It’s taken a while, but I coming to terms with my worth on a professional level. As an entrepreneur, especially when you’re starting, it can be an easy marketing strategy to be more affordable than the competition. It doesn’t take long to realize that even though you’re attracting business, it’s not normally the business you want.
I’ve learned that it’s not uncommon for the person who negotiates the cheapest price is often your most difficult customer. I’ve learned the hard way that not all business is good business. In a lot of cases, the client or customer that wants the cheapest rate can end up costing you more than it pays.
When you get to a point where you know your worth and the value you bring to the table, it’s easier to turn down offers that your instincts are telling you to stay away from. When you go against your intuition, it won’t be long before you’re regretting it. When you take on a job or an assignment out of desperation and there’s not desire, it will be the hardest money you ever earn.
Once you know what your value is, you start to attract people who recognize your worth and they want to work with you. Your confidence has to exude in everything that you do. Whether it’s your marketing, an introductory conversation, or your sales pitch, you want your energy to leaving people thinking “I want to work with her/him”, not “it looks like they need the work”.
When you know what your worth and you value yourself, it changes how everything in your life flows. This isn’t just about your professional life, but your personal life as well. I know that when I valued myself more, I realized that it was okay to ask for what I wanted and not feel bad about it. For the longest time, I was the kind of person who settles for things because I didn’t want to appear demanding.
It took a long time for me to realize that putting my needs aside wasn’t doing me any favors. I realized that putting the needs of others before my own wasn’t serving me. It made me resentful because I thought putting other people’s needs ahead of my own was an act of kindness. It took me a long time to realize that not only were my acts of kindness not seen or appreciated as such. I wasn’t helping myself or others.
Knowing your worth is a gift you give to yourself and others. When you value yourself, you won’t accept treatment from others that don’t acknowledge your value. You stand up for yourself without feeling like you need to explain yourself. You ask for what you want and you don’t apologize for wanting it. You get to set the standard for how people treat you. Know your worth and demand to be treated as such. ♥