On December 22, 2018-January 25, 2019 the United States federal government shutdown occurred and was the longest U.S. government shutdown in history. It was the second federal government shutdown involving furloughs during the presidency of Donald Trump.
People were forced to go to work everyday without pay. I’m sure you can imagine the individuals who are doing all they can to feed their family and keep a roof over their heads may have fallen behind in their bills.
Many Americans were in distress and used social media to express their frustration and concern. However, I want to encourage you to take it a step further. If there was ever a time to become an entrepreneur the time would be now.
I can’t imagine the devastation of having to get up and go to work everyday knowing your paycheck would be held up due to issues that were out of your control.
No matter what line of work you are in, here’s how you can tap into your inner gift and learn how to profit from your passion so this never affects you again!
Here are 4 Ways to use the government shutdown to your advantage:
- Identify a Skill People Would Pay You For: Perhaps you are an excellent landscaper, or can bake an apple pie like no other. Or maybe you are good at fixing and programming things. No matter what it is, you have a gift that others will pay you for. What comes easy for you may be a challenge for someone else. When I wrote my first book I never knew it would impact the lives of so many people while creating a new revenue stream as well. I went on to help others through coaching and in turn was paid for my services due to the results I helped clients produce. You can do the same. Find something you are good at, put a price on it and market it. You’d be surprised how many businesses started out of their home. Lisa Price, creator of Carol’s Daughter mixed natural hair products in her home and has had her products used by women worldwide including celebrities. Don’t believe the myth: It takes money to make money. That is not true. You have a brilliant mind, USE IT!!!!!!!!
- Become Disciplined in Your Spending: The government shutdown doesn’t have to be all bad. Perhaps you learned the importance of not spending every dime you make. This is not to ignite fear but to generate awareness by identifying where you are wasting the most money. Last month I spent close to $400 in food alone. That’s terrible because it’s only my daughter and I that live in my home. That means we were eating out almost everyday instead of buying groceries and cooking. Trust me, $5 a day at Starbucks adds up. Why not invest in a coffee maker and save yourself time and money by making it yourself. Identify ways you can become a better spender. Take a look at your finances and be honest about where you are and commit to purchasing only what you need; please note personal development such as books, workshops, coaching; etc are okay if they are helping you emerge into who you were created to be.
- Monitor Your Spending: If you don’t have a budget and current spending plan, create one! Vow to no longer spend more than you make and discipline yourself to save for a rainy day. Sure, we hate having to spend money on things that hit us suddenly, but what’s even more painful is experiencing the emergency and not having the resources to resolve it. Start small, begin saving $25 per paycheck and don’t touch it. Give yourself a weekly allowance and once you have exhausted it, that’s it until the next pay period.
- Develop a Millionaire Mindset: Go to your local library and read more books that will feed your mind and learn how to sharpen your gifts by perfecting your craft. Practice really does make perfect. I often say, you don’t have a money problem but your issue is that you lack strategy. Many people do. So often I hear others complain about how they don’t have the money to do this or that when the truth is we spend our money on what we want; what’s important to us. This is why you must train your mind to think like a BOSS/Millionaire and not be tempted to spend money on things you don’t need or that won’t add money to your bank account. The next time you go to swipe your credit or debit card, I want you to ask yourself: Is this going to put money BACK in my pocket? If the answer is no, put it back. Doesn’t matter how much it costs. Small changes lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Remember: You don’t have to settle on your job for a paycheck. You have a brilliant mind that can and will fund your vision. Refuse to give up. We all have dreams but there’s a reason why some accomplish theirs while others don’t. Don’t be a part of the 98% who sit on their jobs week after week complaining while doing nothing to change your situation. The 2% are action takers and water walkers! No longer play small but use things that happen TO you and make them work FOR you!
*Want to learn more? Visit www.CarlaCannon.com to learn how you can work with me today! I coach women and men on how to get unlocked, unleashed and activated into purpose!
