Can We Talk?
Friday, June 20, 2008
In our Let’sTalk Game events, we teach that two of the essential actions for financial success are talking about money and tracking it. We also assert that these are the top two areas of greatest resistance: based on the pushback I’ve gotten on that theory in three of the last five events, it’s apparent that I need to clarify exactly what I mean.
Each of the players who challenged my thesis said “I have no trouble talking about money. I have trouble making it (e.g. what I’m worth, what I need, etc.)”
Their responses left me equally confused: if they’re not having any trouble talking about it, why aren’t they finding more success with it?
I didn’t want to assume the answer, so I asked, “Is it possible there are other ways to talk about it that would bring you more of your desired results?”
They each agreed. They acknowledged that it wasn’t the act of talking about money per se that would bring them success; progress would come from understanding and applying certain nuances to their financial conversations.
For instance, talking isn’t always just declaring something; it’s also making requests.
One’s conversational tone can greatly add to or take away from the result.
And certainly, the intention and clarity with which one comes to the conversation makes a difference to the outcome.
So I asked them to try on these different ways of “being” in their financial conversations over the next few weeks, and to check back in on what shifts as a result. I’m willing to bet there’s a positive change for all of them. And I appreciate their challenge; it’s made the game much clearer since then, which is positively influencing our players.
Next time we’ll introduce some distinctions around tracking your money that will get you closer to your goals.
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