by Justin Krane

What if you didn’t have to cut back your spending? When clients begin the financial planning process with me, the first place we usually start is to develop a savings and spending plan for them. I purposely do not use the word budget, because it implies that we cannot spend money on things that we love to do. Yes, it’s important to be disciplined but it’s also important to enjoy life.

But what if we weren’t always focused on ways to cut back?

What if we focused on ways to grow our income instead?

Here are 7 ways to make more money in your business:

1. Do what you love to do. If you use your unique ability in your business, you will shine. When you are passionate about what you do, you will attract people that will want to work with you, and the money will find you. Otherwise, if you just do things that you are competent at, you’ll just be going through the motions of everyday life, and you will leave your heart behind.

2. Provide a product or service that completely sets you apart, something that people will pay a lot of money for. Find your unique selling proposition, and go out and tell the world.

3. Leverage – there are only so many one on one coffee meetings you can have. Go out and speak to your target market, and create strategic alliances with people that will cross promote with you. Find the quickest way with the least amount of effort that you can get in front of 500 people to promote your business.

4. Your mindset. You need to shift the way you think. Visualize your success, and understand that the results will happen. You still need to take action, fail, learn from it, and continue to grow.

5. Do a financial spreadsheet. Ask your financial planner to show you where you will be in 5, 10, and 15 years based on growing your income by 15-20%, and then saving the extra amount of after tax income you make.

6. Delegate. You can’t do it all yourself. I can’t think of one millionaire that did it all on his/her own. You need to surround yourself with people that can do some heavy lifting with you, in areas that are not your unique ability

7. Take time off. Rejuvenate. Get a massage, go to the beach, and go on vacation. This is where you will give your mind time to just chill. You will come back refreshed, along with at least 1 million dollar idea.

Justin Krane, a Certified Financial Planner, founded Krane Financial Solutions in January 2008. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from University of Colorado, Boulder, graduating in 1994. Prior to founding Krane Financial Solutions, Justin was a Vice President, Investments, and Sales Manager at UBS Financial Services Inc. for 12 years, in Beverly Hills, California. For more information, visit www.kranefinancialsolutions.com.