I’m passionate about helping businesses unlock their greatest potential by demystifying finances and driving purposeful growth. Over the past two decades, I’ve consulted and trained leaders and CEOs around the globe, collaborating with realtors, contractors, and a wide range of professionals seeking to streamline operations and amplify profits.
There’s a phrase I often come back to when I’m talking with new clients about money: You can’t change what you can’t see. Think of it like this: If you never pop the hood of your car, you won’t notice an oil leak until you’re stranded on the side of the road. The same is true for your financial mindset. If you never slow down long enough to examine your core money beliefs, you might stall on the journey to success.
I spent over two decades as a trainer and private coach, guiding women and men through the complex terrain of leadership and entrepreneurship. During the last two years as the principal at GrowthPoint Bookkeeping LLC, I’ve zeroed in on the financial systems that can make or break a business. But here’s a little secret I’ve discovered: No amount of spreadsheets, budgeting apps, or carefully crafted business plans can fully compensate for a scarcity mindset. That’s when our inner dialogue about money says, “We can’t afford this,” “We’ll never catch up,” or “Financial freedom isn’t for me.”
Identifying the scarcity script
The scarcity mindset is deeply rooted in our earliest money memories and social conditioning. If you’ve ever woken up at 2 a.m. worrying about payroll or questioned whether your business can meet next month’s rent, you know that money anxieties run deep. For many high-achieving leaders, especially women and other underrepresented founders, these anxieties have become a “money script” replaying in the background. When left unaddressed, that script can steer us off course by limiting our vision, driving impulsive decisions, and hindering growth.
Think about the beliefs you grew up with. My story included subtle messages from family and community: “Rich people must be doing something shady,” or “You shouldn’t want too much in life.” These beliefs weren’t necessarily taught to me in so many words, but they shaped my comfort zone around money. It took me years to realize how deeply those beliefs influenced my decisions and limited my success.
Action Step: Set aside 30 minutes this week, brew coffee, and journal about your earliest money memories. Were you taught that money is always tight, splurging is irresponsible, or wealth is reserved for certain people? Awareness is the first step toward change.
Shifting from scarcity to abundance
After more than two decades of leadership consulting (and flipping a few houses on the side), I’ve seen that the transition from scarcity to abundance doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a layered process. First comes recognizing you have a story about money that might be outdated. Next comes the intentional work to rewrite it.
Affirmations are one way to rewrite old scripts. You might start by saying something like, “There’s always more than enough to meet my needs and support my dreams.” But simply reciting affirmations won’t stick unless you tie them to real-life examples. If you’re a realtor or broker, you could reflect on deals you’ve successfully closed or clients you’ve helped find their perfect home. Let those experiences anchor your new story about money.
Visualization also works. Picture your ideal day in your thriving business where finances support growth instead of fueling anxiety. Do you see a real estate team with streamlined operations? Maybe your brokerage is expanding, or you’re acquiring new listings at a steady clip. That vision is the spark that reignites your motivation whenever scarcity creeps back in.
The link between mindset and leadership
Many men I coach in real estate or investing are skilled dealmakers, but they also carry hidden money narratives that affect their leadership style. For instance, a broker might be incredible at building client relationships yet struggle to delegate financial tasks. Why? Perhaps somewhere deep down, he feels he needs total control over the books (a scarcity mindset that says nobody will do it right if he isn’t hovering). This fear not only increases his workload, it can cripple the growth of his team.
When you shift your personal money mindset, you naturally show up differently for your team. You become more collaborative, more trusting, and more open to opportunities. Whether it’s a
female-owned startup or a predominantly male real-estate office, adopting an abundance mindset fosters a culture where everyone feels supported to grow.
Tip: Transparency is a powerful way to foster trust and an abundance of culture. Share simplified versions of financial goals or metrics with your team, such as monthly revenue targets or expense goals. This gives everyone a stake in the outcome and encourages fresh ideas for improving the bottom line.
From mindset to practical systems
Let’s not pretend that a well-honed money mindset alone will suddenly eliminate business challenges. You can think in abundance all day, but if you’re not balancing your books correctly or tracking your spending, you’re still asking for trouble. That’s precisely why I pivoted into GrowthPoint Bookkeeping LLC to help leaders align a healthy money mindset with rock-solid accounting and financial systems.
1. Regular Bookkeeping
Set aside a specific time each week to check your finances. This doesn’t have to be complicated. If you use QuickBooks or an equivalent tool, upload receipts or categorize recent transactions. When done consistently, these simple routines become second nature.
2. Work with a pro
There’s no shame in outsourcing tasks that drain your time or energy. Delegating your bookkeeping to someone you trust (hint, hint) can free you up to do what you do best, like winning that next real estate deal or expanding your consulting business.
3. Budget for growth
An abundance mindset pairs well with strategic budgeting. Instead of focusing solely on cutting costs, look for ways to invest in growth. This might mean earmarking funds for advanced courses, new technology, or a small marketing campaign. The question you want to ask isn’t “Can I afford it?” but rather, “How will this investment pay off in the long run?”
Personal evolution, professional revolution
One of the reasons I feel so passionate about the money mindset, especially for women and other underrepresented entrepreneurs, is that it touches every facet of leadership. It shapes how we negotiate deals, pay employees, and develop new product lines. But just as significantly, it shapes how we see ourselves. If you’re constantly tiptoeing around financial decisions, you’re likely doing the same in other parts of life. Conversely, once you begin to view money as a tool (rather than a threat), you’ll see a ripple effect in your confidence, creativity, and leadership presence.
Ready for the next step?
If you sense that your current money beliefs are holding you back, take it as a sign: It’s time to make a change. My most significant piece of advice is to go easy on yourself. Shifting your mindset isn’t a quick fix; it’s a journey. That said, you don’t have to walk it alone. Building community is key. Whether you follow money podcasts or connect with a mentor, keep supportive voices around you.
The last decade has taught me that the difference between scarcity and abundance isn’t always the size of your bank account. More often, it’s whether you believe you’re worthy of financial success and whether you have the right systems in place to sustain it.
Final thought
Scarcity is not your destiny. Abundance is a mindset we learn, refine, and choose every day, one that shapes our personal lives, businesses, and impact on the world.
Charlie McClain, Bestselling Author, Bookkeeper & Strategist
I’m passionate about helping businesses unlock their greatest potential by demystifying finances and driving purposeful growth. Over the past two decades, I’ve consulted and trained leaders and CEOs around the globe, collaborating with realtors, contractors, and a wide range of professionals seeking to streamline operations and amplify profits. My hands-on experience flipping houses opened my eyes to the unique financial challenges of irregular income, complex expense tracking, and nuanced tax requirements—insights that now inform my specialized bookkeeping and advisory services.
As the founder of GrowthPoint Bookkeeping LLC, I empower realtors and business owners to save valuable time, increase profitability, and make informed decisions based on real-time financial data. With fast, accurate bookkeeping, cleanup, payroll support, and advanced QuickBooks integrations, we deliver clarity that fuels confidence and strategic growth.
