Leaving Money on The Table
There’s a myth that persists in pretty much every industry, including the equine bodywork industry; and that is “leaving money on the table.” In the sense of “I can’t just walk away from xyz or I’m leaving money on the table.” Or “If I turn this potential client down, I'm leaving money on the table.” Or “if I don’t start offering xyz, I’m leaving money on the table.” It might get a little weird in here today, but stick with me.
Here’s the thing: in my humble opinion, it’s bullshit. Not all money on the table is even meant to be yours. I don’t mean I don’t want you to profit, or I don’t want you to be swimming in as many clients as you want - what I mean is that not everything that makes money in this industry will align with you at every stage in your life or business. Sometimes, you’re not meant to take the money on the table.
Alignment matters, and if you’re compromising anything in order to reach for that money, it’s not meant for you. Something we should all be able to agree on in this little squad is that energy exists and affects us as well as everything and everyone around us. We participate in exchanges of energy every time we’re working on horses, at the very least we can admit to that. If this is true, earning, spending, and saving money are all affecting and influenced by energy. I, for one, believe that it’s important that there’s alignment in the exchange of money. “Jenn, wtf do you mean by that?” That if I accept money from a specific client, I’m not only feeding into that relationship, but willing more like it to come into my life. I’m encouraging that relationship and energy exchange to repeat.
In the same vein, I believe that if we create something in hopes of receiving money in return (i.e. courses, products, ebooks, etc.) it should 100% be in alignment with what we want to be doing. Sure, online offers and products are hot right now, but does it align with you? Does it feel right? Is it something you truly want to do? Are you feeling pulled to do it? Or are you doing it because it seems like a way to add income to your business? Are you doing it because it feels like you should?
So now, if you’re thinking “well shit, Jenn, I actually need money right now though, I really can’t be picky about clients.” I hear you, and I’ve been there. I’ve lived through seasons of hustle and grinding and taking every client I possibly could because I needed to stay afloat and give myself a cushion. When I went through a shitty divorce a few years back, I went from a dual income situation where my money was my fun money and didn’t affect survival, to being a single mom of like 5 (all animals, phew) and having to pay for literally everything, find and afford a place to live, and care for my children. I was in straight up survival mode, and I hustled hard. I took on clients that I no longer serve today, I created online offers, I traveled for clients, I did all the things. And that was okay!
At that point in my life and business, those things were needed. They DID align with things at that point. Those clients that don’t align with me today served me at that point, and I served them in return. What’s important to remember in those situations is this: alignment isn’t permanent. Ever. As life and business and circumstances change, what aligns with you (and others) will change as well. The key is being aware and making decisions accordingly. Some clients I no longer have, I no longer offer my initial massage course, but I did retain some of those “survival hustle season clients” and I continue to offer my ebooks.
When things don’t feel like they fit - when they don’t make you feel good, fulfilled, happy, whatever - it’s a turning point. It’s time to inventory, pivot, and make changes where change is necessary. I fully believe that in business, taking feelings into account is critical, and I think that applies ten fold to our little industry, as our energy is directly affecting other living creatures. We can’t afford to trap ourselves in relationships or creating things when they don’t align with our energy or needs. So, I encourage you to listen to your gut. Follow where your energy is calling you. And the next time you catch yourself agreeing to something that doesn’t feel right because you “don’t want to leave money on the table” remind yourself that not all money was meant for you in every season.