STEP THREE: SPEAK
How you talk about money matters in becoming the wealth-building powerhouse you’re capable of being.
I often say there are two worlds of money: The one that exists in your bank account, and the one that exists in your head.
There’s only one way to give life to the one that lives in your head: Talk about it.
That’s what this part of our 7 Steps to Wealth is all about.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where money tends to be treated as a private issue. Taboo, even. Many of us have spent our entire lives talking only to ourselves about money—and it’s that one-way dialogue that’s giving rise to your experience of money.
Now, I do want to acknowledge that talking about money can come down to privilege. There are certainly places, cultures, and relationships where talking about money can be dangerous.
In situations where it’s safe, though, it’s incredibly important that you engage in conversations with others about money.
Not only is talking about money with people what leads to business deals, strengthens personal relationships, and provides breeding ground for new ideas…
Having conversations about money also gets you out of your own head and grounded in reality.
Consider this: Your beliefs are the filter through which you see the world.
Your beliefs live in your thoughts. They’re the stories you tell yourself. They shape your perceptions. In many cases, they’ve been there for a long time, and haven’t been truly inspected.
It’s time to put them under a microscope—something you can do by talking about them.
When you’re invited to speak freely about your finances, you might be surprised by some of the things that come out of your mouth… and how those words might be getting in the way of your wealth-building efforts.
Here are some common examples I’ve heard in my 20+ years as a financial planner:
- “Money is complicated.”
- “Money is overwhelming.”
- “I can’t afford that.”
- “She makes more than me, and I resent that.”
- “My partner’s better at numbers so I let him handle the money.”
- “Money means something about me.”
- “It’s not safe for me to be rich.”
- “It’s not safe for me to want to be rich.”
There’s a reason these statements are quite simple: Most of our money beliefs are learned from the time we’re young.
The words you choose matter. They create your reality. The good news is this: You can swap your filters out, actively choosing the ones that breed curiosity and confidence, instead of doubt.
Here are some empowered, growth-centered things you can say about money, instead:
- “I wonder how I can bring more money into my life?”
- “I wonder why money has gone the way it’s gone for me in the past?”
- “I’m not going to put that in my spending plan.”
- “I checked in with myself and if I accept your offer, I won’t feel well-compensated. What can we do about that?”
- “What kind of return is my savings earning right now?”
- “Everyone around me has the opportunity to be wealthy, including me.”
In engaging in this step, Speak, the point is to become aware of–and present with–what you’re saying about money.
For many people, this means beginning to talk out loud about money for the first time. It might be uncomfortable, and it might even seem like talking about money is a very small, even negligible piece of your wealth-building experience.
But I promise you, it’s not. Speaking about money; developing your language around money is formative–and transformative.
If you’re ready to engage in Step Three, it’s time to examine the words you use when you talk about money, and begin an empowered dialogue that puts you in the driver’s seat of your financial journey.
Because you’re going to need your confident voice for what’s next…
Making an intentional effort to talk about money each and every day can seem like a pretty ambitious–and maybe ambiguous–thing on your long to-do list.
Get more on how to activate this step in The 7 Steps to Wealth downloadable guide..
In this beautiful, easy-to-consume PDF of both audio + written content, you’ll find scripts to help you open the conversation about money, and journaling prompts to activate each step. If you don’t have a safe person to discuss money with, journaling is a great way to bring your thoughts to life!
When the words are on paper (or a screen) you can step back and ask yourself, “is that what I really think? Is that the life I want to create?” If not, you can make a plan to do things differently.
All written content in this article is for information purposes only. Opinions expressed herein are solely those of HWM, unless otherwise specifically cited. Material presented is believed to be from reliable sources and no representations are made by our firm as to another parties’ informational accuracy or completeness. All information or ideas provided should be discussed in detail with an advisor, accountant or legal counsel prior to implementation.