First, Value Yourself
“AAAH I can’t do it!” “Yes you can, you have the words typed out, just hit send.”
A client had just been asked to do some contract work helping someone do a job that required a highly specialized skill set. He had agreed and told them he would do the job for a laughably low hourly rate. When I heard how much he was charging, my jaw dropped. They were seeking his highly specialized skills, yet he struggled to value himself. He felt too embarrassed to ask for more even though he recognized that doing that job would be very inconvenient for him and would cost him a lot in gas to get to the job, let alone the valuable free time he would be sacrificing.
I helped him develop some language around how he had reconsidered and would not be able to do the job for less than $x, almost double what he had originally charged. I reminded him that the worst thing that could happen was that they decide they can’t afford his services and he gets his weekend back! Eventually he hit “send” (he was literally screaming when he did it.) 2 minutes later he received a return message saying they would accommodate his new request.
Instantly his energy changed. “Yeah! Of course I’m worth that much!” I could see his confidence return, I could see that he now valued his time and his skills. He walked through his fear of asking for what he was worth and experienced the reward. Of course, he could have been rejected at the higher price, but I believe that too would have been a reward in itself. He would still recognize his value because he valued himself highly enough to ask for what he was worth.
Being paid what we are worth has so many benefits I don’t even know where to start. First off, we can begin developing confidence in our skills when we realize we are not willing to settle for less. When someone is willing to pay us a premium, we are absolutely going to bring our A game into the job without resentment or doubt, which adds significant value to our client. An added benefit, and I think one of the most important, is that we begin cultivating our ideal clientele. We recognize that we can say no when something doesn’t feel like a good fit. Our clients will appreciate and value our services and we will be able to provide those services free of stress that we are doing something we don’t want to be doing. That extra money might mean we can free up a little time in our day to focus on relaxation or creative projects. The healthier you are physically and mentally, the more focused and present you will be in your productive time. It’s a win-win for everyone!
