W.H. Murray wrote during one of his first Himalayan expeditions, “Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.  The moment you commit yourself to something is the moment providence moves too.”

If you’ve seen the WealthyWomanWarrior.com website, you’ll know that based on 18 months of case studies, where 350 real women were interviewed and countless hours of research, there are five core competencies that when women learn to master, they will reach their economic potential. I have called these core competencies ‘pillars’, because they are the pillars of a woman’s potential – personally, professionally and economically. 

One fascination that’s stood out throughout this journey of research with women, is the mindset around money.

There is an unequivocal difference men and women place on money and legacy. 

In my case studies I heard a lot of women say things like, “If I love what I do, it doesn’t matter what I earn” or “As long as it pays the bills and I can be with my family, I’ll be happy” or “As long as I’m earning six figures, I’m covered”, and “my husband takes care of the major expenses so I don’t have to”.  This money mindset is actually hurting women and their advancement.  It’s no longer ‘okay’ for women to simply settle for covering the basics. You need to commit to your monetary results and your legacy.  

Consider this for a moment, the only men who say, “money doesn’t matter” are those who are struggling with money.

YET 82% of the women interviewed in the past 18 months have said, “money doesn’t matter” in some way.

I wonder if when a woman says this, she is subconsciously mistaking love with money?

The reason I suggest this is because money represents value and worth.  Love on the other hand begets acceptance.

Comparing these two life necessities, or trying to decide which is more important, is like comparing which physiological sense is more important, sight or smell?  Or what’s more important to you, your hands or your feet?  Money and love aren’t meant to be compared.  There simply isn’t a way to choose one to be the clear winner over the other, they are both equally important.  

Also of interest is to observe what happens when the word “money” or “wealth” is spoken. For many women the word spoken outloud makes them outwardly cringe.  There’s a nervous response to those words when they are said. You can watch women divert their eyes and as they do, their body language screams out that shame is hanging out underneath their downward gaze. Making a commitment to your money and legacy will change your life and support you at the same time.  It simply starts with making yourself a prioirity and learning how to increase your worth within yourself and with your money..

Legacy is the second comparison noted between genders.  At a deep psychological level, wealth and legacy are intertwined.  Men seem to want to leave their mark on life, leaving behind a legacy of substance to pass on to their descendants.  Legacy matters to men at a deep innate biological level. Women on the other hand don’t consciously speak about leaving a mark or a legacy behind, alternatively they’ll say, “I want to have helped others or made a difference in someone’s life”.

With both of these generalized money mindset comparisons, what is evident to me is that there are 7 Key commitments that both successful men and women commit resulting in wealth and legacy. 

For the women reading this article, I ask you to consider which one’s are you doing and if love and money were equal, what would you commit to?

The 7 Key Commitments Women Can Make To Money & Legacy So They Reach Their Economic Potential

1. Commit to Holding Nothing Back & Give 100% of Everything You’ve Got

Successful people commit to their vision by holding nothing back.  Fundamentally, there will always be obstacles in any venture – the difference is that successful people accept that and hold nothing back to get to the other side of it.  That doesn’t mean being ruthless, it means looking for the opportunity and committing 100% of your efforts to make it happen.

2. ASK!

Asking is instrumental to all success. If you watch successful people, they simply are not afraid to ask.  It is a notable difference between successful people and those who struggle because those who struggle consistently pretend that they have all the answers.  Successful people ask lots of questions.  Sometimes they already have the answers, however they still ask questions so that they validate or ameliorate their ideas and logic.  Successful people are also not afraid to ask for advice or for help and would never try to succeed by doing it all themselves.

3. Be WILLING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES, FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES

Successful people do, do, do.  They do what it takes for however long it takes.  They often use a form of the 5-5-5 strategy which are questions such as, “If I do this or if I don’t do this, will it affect me in 5 years, 5 months, 5 days?”  Successful people think long term. They are not short sighted about their vision and plan for their end game.  One of the ways to endure the marathon is to celebrate each small victory and ensure you take care of yourself.

4. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

When failure isn’t an option what changes?  You simply take different action because you’re planning for success.  Even in the event there are situations that are ugly, disastrous and beyond challenging, no matter what you can recover from it.  So plan for success and no matter what discover ways through and over the obstacles.

5. no excuses

Those who are truly successful do not make excuses, they just make it happen. When you eliminate an excuse for not taking action you are able to stay in momentum.  To do this you can adopt a ‘Kizen’ type of attitude, which means “Continuous improvement”. You’re not being asked to be perfect here, instead you’re being asked to own your actions.

6. ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

Taking full responsibility when things go wrong is difficult, yet what happens when women are able to do this is empowering.  When you take responsibility you also own the direction you move forward in.  If you don’t accept responsibility you victimize your circumstances.  While the word “victim” is highly provocative, victims will blame the economy, government, stock markets, employers, partners, children, office, and anyone else they can find so that the problems being faced are the responsibility of anyone but their own.  Highly successful people own their mistakes, accept responsibility and take action to still claim what they want.

7. no Complaining Or ShAMING

When it comes to making a commitment to your success, your results are greatly affected by complaining or shaming.  Complaining is wasted energy.  It leads to a spiral of negative thinking rather than focusing on the end goal.  Successful people bring conscious awareness to when they are complaining and turn it around quickly by refocusing on the goal and desired result.

Shaming, whether of self or others is merely a deflection tool.   Shaming is defined as, “causing injury to one’s pride or self-esteem”.  If there is one thing I could change personally with my work, it would be to stop the shame that is flung from woman to woman through gossip and degradation.  Women will not rise to relevance until the support and help each other – period end of story.  If you want to truly succeed, help another woman, forgive another woman, let go of the toxic shame you’re flinging at another woman because in the end it’s only hurting yourself.

If this article has given you pause I invite you to consider the following:

1. What is your limit on what you’re willing to do for gender parity?
2. What is your limit for what you’re willing to do for your own success?
3. What is your limit for what you’re willing to do so that you reach your professional and economic potential?
4. What is your limit for what you’re willing to do for love?