Have you ever been driving along a road and noticed a site in the distance, but once you finally got closer you realized it wasn’t what you thought it was? From the initial perspective, it looked a lot different than it did up close. In a similar way we have preconceived notions about how to attain financial success. In many cases, we sell ourselves short by believing thing that are simply not true.

Working in the personal finance space I run into this often. It’s a challenge to offer someone financial advice that runs counter to what they already believe. In some cases, people trust the advice, adjust their perspective as best they can, then begin to move forward. In other cases, convincing people that what I’m suggesting will actually help them get where they want to go is like running into a brick wall.

Contrary to popular beliefs, thriving financially entails a lot more than signing a big contract or getting in on the latest stock. Financial success is the result of well thought out plans with a large heaping of discipline to see those plans through.

Perception Matters

Unhealthy and inaccurate perceptions about money is probably the biggest reason people stick with old habits. I want to briefly highlight three common perceptions that contribute to financial struggles.

#1 Believing financial freedom is okay for others but not for you.

When we hear stories about people who started at the bottom but still managed to achieve financial success, or people who were buried deep in debt but somehow clawed their way out, the most common response is to look for reasons why we can’t do the same thing. People say things like; that person doesn’t have children, but I do, or that person lives in a bigger city than me, so they have more opportunity.

Assuming that others always have some sort of advantage is cheating yourself. It also gets you away from thinking of ways to leverage your own resources and advantages. You are your greatest resource. Your mind is powerful enough to figure out ways to obtain things you don’t already have. Whether you have children or don’t have children. Whether you live in a big city or small town, life presents everyone with challenges. It’s your commitment to overcoming those challenges that make the most difference. A successful journey to financial freedom starts with believing, if they can do it, I can do it too.

#2 Believing your skillsets aren’t enough.

People with specialized skillsets are known to participate in highly paid professions. Money generated in things like entertainment or sports is pretty remarkable. However, a highly paid profession is not an exclusive path to financial freedom. As a matter of fact, only a small percentage of the people in those professions actually obtain financial freedom.

Financial freedom can be attained while earning smaller amounts of income. You can do well financially by leveraging whatever your skillsets may be. Letting yourself off the hook with the I don’t have the skills excuse doesn’t help at all. Whatever skills you use on your job to produce money for your employer are the same skills you would use to produce money for yourself. Even if you can’t find a way to produce money for yourself, you can find an employer willing to pay you more for your skills. If you’re willing to think outside the box, consistently do whatever you do best and find a winning formula, it’s a matter of time before you see tremendous results. Your skillsets are enough to help you obtain financial freedom.

#3 Talking yourself out of ever getting started.

Obtaining anything of significance will cost you something. Financial success is no different. You will have to give up your time, energy, or other things in exchange for creating the financial situation you desire. This is what success comes with. Anyone who tells you differently is either lying or haven’t really accomplished much. Turning your financial situation around may indeed be a tall task but it’s a mistake to tell yourself that your predicament is too much to overcome. That kind of thinking will prevent you from ever trying. If you never try, you already know what to expect.

If you’re not satisfied with your current financial situation, the best thing you can do is try to change it. Start by setting a couple small goals to get acclimated to winning and build up confidence. Then branch out and push yourself further. Avoid people or information that cause you to feel like you can’t make it. You will be surprised by how much progress you make once you commit. Don’t waste any more time, start now!

Conclusion

Don’t let poor perceptions about financial success keep you stuck. Consider the possibility that you’ve been looking at your situation from the wrong perspective and take a deeper look.

• You can win with money.

• Financial freedom does apply to you.

• You do have the skills to generate more income and improve your life.

• I dare you to commit to attaining financial freedom and see what happens.