It's Not All About The Cash
Today, the Washington Post reports that home foreclosures are moving forward at a record pace. I can understand people's pain and frustration. What I can't understand is why anyone is at all surprised.
This mortgage crisis was completely foreseeable. The consequences of greed always are. The lenders showed horrendous greed by specifically designing lending products to entice people with shaky credit to buy more house than they could afford. The buyers showed how greedy they were by exchanging long term pain and heartache for short term gain. How predictable that it was all too good to be true.
I'm bored with everyone talking about how many millions they want to make in their business. I mean, how many millions do you need? If the only reason you are in business is to make millions, you are probably just as greedy as the mortgage lenders, out for yourself at the expense of someone else.
Greed is not good for business. On the other hand, with making a fair profit as your motivation, you are are likely to have a sincerely helpful mindset. This will encourage customers, and their pocketbooks, to gravitate more towards you.
I don't hesitate to tell my clients, Indie Beauty Network members and people who call or email me (including the media) that I am not in business simply to make money. People come to me all the time to sign up for my services before they are really ready to invest an hourly rate for them. In such cases, I refer them to free and low cost resources for the basic information they need to get started in business. I then tell them that, when they get to the point where they know enough to know whether I'm a good investment for them, I hope they'll think of me.
Yes, I want to make a profit, and I do. But I'm not going to intentionally, wrecklessly or negligently hurt someone just so I can drive a Bentley. I think that's one reason why my business works so well. It's not about me. It's not about the cash. It's about how you and I can partner together so we can both be successfull and enjoy our lives.
That's my mission. That's my passion. Life is good.
What About You?
Are you tired of all the hype about making tons of money? Does it bore you to tears when people brag about the fancy cars and mansions they bought with money they didn't really have to work to get? How do you pursue a fair profit while staving off any temptation to take more than your reasonable share?
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Wonderful read! I wondered during the housing boom how people couldn’t predict to foreclosure increase on the flip side… I remember having numerous conversations with hubby about this. I get so frustrated when people just buy because the bank says they can afford this car or that house. Why don’t they ask themselves? Why are they letting someone else make major decisions for them?
If you love what you do the money will follow. No one ever said it would be millions and millions. I would rather have passion in my life and have a fulfilled life than make millions. I don’t have employees, but people say when I do I will feel different… But I think it is important to pay a livable wage for the job the do, treat them as you would want to be treated, and all-in-all provide a safe and “fun” work environment.
Loved the post! Thanks for a great read.
SJ
Wonderful read! I wondered during the housing boom how people couldn’t predict to foreclosure increase on the flip side… I remember having numerous conversations with hubby about this. I get so frustrated when people just buy because the bank says they can afford this car or that house. Why don’t they ask themselves? Why are they letting someone else make major decisions for them?
If you love what you do the money will follow. No one ever said it would be millions and millions. I would rather have passion in my life and have a fulfilled life than make millions. I don’t have employees, but people say when I do I will feel different… But I think it is important to pay a livable wage for the job the do, treat them as you would want to be treated, and all-in-all provide a safe and “fun” work environment.
Loved the post! Thanks for a great read.
SJ
Wonderful read! I wondered during the housing boom how people couldn’t predict to foreclosure increase on the flip side… I remember having numerous conversations with hubby about this. I get so frustrated when people just buy because the bank says they can afford this car or that house. Why don’t they ask themselves? Why are they letting someone else make major decisions for them?
If you love what you do the money will follow. No one ever said it would be millions and millions. I would rather have passion in my life and have a fulfilled life than make millions. I don’t have employees, but people say when I do I will feel different… But I think it is important to pay a livable wage for the job the do, treat them as you would want to be treated, and all-in-all provide a safe and “fun” work environment.
Loved the post! Thanks for a great read.
SJ
Great story Donna Maria,
The market today was foreseeable. As discussed with others the market could not continue the way it was going. Not only is it the lenders – but, it is also the credit card companies. I can’t tell you how many offers I receive in the mail and the $ amount offered is ridiculous. What it comes down to is how you want to live. Myself and my husband both agreed that we would never want to be house poor-work to pay our mortgage. We both want more but know in time that will come. We are happy and balanced where we are at today. No need to keep up with the “Jones'”.
As for being a business owner everything is done with good intentions. I did not go into business to be a millionare. I did it because I love what I do. Don’t get me wrong I do want to make money but not at any cost. It has been close to a year and the payoffs are just starting to come in. But, it took a lot of blood sweat and tears to get me to where I am at today. Pricing my product was a difficult task. But, I based the price in 4 different areas. 1.Cost to produce (including my time and overhead) 2. Quality and packaging 3. Wholesale level and 4. Retail level. There is no room for greed in my company. Everything I do is with good intention and the rewards will be 10 fold.
Thanks Donna Maria, I truly appreciate your articles.
Best Regards, Wendy Goudie
Great story Donna Maria,
The market today was foreseeable. As discussed with others the market could not continue the way it was going. Not only is it the lenders – but, it is also the credit card companies. I can’t tell you how many offers I receive in the mail and the $ amount offered is ridiculous. What it comes down to is how you want to live. Myself and my husband both agreed that we would never want to be house poor-work to pay our mortgage. We both want more but know in time that will come. We are happy and balanced where we are at today. No need to keep up with the “Jones'”.
As for being a business owner everything is done with good intentions. I did not go into business to be a millionare. I did it because I love what I do. Don’t get me wrong I do want to make money but not at any cost. It has been close to a year and the payoffs are just starting to come in. But, it took a lot of blood sweat and tears to get me to where I am at today. Pricing my product was a difficult task. But, I based the price in 4 different areas. 1.Cost to produce (including my time and overhead) 2. Quality and packaging 3. Wholesale level and 4. Retail level. There is no room for greed in my company. Everything I do is with good intention and the rewards will be 10 fold.
Thanks Donna Maria, I truly appreciate your articles.
Best Regards, Wendy Goudie
Great story Donna Maria,
The market today was foreseeable. As discussed with others the market could not continue the way it was going. Not only is it the lenders – but, it is also the credit card companies. I can’t tell you how many offers I receive in the mail and the $ amount offered is ridiculous. What it comes down to is how you want to live. Myself and my husband both agreed that we would never want to be house poor-work to pay our mortgage. We both want more but know in time that will come. We are happy and balanced where we are at today. No need to keep up with the “Jones'”.
As for being a business owner everything is done with good intentions. I did not go into business to be a millionare. I did it because I love what I do. Don’t get me wrong I do want to make money but not at any cost. It has been close to a year and the payoffs are just starting to come in. But, it took a lot of blood sweat and tears to get me to where I am at today. Pricing my product was a difficult task. But, I based the price in 4 different areas. 1.Cost to produce (including my time and overhead) 2. Quality and packaging 3. Wholesale level and 4. Retail level. There is no room for greed in my company. Everything I do is with good intention and the rewards will be 10 fold.
Thanks Donna Maria, I truly appreciate your articles.
Best Regards, Wendy Goudie
Wendy, sounds like you have done a great job of making your business make sense and cents. I love the 4-prong approach. It’s great guidance for any business. Thanks for sharing it.
Wendy, sounds like you have done a great job of making your business make sense and cents. I love the 4-prong approach. It’s great guidance for any business. Thanks for sharing it.
Wendy, sounds like you have done a great job of making your business make sense and cents. I love the 4-prong approach. It’s great guidance for any business. Thanks for sharing it.
I love the practical advice I get from reading your blog. Although Im a jewelry designer, this type of information is useful for all indies no matter what industry we choose. Thanks again for always giving us an out of the box perspective!
I love the practical advice I get from reading your blog. Although Im a jewelry designer, this type of information is useful for all indies no matter what industry we choose. Thanks again for always giving us an out of the box perspective!
I love the practical advice I get from reading your blog. Although Im a jewelry designer, this type of information is useful for all indies no matter what industry we choose. Thanks again for always giving us an out of the box perspective!
Sharonda, I’m so glad you enjoy the blog, and you’re right: it’s for any type of Indie Business owner. Our industries may be different but our small business management details are pretty much the same. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come back for more!
Sharonda, I’m so glad you enjoy the blog, and you’re right: it’s for any type of Indie Business owner. Our industries may be different but our small business management details are pretty much the same. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come back for more!
Sharonda, I’m so glad you enjoy the blog, and you’re right: it’s for any type of Indie Business owner. Our industries may be different but our small business management details are pretty much the same. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come back for more!
Hi dM, I love this post. Thank you for putting these truthful words out there. Yes, predatory lendors, irreponsible/greedy banks, and relentless credit card companies need to be penalized and reigned in. And we, ourselves, have to take responsibility for signing on the bottom line to something we know we cannot afford.
It was utterly refreshing to hear a business woman state: “I’m bored with everyone talking about how many millions they want to make…” The American obsession with fame and fortune is at the heart of many of our culture’s problems.
Thank you for this frank and honest post.
Hi dM, I love this post. Thank you for putting these truthful words out there. Yes, predatory lendors, irreponsible/greedy banks, and relentless credit card companies need to be penalized and reigned in. And we, ourselves, have to take responsibility for signing on the bottom line to something we know we cannot afford.
It was utterly refreshing to hear a business woman state: “I’m bored with everyone talking about how many millions they want to make…” The American obsession with fame and fortune is at the heart of many of our culture’s problems.
Thank you for this frank and honest post.
Hi dM, I love this post. Thank you for putting these truthful words out there. Yes, predatory lendors, irreponsible/greedy banks, and relentless credit card companies need to be penalized and reigned in. And we, ourselves, have to take responsibility for signing on the bottom line to something we know we cannot afford.
It was utterly refreshing to hear a business woman state: “I’m bored with everyone talking about how many millions they want to make…” The American obsession with fame and fortune is at the heart of many of our culture’s problems.
Thank you for this frank and honest post.
You are so right, Lisa. Just look at the front page of today’s issue of USA Today. There are plenty of contributing factors, but at the end of the day, we are a product of our own choices.
You are so right, Lisa. Just look at the front page of today’s issue of USA Today. There are plenty of contributing factors, but at the end of the day, we are a product of our own choices.
You are so right, Lisa. Just look at the front page of today’s issue of USA Today. There are plenty of contributing factors, but at the end of the day, we are a product of our own choices.