Using Your Gifts To Create Income

Yesterday one of my blogger friends reached out to me to work on a freelance project for her. The project involved using a skill that I had only acquired last year (2015). She indicated that she reached out to me because she loved how well I was able to implement that skill for my own use. I blushed a little because I had spent a lot of time learning this new skill and I was proud that someone else recognized that, and was willing to pay me for it. I am by no means at expert level, but I’m pretty good 🙂

USING YOUR GIFTS TO CREATE INCOME

By nature, I am very generous. I’m a giver and a helper, so the”old” Vashti would have felt bad (and uncomfortable) about charging someone, (especially someone I know) to complete a seemingly small project. But the truth is, though small, it is something that takes time and resources.

Don’t get me wrong, everything I do isn’t about money. People who know me well know that about me, however you need money and resources to be able to impact the lives of others (and to live), and that what’s I want to do. I want to be WEALTHY. I want to be wealthy so I can leave a legacy for my children and their children. I want to be wealthy so my husband and I impact the lives of others in a big way. To do this, we are committed to making good financial decisions and of course having multiple streams of income. 😉

I had the opportunity to be part of the launch team for the re-release of  Patrice Washington’s book “Real Money Answers for Women:How To Win The Money Game With or Without A Man“, which will be released on January 19th.
Patrice C. Washington aka “The Money Maven” has dedicated her life to moving the masses from debt management to money mastery since 2003. As a featured columnist, television commentator, radio host, author, speaker and leading authority on personal finance for women and youth, Patrice is intentional about keeping her message on money management practical and upbeat.

In the re-release of “Real Money Answers“, Patrice helps women get out of debt, rebuild their credit, and fulfill their financial dreams. Real Money Answers for Every Woman teaches you how to take responsibility for your financial future, whether you’re just starting out or need a fresh start. This book offers relatable and easy to understand and implement advice on everything from managing credit cards, home ownership, and student loans to affordable childcare and even negotiating for a higher salary and creating wealthy habits.

I had the opportunity to meet Patrice at the Steve Harvey SOAR Retreat in Miami last year and she is an amazing, dynamic speaker and so very down to earth. You will find that same relatable tone in Real Money Answers for Every Woman. This is one of my favorite quotes of her.

The part of the book that resonated with my the most was the chapter on using your gifts to earn more money.

Here’s are a few snippets of a few of the nuggets from “Real Money Answers for Every Woman” as it relates to using your gifts to earn money.

What do you do better than anyone else around you with the least amount of effort? On what subjects are people constantly asking you for advice? What service or product are you constantly giving away for free, even though you know it has value? What gives you energy? What are you happiest doing? With whom? When?

Every change starts in the mind. Every change starts with a decision. You first have to decide that you’ll stop calling your gifts and talents “hobbies,” if you truly desire to make money using them.

As someone who started blogging as a hobby, I definitely had to go through a lot of mindset shifts in the last few years. Outside of everything I learned in graduate school, blogging has allowed me to develop so many skills, competencies, and gifts, that I would be doing myself, my family (and ultimately the people whose lives I want a to impact) a disservice if I don’t maximize them.

If building wealth, becoming financially free or developing healthy financial habits are on your list of goals , you NEED this book.

You can find “Real Money Answers” on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million or Harper Collins website.

YOUR TURN: Are you actively using your gifts to create income? Let’s chat in the comments.