knowabundance.com

(Happy Monday! Today’s post is from Elizabeth Husserl, our money expert.)

As fundraisers, money comes with the territory. We are constantly asking for it, receiving it and hopefully finding enough of it to support our good causes.

We all have a unique money personality. And the people who fund our causes have them too.

Why is it important that we know our money personalities and the money personalities of our donors?

Because our money personality determines our relationship with money, how we ask for it and how we give it away.

For example, we might have a donor who has an “Innocent” archetype or personality, they may really want to give but feel overwhelmed at the steps of following through. Will it be a complicated process? Will it mean jeopardizing their own sense of financial safety and security? The “Innocent” values safety at all cost.

A “Tyrant” archetype likes to hoard. They often have a lot of money and are great prospects for giving, but have trouble letting the money go. Their growing edge is to open the hand that holds and to connect to the deeper needs that are asking to be healed, which can often happen by contributing to causes they believe in. Both of these archetypes may have a similar difficulty in allowing their money to flow, yet require different strategies.

Knowing your own money personality will help you recognize those in others. Feel free to email me at ehusserl@hotmail.com if you would like more in depth information on various money types and how to work with them. You can also read Money Magic by Deborah Price.

For now I leave you with 5 money personality insights to illuminate your day:

1. You are not your money personality, but your money personalities work through you. If you are too anxious to look at your “money matters” or in this case your money personality, out of anxiety, paralysis or fear that it determines who you are, financial “fuzziness” will never be lifted. Don’t be fooled- you are not your money personality- your different money personalities speak through you to give you important information on how to best manage your money life.

2. Your money personality doesn’t disappear because you don’t look at. If we don’t pay attention to our money personalities they will act out in louder and more extreme ways. Money personalities continue to exist regardless of how conscious or unconscious we are to them. Like finally deciding to face your bills, if you square your shoulders at your money personalit(ies) you actually may be surprised at what’s in store.

3. Your money personality has an important message for you. For example the “Innocent” personality desperately needs more information and a financial team of support. The message here is “you do not have to do it alone.” All of the personalities have something important to say. The sooner you pay attention, the quicker your money personality will work with you instead of against you.

4. Different personalities require different strategies. We do not fit into one box. We are all too different and unique to be molded into one. Our money personalities are the same. Get to know the different personalities that you inherited or acquired along the way and understand your unique take to money. Avoid the headache of doing it blindly.

5. No matter how much work you do to better manage your money, if you don’t look at your money personality, it will rule your financial life! Like a partner or spouse who absolutely hates being ignored, so do these different parts of us. No one likes not being seen and we act out of line until we get the attention we deserve. So next time your money anxiety is knocking on the door, stop, TAKE A DEEP BREATH, put the bill down (momentarily), and ask that voice or feeling, “Who are you? What do you want? What are you trying to say?”

Like any relationship, it is conscious conversation, compassion, and love that creates lasting change.