Creating Margin for Impact

I talk a lot about the idea of creating margin in our finances. We do this to provide peace, flexibility, and contentment. However, there’s a piece missing from the typical narrative of margin. All these positive consequences of creating margin are about me, me, and me. One of the hidden benefits of creating margin in our own lives is the opportunity to lift others up. When we live with financial margin, we can provide financial assistance to the struggling single mother. When we live with time margin, we can serve in our local church or a local non-profit. When we live with career margin, we allow ourselves the ability to say “yes” to new opportunities to put our talents to use.

Herein lies the problem. We humans don’t do a great job living with margin. Some of the highest earners I know give very little in the form of generosity. It’s not that they are greedy, selfish people. Rather, despite their high incomes, they’ve created a life for themselves with little margin. Some of the most servant-hearted people I know don’t serve. It’s not because they don’t care. Rather, despite their passion to help others, they are simply too busy to make it happen. Some of the most talented people I know don’t use their gifts outside of their primary vocation. It’s not that they don’t want to make a difference. Rather, despite their hyper self-awareness of their gifts, they’ve overcommitted to their jobs and there’s simply no more energy or time in their lives to use the gifts elsewhere.

Put another way, our ability to be generous and impactful is far less tied to our resources and talent than our willingness to create margin in our lives. Margin = service. Margin = impact. Margin = love.

Inflation and the Projection of Circumstance

The elephant in the room for the last year has been inflation. If someone didn’t know what inflation was before, and certainly never talked about it during the course of their day-to-day life, that’s probably changed. Everyone now has thoughts and feelings about inflation. Inflation is everywhere. We see it when we go to the grocery store, when we put gasoline in our vehicles, when we go out to eat, when we purchase vehicles, and in pretty much every other area of life (well, except for Costco hot dogs and Arizona Iced Tea).

I’ve watched a certain phenomenon play out in many areas of life for years, especially as it pertains to work and money, and the recent inflation conversation has shined a spotlight on it. Everyone seems to have differing perspectives on inflation, and they vary wildly. Now one would think their perspective would be correlated to their education and/or area of expertise. However, that’s not the case. Their perspective is more closely tied to their own experience with inflation. In other words, they are projecting their own circumstances into the broader discussion.

As I see it, and as I walk alongside several families in my coaching, most people fit into one of three different groups when it comes to inflation:

1) Lots of Margin - These people had lots of margin in their financial life. Recent Inflation has reduced their margin but they haven’t had to sacrifice much. Their basic needs are easily met and they can still buy pretty much anything they want. Instead of going on three elaborate vacations this year, they may only do two.

2) Some Margin - These people had some margin in their financial life. Recent inflation has significantly reduced or eliminated their margin. The result of this is a profound alteration in their life. They have decreased or halted their saving/investing, given up some of their wants, or have become quite intentional with their basic needs.

3) Little-to-No Margin - These people had very little margin to begin with, if any, and are now being absolutely crushed. Just putting food on the table, gas in their car, and a roof over their head have become a constant battle. Second (or third) jobs and credit cards have become a means of survival.

These are the lenses through which people see and experience inflation. It makes a world of difference. This isn’t my attempt to condemn anyone or make people feel guilty. Rather, I want to shine a light on this idea of projection and perhaps we can be more empathetic to other people’s journeys. We need to see past our own circumstances if we hope to understand what others are going through. Or even better, if you’re in group #1, find ways to give a financial hand-up to someone in group #2 or #3. This is a season - a tough season - that we all just need to get through. And there’s no better way than to get through it together.