch feel?”

What an interesting question! It felt… a lot of things. I beta-tested Selling Sweetly before the full launch so I already had the benefit of knowing how it might be received. I got great feedback early on and I incorporated as much as I could into the finished workbook. So I didn’t feel that nervousness (although when I sent out the first draft I did – it’s always vulnerable to show people what you’re up to and to ask if they like it or not). I felt excited to share it finally, a different kind of anxious energy. When you sit on an egg for so long, you want to see what hatches.

I was a little nervous about technological glitches. With the beta-test, we found out that Apple changed something in their PDF reader and preview functions. So my beautiful Bistro script, used in headlines? It disappeared for the Apple readers (which made a lot of exercises not make sense). The final draft had to use Georgia. Which was fine. But the Bistro surprise made me wonder what other surprises might be in store. But so far, eJunkie and various PDF readers have all cooperated as they should. Phew! 

Relief was definitely part of the emotional mix. I felt relieved to be done the work and to be able to release it into the world. No more tweaking, perfecting, fiddling. It was done. I loved creating that workbook. It’s the kind of work for me that devours time. But after hitting Send on the announcement and not having more to do, I realized it’d been a long while since I’d taken a day off. And I was tired. Tuckered right out. Still am, because I still haven’t taken that day off. That’s the problem with doing work that’s so enticing. (A very good problem to have!)

But the biggest thing I felt was – without question – GRATITUDE. I received so many notes of encouragement, and so many notes of thanks from entrepreneurs who bought the workbook. Fellow entrepreneurs posted links to it, sharing it with their communities. Others wrote to ask how they could help me spread the word because they loved the work. I was delighted. I think I spent most of Monday with a look of happy amazement on my face.

I am a very, very lucky woman to have my business supported by such a generous, loving, caring community. And this week was one more reminder of that. Thank you, all. xoxo

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

I am kicking myself. I did it again. The thing I keep saying I won’t do anymore. The lesson I keep saying I’ve learned. I gave my work away, and, last week, it totally totally sucked.

I won’t go into all the details but here’s the shortish version of the story. As many of you know, when I came back from volunteering in India, I was broke-ola. That stretch without revenue did more unsettling to my delicate financial well-being than I predicted and it made me realize – at long last – how long I had just been getting by (and how tenuous a situation getting by can be). 

I got serious about reevaluating how I ran my business and one of the policy changes I realized I had to make at that time was to cut out bartering. Yes, it can be a wonderful way to get stuff and services you might not have the cash for…. but our landlord doesn’t accept Pink Elephant credit, nor does the organic market down the way, nor does the hydro-electric company or our internet service provider. To comfortably pay for the essentials, I needed to exchange my services for actual money. Having a policy in place – especially one that was created out of sheer, mathematical necessity – made it easier to say no. (And other people totally get it, by the way.)

Isn’t there always an exception? It’s like me, giving up sugar except for that one Original Square from Bulldog Cafe (which is totally worth it – chocolate chips and salty crackers and melted caramel? deee-licious). Last spring, there was something I really wanted and that I was sure would help me grow Pink Elephant but the investment was more than I had in my bank account. When I explained the situation, a wonderful offer was made: “We love your work. Would you be willing to trade services?” It felt like an answered prayer. (Tests often do.)

I jumped at the chance. We met to talk through how we’d make our agreement work, settled on terms and that was that. I tracked the hours promised, gave my best advice and work and – of course – never missed a deadline. We’re nearing the end of our agreement and, well, somehow there was a misunderstanding.  The person I originally struck this arrangement with is away and her boss believed the agreement was something else. In the absolute worst meeting of my 12-year career, when I explained what the terms had been, I was even accused of being out of alignment “with the generous spirit of [our organization].” There was a suggestion that I don’t understand the “importance of supporting other women.” I have a quicker mind than tongue so I fumbled over my response. I was angry with myself for being a person who blushes so easily. I swallowed tears. I made it through but it wasn’t as graceful as I wished.

I can see the other perspective easily enough. If you thought I had agreed to one thing and 80% of the way through changed the game, that wouldn’t be cool. And the person I met with isn’t someone who knows me or my work so she didn’t have the benefit of that understanding. But, because I never want to be accused of being ungenerous and because I do really want to support this organization and because it would make my time there uncomfortable to do it any other way, I agreed to provide the services this woman thought she was to receive, even though it wasn’t what I had originally agreed to.  I will now be providing $5250 in services in exchange for $2400 in services.

Not the best business math. And you can see how I would have been better off paying the cash in the first place. There would be no surprise expectations or bad feelings or weirdness. Money exchanged for services is a clean, clear way of handling business transactions. There’s a reason it’s so popular.

(And remember that ROI I was expecting? That fell through too. If you’ve ever promised to speak at a big event for free because it was worth it for “the exposure” only to show up for a sparse audience, you can relate.)

I made the title of this post “Bartering can be bad” because that’s how I’m feeling right now. I know that cases can be made for bartering. If you have the extra time and you have enough money in your account that you can comfortably give away your services to someone who, in exchange, has exactly something you’ve been needing,  then I trust your judgment. Go forth and barter.

But please do better than I did. Even if you really really really like the person with whom you’re trading services and even if you think the agreement couldn’t possibly be clearer and even if you’re both overflowing with goodwill and even if this feels like the ideal exception to your own no-bartering policy, please get your agreement in writing.

I’ve been posting these mini placards on Pink Elephant’s Facebook page and Google+ lately for those of us who are generous by nature and could use the reminder that undercharging and giving our services away can actually be hurtful. Feel free to print one of these badges to post near your desk.

Of course, of course there are times when we all feel good about donating our services to worthy causes, initiatives and people – these aren’t about that. Those of you who give yourself away too often know to whom I’m talkin’.

 
~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.

There are a lot of things that get into our inboxes without our wanting them there. So many Facebook notifications (and I was sure I’d turned my off!), salesy newsletters, bulk emails… if you’re like me, you might be on a listserv or two, as well. But there are also so many gems! There are lots of great newsletters that I like a lot but still don’t read every issue. What I am sharing here is my very short list of emails I open EVERY time one comes in. Sometimes I read them right away and sometimes I save them to savour the read. If you subscribe to one of these (or all of them) it may give you a whole new love for your inbox.

Do you always mean to start – or keep – a gratitude journal but never quite manage it? Happy Rambles almost does it all for you. You get a daily email asking, “What are you grateful for?” and all you have to do is reply, listing five things. It’s all stored for you. (Almost) instant gratitude journal!
Read more.

Mike Dooley is an author several-times over and he’s also created these daily delights. Each day, you receive a personalized note from the universe. They’re so fun – and, often, so eerily “on.”
Read more.

Stephanie St. Claire is a coach and “start-over strategist” in New York City. Foremost, though, she’s a writer and she publishes to inboxes. Her Diaries is the only paid email subscription I have – for good reason. It’s delicious and poignant and sexy and elegant too. Every two weeks, there’s a new diary entry and a window into a most interesting soul and life.
Read more.

I can’t explain quite why but I find Ev’s daily notes fascinating. His style is highly edited and I find that, alone, interesting. (All the things he must choose to cut!) He conducts online “experiments” and “reports back.” It’s worth signing up to receive a few just to see what I’m talking about.
Read more.

Question: What are your must-read emails? What am I missing? Tell me in the comments section below, pretty please.

~~~

Writer Carrie Klassen is a green tea enthusiast, novelist-in-progress, fine point pen aficionado, INFJ Scorpio, and president of Pink Elephant Creative, a website writing and design boutique for inspired entrepreneurs. She also writes workbooks and teaches workshops at Pink Elephant Academy for Entrepreneurs.