Make the “Big Income Shift” in Your Business in 2010
(Let me know if you think this “Big Income Shift” is totally on target – or way off base – in the comments below!)
This shift is going to help you get unstuck from your current income level and breaking through invisible ceilings to significantly increasing your revenue.
A big mistake many of you are making is you’re either not setting your income intention at all for 2010, or you’re not setting it high enough.
We’re going to solve this problem with the Big Income Shift.
It’s very simple, and we’re going to do it together right now.
(1) Start by writing down your income goal for 2010.
Get out a pen and write it down somewhere where you can see it. If you haven’t planned your income goal for 2010, then take a moment to choose a number that feels right to you now.
In fact, if you’re at this point in the year and you don’t already have a clear income goal formed for 2010, then committing to an intention is already a shift for you.
I have a question for you. Most business owners approach the new year with a plan to try to maintain the same income they had the year before. Or the set a goal that is slightly higher.
Here’s the problem – if you set a goal that’s the same or slightly higher than last year, you’re not going to expand your business!
If you want to have a big shift in your income, you have to set a bigger goal for 2010!
(2) OK, do you have your income goal? Now what I want you to do is double it.
So if your income goal is $50,000, then cross out $50,000 and write down $100,000.
If your goal is $100,000, make it $200,000.
If your goal is $200,000, make it $400,000.
How does it feel to expand your income goal so much? Do you feel some excitement? Do you feel some fear too? If you’re feeling some fear, that’s good, it means you’re pushing out of a comfort zone. If you’re totally comfortable with your current goal, it’s too low.
Would you be able to do this level of income? Could you save money toward a house? Could you radically reduce any debts?
Now this idea of doubling your income right now might seem like a fantasy.
But by trying on this new level of income thinking, you’ll be able to break through any limiting beliefs or old ways of thinking that held you back in 2009.
I want to give you an example of one of my clients.
We did this exercise, and at first he was a little shell-shocked by the idea of doing this big income shift. But in just one session, we were able to map out how he could change his services and his business model to give his clients a lot more value, and how he could serve a lot more people too. He also started thinking about high-level partnerships he had never thought of before. All of these possibilities for expanding his business opened up in one conversation. And it all happened by making this one shift in his mind.
So the Big Income shift is the first step is to significantly increase your income goal in 2010. Because when you do, you’ll start to attract the people, the ideas, and the resources to make it happen. Can you imagine if all of us on this call made a huge shift to our income goal right now, and we worked together to help each other achieve it? We would all be able to chart a course for doing business in a bigger way, and be bold about helping a lot more people.
When you begin to make this big income shift, your confidence grows, your income begins to grow and accelerate. And yes, it feels great.
Now if you want to turn your Big Income Shift into reality, join us for The Big Shift Experience LIVE event in San Francisco!
January 14th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Hi Bill! You mentioned in your email that you’ve received many strong reactions since you shared this shift on your call last night. My opinion is that this is great advice!
One of the blocks that I’ve dealt with when it comes to making money & becoming wealthy is the belief “I shouldn’t be rich when others have so little.” I’ve since learned that becoming wealthy is a fabulous way to help people. When you have taken care of yourself, you can take care of others from a place of abundance. Think about the practice of tithing — would you rather tithe 10% of a small income or 10% of a large income?
Personally, the exercise you’ve taken us through here has gotten me more excited for my business. I set my income goal for 2010 a couple months ago at double what I made in 2009. Doubling my goal again today with you has been fun & motivating!
January 14th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Hi Bill, I think you were right on. It may be fear and coming out of your comfort zone, which may be triggering these reactions from people. It’s not about greed, which may be how some feel. It’s a change in thinking.
January 14th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
For me, you are completely and totally ON TRACK. I initially had a goal for 2010 that was already significantly higher than 2009, but when I doubled it in this exercise, I had a strong, positive “yes” response, and I absolutely KNEW that this new goal is completely right for me.
So much so that I went back to my notes that night and began to play with numbers and let the creative ideas flow. And flow they did! Even in being reasonably practical and conservative with the new business ideas, I came up with specific ways of generating income that could easily reach my newly doubled income for 2010.
This was indeed a powerful exercise, and powerful, significant changes can be very unsettling, but exciting! THANK YOU, BILL!!
January 14th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
I am not sure if the answer for me is as simple as “is this on target or totally off base”. For me I think the idea of this shift is too general.
Does it mean double your income but not your time?
How much extra work is going to be involved in this big shift?
I also find that it puts a bit too much focus on income instead of quality of life and balance. A different way to look at this same question could be:
Keep your current income goal but reach it in half the time.
That is, in some ways, a different way of doubling your income goal.
I think it is a great tool for the right person and I love the idea of setting a goal that at first doesn’t seem fully achievable. It is always good to stretch yourself.
Jeremie
January 14th, 2010 at 7:53 pm
This is right on target. I listened to the recorded call today. I had just set my income goal for 2010, this week. I was surprised that you said that it was written by the old me. I crossed it out and wrote double the amount. The same thing that happened to your client, happened to me. I immediately got excited and invigorated.
One of my goals for myself this year is to take myself seriously in business. In doubling the income goal, I definitely need to take myself seriously in order to achieve it. Thanks!
January 14th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Thanks, Jeremie.
You are totally right on. My teleclass and my whole approach is to take a holistic approach to our life. Income can be a huge piece of it, but not if it diminishes the quality of life.
I hope you had a chance to listen to teleclass last night.
I do know that we have much more resistance to making more money then we do to being a lot happier or freer.
Having said that, I’d love for us all to commit to being twice as happy, twice as free, etc…
January 14th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
I love the challenge and often tell clients and others for that matter, that the beauty of setting a higher goal is that it inevitably will stir things up. I view any resistance that shows up as being an opportunity to get clear of old thinking and beliefs that limit our growth.
Many people like the idea of setting intentions and focusing on what they want to attract, but are unwilling or fear dealing with the counter intentions held in their subconscious. Until they are dealt with, it’s like trying to sail the boat with the anchor still dropped.
The key is to deal with, not dwell on.
Congratulations on pushing some buttons.
Thomas
January 14th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
I fully support and agree. In fact I did this very thing and I read my affirmation every day first thing and before bed. I even printed out money and hold it in my hand (there are pictures on the web!)
So ask me in December 2010 if it came true!! I will be the most shocked of all!!
January 14th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
It was a strong call, Bill!
I feel that people must align with the fact that they are HELPING other people realizes dreams. If they are not really helping, then there is a problem. As long as your services or products improve the lives of others and they see value in your work, you should prosper greatly as they do. It’s all about ‘win-win-win!’ Once you align yourself with the fact that everybody wins, then there can be no guilt in success.
You are sure helping me and I feel that I am getting ‘amazing value’ for the dollars and especially the time I have spent so far in your Client Mastery Blueprint Program! Happy Solar Eclipse, Vito
January 14th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Bill:
This is a very on-trend topic and your advice is right on target. I discussed a derivative of this topic on Pittsburgh Business Radio yesterday- many small businesses are small and limited in their success because the owners aren’t “thinking big”. A goal is simply what you are striving for; if you don’t strive for more, it is pretty darn difficult to get more. If you don’t achieve the goal you don’t turn into a pumpkin…you just keep trying.
Plus, money doesn’t have to be the only motivator. If you want to help other people by providing goods or services that your clients need to make their lives better, when you grow you are able to touch more of those people. So you can balance profits with purpose.
Michael E Gerber’s brand new book “The Most Successful Small Business in the World; the Ten Principles” touches on this as well. His first principle is that “A Small Business, Built Rightly, Can Grow 10,000 Times its Current Size”. He is dead on: failure to think big will leave you stuck pretty much right where you are. You have to get out of the comfort zone to grow personally and professionally.
Carol
CarolRoth.com
January 14th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
I don’t have much more to add than previous posts, but absolutely right on. You don’t believe it until you experience it, but we unknowingly limit ourselves in so many ways!
Glad to have stumbled across you via Robert Middleton. I took advantage of your “value pack” of resources from all of the “gurus” this summer and happened to get engaged with your Time Mgmt Telesummit…truly incredible! The person above who mentioned doubling time should check out the Telesummit. I thought I knew everything there was to know about time mgmt and simply needed more discipline. I’ve gleaned many useful nuggets and sound bytes…most that “hit” me later, at very unexpected times. Anyway, I believe there was some Divine intervention as it came at a perfect transitional time in my life!
Thanks,
Susan
January 14th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Hi, Bill,
First a huge thank you for your generosity of spirit… not to mention the depth of your perception and you ability to see and impart a much bigger financial picture than I’m used to seeing. I first heard you with Jesse Koren, talking about time management. You shared ideas I needed to hear, tried and will come back to looking for more commitment on my part — and also shared with some of my clients, who benefited without even having heard the talk.
I have two businesses, one a holistic practice and the other a retail store. In the 24 hours since listening to you, I have begun de-cluttering both businesses, started working on a systems manual for the store, engaged my husband/ partner in aiming at a much higher income for 2010, made an overture that I hope will lead to a strategic partnership — and all of this on no more than 6 hours of sleep!
When we did the big income shift exercise, the first number I wrote down was disappointing, even as I wrote it. Doubling it was better, but eventually, I came back and increased the original figure by 250%… just the right mix of fear and excitement for this year.
During your talk, I found myself sitting with my mouth open a lot — DUH! — of course it’s like that! You didn’t say a single thing that offended me, that I object to, or that I find any reason to debate. I am so grateful that you are willing to share what you’ve learned! And I couldn’t wait for your email with the audio link, because I was ready to listen again as soon as the call ended!
You speak to me in a most coherent, immediately necessary and kind way, that calls me to act out of my highest self. For that, I cannot thank you enough. I know that sometime soon, I will end up in the same room with you. I hope you’ll offer the Big Shift Experience again soon — I’m sorry that the February dates don’t work for me — particularly with the generous discount you’re offering now — but I will be out of town, earning more than 10% of my Big Income Shift number!
Thanks again and a Shower of Blessings –
Allison
January 15th, 2010 at 1:33 am
I’m not sure what your strong reation was all about …whether it was a strong reaction FOR or AGAINST ? I personally think to double what I have already conservatively thought possible is UNREALISTIC !!! And I will touch base with you, with my actual figures earnt at the end of the year, to show you HOW unrealistic it was or is. But in “the correct spirit” I will put R 1 million (the doubles figure) up by my computer so that I see it every day. But as I have already said, to have earnt R 1 million by the end of this year is VERY unrealistic !! I sincerely hope you will PROVE ME WRONG !! Watch this space !!
January 15th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Hi, I said $300,000, then doubled it to $600,000 — and I felt excited. But I notice that one of your other commentators mentioned “how much work is this going to involve,” as if still stuck in the paradigm of trading hours for dollars. Anybody who wants to do this, has to lose that belief. NO really rich person thinks in turns of hours-for-dollars. Perhaps your next blog post should be about leveraging your time.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Hi BilL,
I was on the call the other night and I’d like to comment on your advice about surrounding yourself with people who are “where you want to be” as far as income. Many people tend to hang with people who are LESS successful. It feeds their ego and makes them feel “better”. And it keeps them where they are. Without a doubt, the strategy you mentioned is a much smarter one. And it has to be done right. Some nuances, if I may. Make sure your integrity around this is intact. Yes, surround yourself with people who are amking the income you aspire to AND make sure you like and respect these people! On the other end, carefully evaluate those you may want to spend less time with. Weed them out gradually and don’t burn bridges. I think the trick with this strategy Bill, is to manage the delicate balance of achieving the goal while not losing the respect of others and yourself.