I have a Fear of charging or billing?!?!

**PrimeTimeOfYourLife** · 04-02-2010 03:36 AM

Alright, Like the title says.. I swear i have some phobia or fear to charge clients or bill them. Or its some sort of procrastination reflex but I am starting to doubt this. Heck, even right now its 4am, I'm trying to get my self to write out some invoices in the ole quickbooks (which are way over due) and I can't focus or maintain the will power to even complete them.

Is it official? Am I nut? should i seek professional help? Or is this common at a young age/beginner? (early 20s)
I mean I do hope its just some sort of weird procrastination but I have no problem getting actual work done in a timely fashion. But when it comes to invoicing or requesting money, ill choke and quickly try to find a million other things to do instead. Its very annoying.. then there are the days which are few and far between; where out of no where i have the ability to complete this task.. This is when I fire out way over due invoices to my clients. Its a cycle that keeps repeating its self.

Is my only solution to just outsource the task to someone else? Just suck it up and pay some one willing to complete my billing?

Anyone else have heard or experienced this type of behavior? I don't get it.. I clearly know my lively hood and a million other reasons depend on me billing.. and yet I still choke when it comes time to do it.

**noob** · 04-02-2010 05:54 AM

It's a personal OCD issue I think. I don't know of anyone who have this issue and I honestly doubt your age has anything to do with it. I don't know if you should get help on it or not but you can definitely go get counseling if you think it will help. In all honesty it sounds like one of those things you just need to work on and get over in time.

**DerekS** · 04-02-2010 01:46 PM

You've got to get over it- at any cost. You could hire someone to handle it, but sending a bill is just not that difficult. Why eat into your profit margin by hiring someone to complete a task that is as simple as sending an invoice?

If you can't collect, you can't stay in business. Simple as that. Imagine what you'd have to deal with if your clients have received bills and aren't paying them. That goes beyond simple billing/invoicing, then you get into collection calls, etc. You've got to get over step #1 so you don't create the monster that leads to step #2.

It's mental, you'll get over it (with practice.) Otherwise, I'd consider going to work for someone else in a capacity that doesn't involve collections (or just do charity work!)

Just my 2 cents.

**JustCallMeRoc** · 04-02-2010 01:52 PM

It's a psychological issue, it's something you can work on, most people have an issue with this to some extent, mostly it's linked to your own believe that you didn't deserve the money. I wouldn't be surprised if you even ask your clients a lower price than you actually should/could get. One of the biggest reasons that keeps people from succeeding is the believe they didn't deserve the success or the rewards for their hard work. It's just a thought, but I'm pretty certain, it's psychological, something in your believe system.

**PennyBartlow** · 05-19-2010 01:44 PM

I would agree that it is a symptom of your belief system and relationship to money. When I started my first business, it was difficult for me to discuss money with clients and bill for what my services were worth. I had to force myself out of my comfort zone to do it. But when I got to the root of my limiting beliefs around money and started developing new beliefs, that quickly changed and I became very comfortable with it. People who succeed financially have been taught different money principles and have an empowering mindset when it comes to money. If you haven't read it yet, I would recommend reading 'Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' by T. Harv Eker. This will help you develop new money beliefs.

To Your Success!
Penny Bartlow

WEALTH MINDSET REPORT

**rogercbryan** · 05-19-2010 03:17 PM

Ummm... find a different line of work or come work for me. I'll give you a ton of work as long as you stay to scared to bill me!

**jeremylautman** · 05-19-2010 03:49 PM

Lol @rogercbryan. Well said.

Talking about compensation is scary. Believe me you aren't the first to have this problem. When I assembled my design team for my product, we never discussed how much each of us owns. Now, as I'm trying to start a company around the technology, I'm being forced to overpay considerably for the technology. No fun.

The fact is we avoid things which make us feel uncomfortable. This is true in topics ranging from money to religion to dating and to relationships. The fact is that the longer you avoid facing that which makes you uncomfortable, the worse it gets.

I don't think I agree with JustCallMeRoc when he says that you don't believe you deserve the money. While that's one possibility and could be the case, I think it's more likely that you, like most people, avoid topics which make you uncomfortable. The only thing you can do is bite the bullet and do it. One way to do this is to set a written rule for yourself to get the invoice out the moment you send the work, and post this rule above your desk.

Over time you'll get used to it and it won't bother you anymore. It's the same thing with guys who have trouble talking with women. They feel nervous so they sit in the corner of a bar all night praying for, yet dreading at the same time that a girl comes over. However, if you put yourself out there enough times, you learn that it isn't as bad as you thought. Don't delay. Send those invoices out the day you finish work. After a few weeks it won't bother you anymore.

**PrimeTimeOfYourLife** · 05-23-2010 01:50 AM

Once again 2am.. doing laundry instead of invoices..haha

thanks for all the advice everyone. i have taken some suggestions from here and have been a bit better of completing these tasks.

I will be picking up a copy of 'Secrets of the Millionaire Mind' soon enough. Thank you PennyBartlow for the advice.
I will conquer this issue one way or another!

Ive been working for my self for a number of years now and have decided to take some time off. ive had an opportunity fall on my lap to work a steady job and receive a timely paycheck(rejoice no billing involved!). I have minimized my client base and personal business to make way for my new job. I am not giving up, but feel i need some time away from being a one man team. I plan on committing back to my business when the time is right and I am more mentally prepared to handle all those pesky tasks.

rogercbryan

Ummm... find a different line of work or come work for me. I'll give you a ton of work as long as you stay to scared to bill me!

haha... sorry not on the market anymore!

jeremylautman

Lol @rogercbryan. Well said.

Talking about compensation is scary. Believe me you aren't the first to have this problem. When I assembled my design team for my product, we never discussed how much each of us owns. Now, as I'm trying to start a company around the technology, I'm being forced to overpay considerably for the technology. No fun.

The fact is we avoid things which make us feel uncomfortable. This is true in topics ranging from money to religion to dating and to relationships. The fact is that the longer you avoid facing that which makes you uncomfortable, the worse it gets.

I don't think I agree with JustCallMeRoc when he says that you don't believe you deserve the money. While that's one possibility and could be the case, I think it's more likely that you, like most people, avoid topics which make you uncomfortable. The only thing you can do is bite the bullet and do it. One way to do this is to set a written rule for yourself to get the invoice out the moment you send the work, and post this rule above your desk.

Over time you'll get used to it and it won't bother you anymore. It's the same thing with guys who have trouble talking with women. They feel nervous so they sit in the corner of a bar all night praying for, yet dreading at the same time that a girl comes over. However, if you put yourself out there enough times, you learn that it isn't as bad as you thought. Don't delay. Send those invoices out the day you finish work. After a few weeks it won't bother you anymore.

Could be true. I am not even sure if its that im scared... i really doubt it is. I just get this repulsive feeling of doing the task like as if im about to be fed some horrible medicine..im not sure how to describe it. Regardless i plan on seeking some sort of counseling to get this resolved. I don't want it to slow me down on my next go around.

**PennyBartlow** · 05-28-2010 05:19 PM

Being a one man team can be overwhelming. Take advantage of this time to work on your personal growth so you can create the success you want with your business when the timing is right. The amount of money you make this year and the amount of money you make next year is in direct proportion to your personal development. Read books, take seminars, learn from other successful people and your mindset will be in the right place when you are ready to get back to your business.

To Your Success!
Penny Bartlow

WEALTH MINDSET REPORT
http://tiny.cc/6sk7b

**timjahn** · 07-04-2010 11:19 AM

I struggled with this at first and still do sometimes. I felt weird charging a lot of money, like I was ripping people off. I was afraid they'd scoff at how much I wanted to charge.

But when you start researching your market and realizing what others in the space charge (and what those sorts of clients expect to pay), it can help you feel a bit better charging what you want to charge.