How would my life change if I were able to create and package my expertise and passion that others could then purchase to improve their lives?
The more clearly you can describe this, the better.
The more clearly you can describe this, the better.
If there’s any group of people that need to be rich its social workers.
Being a Social Worker w/ a masters degree w/ a job vs working for yourself.
The most unlikeliest of places to look for entrepreneurs, social work is actually a hub of entrepreneurial thought leaders. Residing in this place of ideas for change with little to no funding, social workers are constantly grinding out creative ways to progress human and societal conditions.
A reason social entrepreneurs are often unsuccessful is because they typically offer help to those least able to pay for it. Capitalism is founded upon the exchange of capital (most obviously, money) for goods and services. However, social entrepreneurs must find new business models that do not rely on standard exchange of capital in order to make their organizations sustainable. This self-sustainability is what distinguishes social businesses from charities, who rely almost entirely on donations and outside funding.
You will have to sacrifice in the beginning because it takes time to learn how to grow and manage a business, but if you are willing to put in work on the front end, you could build something lasting and fulfilling long term.
The profession of social work began with a focus on helping the poor by those who were not.
The most unlikeliest of places to look for entrepreneurs, social work is actually a hub of entrepreneurial thought leaders. Residing in this place of ideas for change with little to no funding, social workers are constantly grinding out creative ways to progress human and societal conditions.
A reason social entrepreneurs are often unsuccessful is because they typically offer help to those least able to pay for it. Capitalism is founded upon the exchange of capital (most obviously, money) for goods and services. However, social entrepreneurs must find new business models that do not rely on standard exchange of capital in order to make their organizations sustainable. This self-sustainability is what distinguishes social businesses from charities, who rely almost entirely on donations and outside funding.
You will have to sacrifice in the beginning because it takes time to learn how to grow and manage a business, but if you are willing to put in work on the front end, you could build something lasting and fulfilling long term.
The profession of social work began with a focus on helping the poor by those who were not.
The discipline of social work has not so long been a qualified profession, only gaining formal recognition in 1898 in the United States and increasing in world popularity ever since.
Most social workers are familiar with enough of the history to know that Jane Addams herself was from a prosperous family, as were many of the friendly visitors of the 1800s.
So, as in the case of many well-to-do social activists, money existed as a non-issue in social efforts, allowing the issue to be the issue.
If, from the dawn of the profession, social workers had less of a need to talk about the earning power of case workers, wealth creation, or money management, it makes sense that the topic of money remains secondary to the pressing issues of poverty, inequality and injustice that we still address today.
Most social workers are familiar with enough of the history to know that Jane Addams herself was from a prosperous family, as were many of the friendly visitors of the 1800s.
So, as in the case of many well-to-do social activists, money existed as a non-issue in social efforts, allowing the issue to be the issue.
If, from the dawn of the profession, social workers had less of a need to talk about the earning power of case workers, wealth creation, or money management, it makes sense that the topic of money remains secondary to the pressing issues of poverty, inequality and injustice that we still address today.
Social workers focus on resources not generally connected to money.
We all learned from the Strengths Perspective that to help a system improve, it's best to focus on the strengths of that system as opposed to its weaknesses.
But often, our focus on strengths is primarily because a system is limited financially and needs to consider additional resources. Usually those resources are more likely to include things like the system's networks, abilities, and unique characteristics. Generally, if money is included as a strength, it's minimally emphasized and rarely, if ever, maximized beyond an immediate need or mission, because why would it be if we're not accustomed to focusing on money in the first place?
But often, our focus on strengths is primarily because a system is limited financially and needs to consider additional resources. Usually those resources are more likely to include things like the system's networks, abilities, and unique characteristics. Generally, if money is included as a strength, it's minimally emphasized and rarely, if ever, maximized beyond an immediate need or mission, because why would it be if we're not accustomed to focusing on money in the first place?
Service is our middle name and giving is our game.
The profession of social work was built on the notion of service. So fundamental to our mission is service that we even put it in our Code of Ethics.
Think about it. The profession itself has its roots in church activities and volunteer movements around the world which are all heavily service-based. It makes sense, then, that it remains a strong influencer within the social work profession to this day.
And although the trend from the corporate and for-profit world is increasingly to embrace the value of a service-oriented mission, social work remains largely rooted in the NGO and not-for-profit sectors, where money is seen as scarce and resources are considered few.
But service for the social worker has its reward inherent in the act of the service itself. That's to say, we do it because it's the right thing to do, not because of a paycheck.
With a mission to serve with no motivation of financial reward as our goal, is it any wonder, then, that social workers don't talk more about money?
Think about it. The profession itself has its roots in church activities and volunteer movements around the world which are all heavily service-based. It makes sense, then, that it remains a strong influencer within the social work profession to this day.
And although the trend from the corporate and for-profit world is increasingly to embrace the value of a service-oriented mission, social work remains largely rooted in the NGO and not-for-profit sectors, where money is seen as scarce and resources are considered few.
But service for the social worker has its reward inherent in the act of the service itself. That's to say, we do it because it's the right thing to do, not because of a paycheck.
With a mission to serve with no motivation of financial reward as our goal, is it any wonder, then, that social workers don't talk more about money?
Wanting to be wealthy is seen as anti-social work.
For many social workers, the words "rich," "money," and "wealthy" imply "filthy," "greedy," and "capitalistic" - all anti-social work themes. And yet we can intellectualize that none of these words are "anti-social work" in and of themselves.
If social workers believe something is "filthy," "greedy," or "capitalistic," chances are they aren't going to go for it - it's blatantly offensive to the social work creed - and that's probably a good reason why more social workers don't talk about money.
If social workers believe something is "filthy," "greedy," or "capitalistic," chances are they aren't going to go for it - it's blatantly offensive to the social work creed - and that's probably a good reason why more social workers don't talk about money.
We don't have many wealthy social workers to look up to.
Although we are aware of some social workers who became rich, we don't see them very often, and we know even fewer wealthy people who become social workers, so we don't have a plethora of examples of massive wealth by individuals associated with the profession.
In his book Think And Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill stressed the importance of having mentors - an individual or group of people to look up to, gain inspiration from, and follow consistently. Years later, Jim Rohn would famously state, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with," prompting learners everywhere to critically assess their most cherished associations.
I don't know about you, but most of the social workers I know associate heavily with one another. And if it follows that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, as Jim Rohn has declared, and if the average social worker is nowhere near wealthy, then it's no wonder that more social workers don't talk about money or have more of it to boot!
In his book Think And Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill stressed the importance of having mentors - an individual or group of people to look up to, gain inspiration from, and follow consistently. Years later, Jim Rohn would famously state, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with," prompting learners everywhere to critically assess their most cherished associations.
I don't know about you, but most of the social workers I know associate heavily with one another. And if it follows that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with, as Jim Rohn has declared, and if the average social worker is nowhere near wealthy, then it's no wonder that more social workers don't talk about money or have more of it to boot!
We're discouraged from doing so.
Every social worker has heard these words: "We don't do it for the money," "People are what's important, not money," and "If you want to make lots of money you'll have to choose another profession."
Although the desired implication may be that money is a secondary component to the act of helping others, this idea often dissuades social workers from wanting more wealth; and if the profession that you love so much ever discourages you from wanting more wealth, why would you ever discuss it?
Although the desired implication may be that money is a secondary component to the act of helping others, this idea often dissuades social workers from wanting more wealth; and if the profession that you love so much ever discourages you from wanting more wealth, why would you ever discuss it?
We don't know that we can.
This goes with number six above. When we hear a phrase like, "You'll never be rich as a social worker," it stops us from even daring to dream about an alternate reality where money is overflowing, so we don't even try.If we were to consider Johari's Window on the topic of money, the realization that we actually can have more money in our lives would probably be in our blind spot: "We don't know what we don't know." This is information that is known to others but not known to us, and it requires feedback from others to help us develop the awareness.
The truth is that all social workers can be rich social workers if they want, to learn the principles and practices of wealth, but without this awareness, no one would expect you to talk more about money or have more of it in your life if you don't know that you can...and now you know.
We're embarrassed at our own money mishaps.
Many social workers are deep in debt from student loans, moves across country, home ownership, family matters, and life in general.As routine as it is for us to handle crisis situations for our clients, many of us find it quite difficult to handle our own money matters and are actually quite embarrassed about them. When it comes to things like balancing checkbooks, investing for retirement, and owning our own businesses, it's necessary for us to ditch the shame and get the same type of support that we prescribe to our clients in order to move into the space where we're more comfortable talking about money, whatever our shameful past.
We don't know how to talk about money.
There's a great financial training website specifically for social workers called The Center for Financial Social Work, but if you haven't heard of it, I'm not surprised.The Center's founder, Reeta Wolfsohn, states that she's had a hard time selling social workers on the importance of having a financial awareness for themselves and an even harder time getting them to invest in financial training for their practice.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, teaches that one of the habits of the wealthy and why they have money is because they talk openly and often about it. When was the last time you heard social workers talking openly and often about money? No money, social workers? Perhaps this explains it.
Because we don't have any ourselves.
...and we can't talk about what we don't have now, can we?So, why talk about money?
Given the list above, one might wonder why social workers would even need to bring up the subject of money, especially since it's not usually one of its leading topics. Hasn't the profession done well enough thus far without the focus on money, one might ask?However, if we consider that every social effort requires money on some level - not only for the intervention, but to support the practitioner - we may begin to consider the value that these types of conversations can bring.
Specifically,
- Money is a necessity, like it or not. It's a quality of our current society and is not inherently good or bad. Neither does it hold any meaning or value other than what we give it. It's important, so it's to our advantage to pay attention.
- The more money you have, the more people you can help and the more good you can do. This is not bad. This is good. Embrace it.
- Ignoring the topic of money won't make it go away. Embrace this, too. In fact, the very future of social workers' compensation depends on our attention to its importance. How important is that?
Improve your money mindset.
Having more money starts with one’s mindset about it. Many social workers have historic negative experiences with money and negative emotions that keep coming up for them. The most common way Social Workers deal with these is by ignoring the importance of money and saying things like, “I do this work to help people, not for the money,” and, “Money is not important.” But nothing could be more dangerous to the work! It’s dangerous because that kind of thinking makes money less important than it really is thereby sabotaging social workers’ own empowering efforts.
The solution? An abundant money-mindset practice with the goal of neutralizing the meaning of money altogether. When Social Workers no longer view it as something that is hard to get, they learn that money is just a thing they can exchange for the value that they give, and so there is no limit they can make!
-Most social workers have been conditioned to believe we will work for a non-profit, the government or organization (but rarely actually run them). Not a bad thing just the reality of the need and the work available.
-We have been conditioned and then accepted the reality that we will barely make enough money to cover our basic needs (even if we spend another $35,000+ on getting our master’s degree)
Diversify your use of the Internet
The internet age has presented an abundance of opportunities for people from all walks of life to leverage their skills and expertise, and there is no reason why social workers can’t take advantage of this opportunity as well.
Many social workers restrict their online activity to scholarly research and surfing. But when Social Workers fully embrace the internet and use it to connect with diverse professionals, showcase their expertise and explore their creativity, their prowess in creating money increases. In The Netherlands, always known as an open and innovative country, Social Workers are inventing surprising ways to create money and even connect more purposefully with those in the for-profit and corporate sectors. That might be scary for some, but the best innovations always come from innovations across industries, and with today’s technology social media makes it easy to connect!
The more money they have, the more people they can help.
Social workers are known for their service to humanity. In fact, so associated are they with this activity that many people who find themselves in service positions often ascribe to themselves the professional title sans the qualification.Having more money starts with one’s mindset about it. Many social workers have historic negative experiences with money and negative emotions that keep coming up for them. The most common way Social Workers deal with these is by ignoring the importance of money and saying things like, “I do this work to help people, not for the money,” and, “Money is not important.” But nothing could be more dangerous to the work! It’s dangerous because that kind of thinking makes money less important than it really is thereby sabotaging social workers’ own empowering efforts.
The solution? An abundant money-mindset practice with the goal of neutralizing the meaning of money altogether. When Social Workers no longer view it as something that is hard to get, they learn that money is just a thing they can exchange for the value that they give, and so there is no limit they can make!
-Most social workers have been conditioned to believe we will work for a non-profit, the government or organization (but rarely actually run them). Not a bad thing just the reality of the need and the work available.
-We have been conditioned and then accepted the reality that we will barely make enough money to cover our basic needs (even if we spend another $35,000+ on getting our master’s degree)
Diversify your use of the Internet
The internet age has presented an abundance of opportunities for people from all walks of life to leverage their skills and expertise, and there is no reason why social workers can’t take advantage of this opportunity as well.
Many social workers restrict their online activity to scholarly research and surfing. But when Social Workers fully embrace the internet and use it to connect with diverse professionals, showcase their expertise and explore their creativity, their prowess in creating money increases. In The Netherlands, always known as an open and innovative country, Social Workers are inventing surprising ways to create money and even connect more purposefully with those in the for-profit and corporate sectors. That might be scary for some, but the best innovations always come from innovations across industries, and with today’s technology social media makes it easy to connect!
The more money they have, the more people they can help.
Service for the social worker is not merely a job function, it’s a routine practice. They’re often found working “in the trenches” with clients and agencies, assessing needs and strategizing the best plans of action. But often the impetus for service is stifled because of a general lack of organizational resources and/or an ignorance of how to maximize the existing ones.
However, when social workers are rich they use their knowledge of wealth to leverage more resources, support more causes, and help more people; help which their clients, in turn, pass on to their circles of influence and networks.
Social workers need to be able to afford to take care of their mental and emotional health.
The profession of social work comes with its fair share of stress and fatigue. So legendary is this phenomenon that there exist entire journals, websites, and movements devoted to the importance and practice of self-care and maintenance.However, while social workers are well aware of these maintenance tools, far too many of them don’t take the time or spend the money to invest in the counseling, hobbies, and vacations that they should primarily because they complain of having neither the time nor the money to do so!
Oh, the irony.
When carers don’t take care of themselves they do a lousy job of caring for others, and then you’ve defeated your purpose. But without the fear of not having enough money hanging over their heads, social workers are free to hire that coach, take that hobby class, book that three-week trip to Cancun, and splurge on that luxury spa treatment with no regrets. Not only will they be better functioning helpers, they’ll be better equipped to help their clients to function better too.
When social workers are empowered, they empower their clients.
It’s a skill that social workers are expected to possess — and that is being able to empower their clients to higher levels of functioning.But here’s the kicker; they can’t empower their clients in the ways of wealth if they’re not empowered themselves. It’s no secret that many social workers work with people and in environments which are economically challenged. This lack of financial resources is often the root of more serious problems (such as access to healthcare, quality education, and transportation services) that also require money to address.
However, because most social workers have not learned the principles of wealth creation, money management and investing, it’s unlikely that, when it comes to money, they’ll be able to offer their clients much more than the referrals to the traditional welfare resources that commonly exist.
If we consider the efforts of Brene Brown, Suzy Orman and Steadman Graham — all trained social workers — then it’s easy to see the massive impact social workers can make in the lives of others when they’re financially empowered. Now imagine that level of impact from social workers on a global scale. What an empowered world it would be!
Social workers bring a unique set of skills and services to the marketplace that are preventative, mitigating, and healing.
Social work interconnects with various industries such as healthcare, service, and education. These and other intersecting industries represent billions of dollars in revenue annually. They also represent major opportunities for social workers to fill the needs represented within their scope.
Social work interconnects with various industries such as healthcare, service, and education. These and other intersecting industries represent billions of dollars in revenue annually. They also represent major opportunities for social workers to fill the needs represented within their scope.
With skills such as assessment, problem-solving, coping, relationship improvement, and capacity building, social workers fill significant gaps within the marketplace providing services that are preventative, mitigating and healing. And with the evolution, we are the ones engineering new currency of relationship.
When money is not their concern, they can focus on other critical issues.
What problems do social workers focus on when money is not their issue? Anything else that they need to.Consider this: you don’t see Richard Branson, Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos stressed out about money — neither do they spend time hankering for resources. Instead, these multimillionaires spend their time and energy seeking to engineer some of the most significant improvements of this generation.
It’s because money is not their concern that they’re able to focus their attention on such epic ideas and strategies — and it’s because social workers are concerned about not having enough money that they do not — not in any systematic way, at least.
But when money — or the lack of it — is no longer a primary concern for the social worker, the question is no longer, “Can we afford this solution,” but, “Which viable solution will we choose?”
Up & Downside of Entrepreneurism:
- There is no schedule
- No consistent paycheck
- You pay (A LOT) for your own insurance
- No one is required to guide you or give you tangible tasks to do
- You must motivate yourself to do the work (and watching reruns of the ‘West Wing’ doesn’t count as work)
- It can be lonely without coworkers
- The new world of entrepreneurism is unknown, scary and overwhelming
- You get to create your own schedule, which 98% of the time is way more grueling than working for an organization but you are able to go for a run at 10:23am and stop for an ice cream break at 3:30pm should you feel so inclined
- While there is no consistent paycheck, there is also no limit on how much income you can generate-that is fully up to you and clients you bring in (scary and empowering at the same time)
- There is no upside to paying for your own insurance but if I find one, I’ll be sure to let you know
- You can create your own way to accomplish the work that needs to be done.
Look for trends, which are a key to wealth.
Look for trends in social issues.
What issues are impacting people who have the means to pay you for help if you figure out a way to eliminate their issue or reduce the impact?
Create a national network of support groups for parents & or children and charge an affordable monthly membership fee.
You could provide parents the latest medical and lifestyle information to make life easier for their family and create monthly support group meetings where they can connect with others locally who are facing the same challenges.
Look for trends in social issues.
What issues are impacting people who have the means to pay you for help if you figure out a way to eliminate their issue or reduce the impact?
Create a national network of support groups for parents & or children and charge an affordable monthly membership fee.
You could provide parents the latest medical and lifestyle information to make life easier for their family and create monthly support group meetings where they can connect with others locally who are facing the same challenges.
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