Let’s talk about freaking money (#3)
Handling financial loss
Welcome to installment #3 of “Let’s talk about freaking money”! Reminder: my lens is not that of a financial expert. Instead, I am an everyday person and independent businesswoman with deep historical financial baggage who—in nearly two decades as an entrepreneur—has learned a lot and implemented concrete tactics to face my financial fears, find emotional relief, and earn a solid living. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss notifications about new posts—financial or otherwise!
I have a healthy queue of topics I plan on covering in my “Let’s talk about freaking money” series. This queue is based on lessons I have gleaned in nearly 20 years of experience as an independent businessperson. Meaning, I am reflecting back over the years—experience begets knowledge and wisdom.
Today’s topic—how to handle financial loss—was not in my planned queue, but given that I experienced a client cut just last week, I couldn’t think of a better topic to address, especially given these volatile times. I also wanted to explore this topic given that my reaction and response was fascinating, relieving, and 100% related to the experience I have gained in navigating entrepreneurial challenges.
Let’s take a look behind the curtain.
As I shared in my “Let’s talk about freaking money” posts #1 and #2, I lived in a space of financial scarcity and operated in panic mode for a long time. Decades of financial anxiety are embedded in my cells so it has taken a lot of work to unwind what’s in my head and square it up with reality. In post #2 I shared about a financial tactic that has helped me do just that—square up with the reality of numbers so I know when I need to push on business development and when I can rest, instead of being continually driven by panic and fear of homelessness. In that post I shared that I hit my target for 2025 business in mid-April. However, I was still planning on looking for another client project or two, given that: 1) I love the work I do, 2) I have capacity in my schedule, and 3) things are so volatile right now for organizations and businesses.
As a result, I wasn’t surprised last week when a client wrote to share that they needed to cut our year-long engagement short—ending in June instead of December—due to budget constraints. And I found it fascinating that scurrying to my capacity planner in a panic was not the first thing I did.
Instead, the first thing I did was sit down at my desk and craft a note back with care. I felt calm, centered, content.
Hello, growth.
Calm, centered, and content is most definitely not how I have showed up to financial loss news in the past. I know full well the pain and stress of someone pulling the plug on support you were planning on, whether due to familial bond or inked contract. Feelings of anger, hurt, and fear are 100% valid.
And that is why I want to share my reflections with you. I have six recommendations (two higher level, four tactical), and first I want to lay out the context of where I am financially at present since that framing is important.