The Mindset Shift That Took Me to My First Million

When I started my online business, I did not think I would ever make a million dollars a year. But here I am. The mindset shift that got me there was this: my business had to become about something bigger than me.

It took me a few shifts to get there.

Shift 1: From Replacing My Income to Knowing I Can Do More

My first goal was to replace my previous income. I think that is the goal for most people who start an online business. Enough money to pay your rent or mortgage, put food on the table and live a good life. Once you have that, you start to think: if I can do this, what else can I do?

My first year went very well. Then I had a dip for a month. I thought, this is a lot of money. Do I deserve this? Is this a fluke? Is it all going to go away?

After my best month so far, I made $1,700 (about €1,500) the next month. That was all me. It was self-sabotage.

Luckily I caught myself. We all have money mindset issues. We all have a story about why we cannot make more money. Your ceiling might be 70,000, 100,000, 500,000 or a million, but at some point you will hit it. In the beginning it is more likely. I realised what I was doing and got back on track. I was back to $10K months (about €9K), and in my second year I made $164,000 (about €148K). I was so happy.

Shift 2: From Earning for Me to Earning for 2

In my second year I was still thinking about lifestyle upgrades. How I could improve my life, live in 2 places, Switzerland and Iceland, travel and take bigger holidays.

Then my husband started to say he might be let go from his job. I said no, you have been there for 10 years, they cannot live without you. He was right. In September of my third year in online business, he was let go.

That gave me the push. Now I had to make enough money for 2 people. He got a few months of pay, but I wanted to pay for both of us. He had worked hard since he was 16, and I did not want him to look for another job. I wanted to give him that freedom, and maybe he could join my business and help me.

My mind was set on being the breadwinner. That autumn I had an amazing launch, and in my third year I made $340,000 (about €307K). Enough for 2 people living in Switzerland, one of the most expensive countries in the world, with a second home in Iceland.

Shift 3: Making It About Something Bigger Than Me

Now I had an amount that felt comfortable. I did not need more. I feel this is where women often stop themselves. They need one more shift to see there is more out there: bigger impact and more people to help.

I realised that if I could make $340,000, I could make the million. It was my gold medal. Some people want to win the Olympics or run a marathon. I wanted to prove to myself I could do it, and show other women it is possible within a few years of starting an online business.

I also had plans that need a lot of money. A big conference in Iceland with lots of speakers. A fund for women who want to start a business. Better health care for women, and easier access to investors for female founders.

So the biggest shift was this: it was about other people now. I had already made enough for me and my husband. The million had to be about someone else.

Telling My Community My Goal

I realised this in February 2017, my fourth year in online business. I sent an email to my list and wrote: this is the year I am going to make a million. Women wrote back to encourage me. We were in it together.

By August I had made only a third of my goal. I did not want to fail my community. If I had told no one, I could have given up and no one would have noticed. Because I had emailed my list, I could not give up.

So in August I made a plan to make the other two thirds in about 4 months. I launched my podcast in August. I had my first live event in September. I had a launch in September and several promotions towards the end of the year.

On December 31, 5 minutes before midnight, I crossed $1M (about €885K) for the year. I shared it with my community and everyone was so proud. I was very proud too. It was not about the money. It was about reaching this milestone with other people as part of it, and making it bigger than me.

Every goal since then has felt different. I now have a $3 million business (about €2.8M). Reaching 2 million and then 3 million did not give me the same feeling as the first million.

First Take Care of Yourself, Then Make It Bigger

When you start a business, it is often about yourself, and it should be. On a plane they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first. You cannot help others if you do not take care of yourself. It is not selfish to make sure you can pay your bills and have the lifestyle you want.

Once you have that, shift what your business is about. Make it about something bigger than you.

My mission is to accelerate gender equality through female entrepreneurship. I do it through my business, helping women start and scale their business from zero to 7 figures. I also start other businesses, because I want women to have 2 or 3 businesses, investments and wealth. With wealth come power and choices. We have surveyed women, and what they want most is freedom and choices. Money gives you that.

Work on your mindset step by step, until your business is about how you can help and impact the world. That is how you make millions.