A case for “I can’t afford it.”
I recently came across a Facebook group post about limiting beliefs and found myself rather triggered.
The post essentially said,
If you say that you “cannot afford it,” you need to check your mindset, because when you set your mindset for success, success will follow. If you set your mindset up with limiting beliefs, you’ll get limiting results.
Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m a huge believer that your mindset is an integral factor in your success. Limiting beliefs are a very real thing. (Have you read The Big Leap? GREAT read!)
The problem with that statement is that it pre-supposes we all have the same amount of privilege. It assumes that financial struggles are *simply* a result of mindset. It assumes that not spending before you have money is “playing small.”
One of the commenters on the original post stated that she was able to quit her stable full-time job (because it didn’t make her happy) in order to pursue a blog that didn’t bring in any revenue, because she believed she could. That’s wonderful for her.
And. Let’s be clear here.
The ability to quit a job that doesn’t bring you joy?
Is a place of immense privilege.
In order to make that kind of decision, you have to have some kind of financial support in place (because in most cases, you don’t go from zero revenue to paying your rent in 30 days, no matter how awesome your “manifesting” skills). That might mean using personal savings. A partner’s income or savings. Or even simply a credit card.
There is typically some kind of net in place in order to make these types of decisions, and not everyone has a net.
Most of the time, especially in the online internet marketing universe, people aren’t truly honest about their financial situations.
You have no idea what is happening behind the scenes in someones life or business.
When I made the decision to quit my full-time job and “take the leap” into full-time self employment, my “net” was simply a credit card.
I couldn’t afford to make ends meet if I stayed at my current job. It was beginning to feel irresponsible to stay. It was a calculated risk, and a terrifying decision to make without a net.
I didn’t have a partner that could support me if things went sideways. There were no savings to draw from. There was no going home to live with mom and dad. There was no borrowing money, or any cash buffer. Failure was not an option.
I remember putting a small online program on my credit card — $250 US — which felt like (and was) a massive investment at the time. It was a small leap that I took to get some help, and get exposed to and connected to other business owners.
That program, along with several others I’ve purchased throughout the years, has led to all sorts of incredible online connections and friendships. It was indeed a modest and worthwhile investment.
But there have been plenty others that I bought out of weird guilt, pressure, or FOMO that just didn’t deliver.
A $1k/month coaching program would have been irresponsible of me to purchase back then. I don’t believe I would have had enough experience under my belt to really take advantage of the guidance/advice.
There’s a difference between a powerful investment and high pressure sales tactics that prey on your insecurities around “limiting beliefs.”
There is a line between “limiting beliefs” and reckless spending.
I know countless folks who’ve bought into coaching programs and masterminds that they couldn’t afford because they were made to feel like they were “playing small” or had “limiting beliefs” if they didn’t sign up now now now!
I’ve seen crazy irresponsible entrepreneurial spending, and I’ve definitely participated in spending well beyond my means because “investing in your business,” and “mindset for success!”
I know many business owners that don’t tell their spouses what they spend on coaching programs and online courses.
There’s a culture of guilt online around spending and financial objections. I’ve witnessed the pressure first-hand online. Maybe you have too?
Kelly Diels wrote so articulately about 5 egregious internet marketing no-nos that are all too prevalent, including false scarcity, false reciprocity, emotional manipulation, brainwashing, and activism appropriation:
If you aren’t ready for success, you won’t invest in my product; if you don’t buy this, you don’t love yourself; if you don’t do this program, you’re not willing to take the risk on yourself…
Many business owners dismiss financial objections from clients, saying “They said it was because they couldn’t afford it, but we all know that’s not a thing,” as though financial limitations aren’t a legitimate objection.
We know that economy and market trends impact purchase decisions. Why is it not possible that some of these factors truly are affecting your customer’s ability to buy your thing? Perhaps your customer has recently faced a health crisis, started a family, or even bought a new house.
Sometimes, “I can’t afford it” means, I do not have access to the funds at this moment, and I’d like to save up to invest in said item. Sometimes it means, I’ve already spent my available personal or business development budget for this month/year.
Sometimes, “I can’t afford it” literally means the difference between someone being able to pay their rent or groceries or not, and that is a legitimate objection, not a limiting belief.
If you assume that a customer telling you they “can’t afford it” automatically translates to “they are limiting their own success,” you may be blinded by your own privilege.
Sometimes making an investment before you’re financially able to is more “limiting” than taking time to save for something that’s important for your growth.
And there’s a catch 22, isn’t there?
You want to invest in your business so you can make more money, but you can’t invest until you have more money…
ONLY YOU can know the difference for YOU between “I can’t afford this” and “I’m choosing not to afford this.”
Sometimes saving for something you want badly really is the abundant option.
Don’t let anyone else make you feel otherwise.
You can design your life for abundance, and that can mean being fiscally responsible. Do you really need those 4 courses and mastermind and coaching program? Or could you make one smaller quality investment and take it one step at a time?
If you are struggling to discern the difference between playing small and being responsible with your spending, consider reading these books:
• The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
• Playing Big by Tara Mohr
• The Art of Work by Jeff Goins
Marie Poulin is the creator of Digital Strategy School, an online mentorship program for designers who want to build more strategic business, and the co-founder of Oki Doki.
