“Everything you see or hear or experience in any way at all is specific to you. You create a universe by perceiving it, so everything in the universe you perceive is specific to you.” – Douglas Adams

Whether you run your own business, freelance, work odd jobs, or just hustle side work to get by – we must understand that all money isn’t good money.

When it comes to business, opportunities are everywhere – given your perspective. Business can be an extremely dirty game  - depending on how you play it.

I tend to believe that I’m a good person. I grew up in a good home. I was raised by a good family that taught me family values, morals and tradition. Because of it, I have a big heart and I genuinely wish nothing but the absolute best for others.

When you see the world through a lens such as the one I was raised with – it creates this mentality that everyone walks the earth with the same warm heart that I did. I was wrong. As Albert Einstein once said “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

Over the years and many ups and downs, going through the motions of life and pushing through growing pains, I realized that the world was not as warm as my heart was. The world is actually a very cold place. I was susceptible to being a little nieve when it came down to people acting as if they were working for my best interests. I was wrong again. At this point, I knew I couldn’t change the world and I vowed not to change who I was either. The only other option I had was to adapt and develop a survival of the fittest mentality.

After blood, sweat and tears to get to where I am today, I will be the first to tell you that there is nothing greater than knowing your self-worth. If nothing else in business – know your worth!  Some opportunities are more appealing than others. Some opportunities arise at the best times, others at the worst times.

As you get started – you may be contacted for work and told there isn’t a budget or that the budget is low and they don’t have any money to pay you. There will be times when someone promises you “huge publicity” in exchange for your services. Granted, these are some of the most used lines in order to get someone to work for free or extremely low pay (don’t fall for it) – but sometimes it’s true and this is when you have to value your worth and your value your belief in the project. You also must know when to walk away.

Depending on your financial position, morals, values, mindset, influences, beliefs, support system from friends, the people you have around you, and your “price”  - one’s individual decision will vary. I am no one to judge what anyone does, nor do I want to. This blog is just to shed light on the fact that every action has a reaction. What you do now may haunt you later. Who you work for now may not allow you to work for someone else later. What type of work you do now may not allow you to excel in another field later. Instead of being tempted by a check or a wad of cash – think about your longevity. Think about how you would want your kids to handle it. Think about how your parents or role models would handle it. Offer yourself different perspective of the consequences you may face before you make a decision. Instead of having a “price” – know that you are priceLESS.

Remember, opportunities are everywhere  and your reality is just an illusion. You may feel like what’s in front of you is the only option at the time, but there is a world of opportunity that awaits. Know your worth, know your value, know when something is not for you and stay in your lane until you’ve made it! Once you’ve made it you can gamble in other areas. Remind yourself daily – I am a brand. I am a product of everything that I know and it can be told AND sold. Your not a businessman, your a business, man.”

Man makes the money, don’t let it make you! Only make moves when your heart is in it.