Does Poverty Consciousness affect your Sales?
ByI like the way poverty conscious is described in an article, “Ending Poverty Consciousness” by Jeanie Marshall, of Marshall House Personal Development.
“By ‘poverty consciousness’ I mean the set of attitudes and beliefs and feelings and values associated with material lack or fear of material lack. Poverty consciousness equals a belief in limitation, and almost always includes fear.
Poverty consciousness is not directly related to the amount of money you have. Rather, it’s the relationship to that money or to material possessions. If you worry about not having enough money, you’re in poverty consciousness. If you believe there is not enough for everyone in the world, you operate from poverty consciousness.
You can live in conditions of poverty without necessarily living in poverty consciousness, which is a state of mind and heart. The amount of money or other material possessions is a matter of fact. Your relationship to that amount is a matter of thoughts and feelings.”
Your attitude and your staff’s attitude about money will affect your sales. If you are uncomfortable with the prices you charge or don’t feel worthy, you will not be able to charge what you are truly worth.
I have been in many situations where people put their poverty consciousness onto me and it is a big turn off. I have been ready and willing to spend money on something important to me only to have the salesperson say something like, “oh, that one is so much, maybe you would prefer this one.” Talking themselves right out of a sale.
As a photographer, you will be selling your photographs. You must find ways to not to let your preferences or assumptions get in the way. We will talk about that next week.
(Credit information for the above quoted paragraphs: © 1995, 2007 Marshall House, http://www.mhmail.com. Jeanie Marshall, a Personal Development Coach specializing in deep transformation and personal success, writes extensively on subjects related to personal development and empowerment. She assists professional coaches and consultants to write their knowledge, wisdom, and experiences.)
