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Most people react in automatic ways to certain situations without even realizing it. If someone cuts in front of you during a traffic jam, for example, your automatic reaction could be, "What a jerk!" or, "Maybe he really needs to go to the bathroom."

You don't consciously think about your reactions, but they automatically get triggered at certain moments. Often they're even powerful enough to override your logic and good judgment.

Because money is such an emotional symbol for many of us, it tends to trigger a LOT of our automatic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. And because the essence of entrepreneurship includes managing the flow of money in your life, becoming more aware of your unconscious behaviors towards money will help you replicate the behaviors that benefit you, and stop doing the things that don't.

 

The 8 Entrepreneurial Archetypes: Which One Are You?
Based on financial advisor Deborah Price's 8 Money Archetypes, these 8 Entrepreneurial Archetypes can help you understand your unconscious attitudes and behaviors towards money and business, and help you become a more empowered entrepreneur.

"Archetypes are unconscious behaviors, not personalities," Price clarifies. "All of these archetypes exist inside each of us. It's just a question of which one is the loudest at any given time."

Review the descriptions for each archetype, and honestly ask yourself which one best describes your current behavior towards starting, running, and growing your business. Then, read the advice we give on how you can maximize your current archetype to achieve the success you want, and try to apply one growth strategy this week.

 

Archetype 1: The Idealist
Your Strength: Your heart is in the right place: you see your business not just as an opportunity to create abundance in your life, but you also as a way for you to positively change the world.

Your Growth Goal: Trust in your ability to handle mistakes and difficult situations, and know that you can make good judgments in spite of them. Apply enough discipline to arm yourself with the basic knowledge of money and finances, and carefully choose your mentors and team members.

Pretty soon you will learn to balance your "ideal vision" with "what's truly possible, given what you already have," and build the kind of business that?s both satisfying and long-lasting.

 Archetype 2: The Veteran
Your Strength: You've had previous experience in starting or running previous business ventures, and have had some ups and downs with them.

Your Weakness: You have a tendency to be overly cautious about future business and investment opportunities, and are constantly reminding yourself of how this or that idea won't work because something similar to it didn't work before. You may have developed a fear of failure, or still feel victimized by people and partners from the past.

Your Growth Goal: Learn to ask more useful questions as you review your past experiences, and use your answers to take more positive actions in the present. For example, instead of asking yourself "Why am I so bad at this?" you can ask yourself "What was I good at in this situation, and how can I capitalize on this next time?" And instead of telling yourself "I'll never let this happen to me again," you can ask yourself "What would I have wanted to happen instead, and how can I bring about that outcome?"

While it's true that past lessons will tell you what you need to avoid, you also need to remind yourself that these same lessons also teach you what you need to embrace and accept--about yourself, and the world.

Aileen Santos is an internationally certified Work-Life ReInvention Coach & A-Ha! Trainer who helps overwhelmed leaders and entrepreneurs achieve balance and success in the things that truly matter.