Do you have a hard time charging for your work? Do you get nervous when the time comes to say prices and end up giving it away or almost?
The issue of prices, money and collection, arouses many emotions and not exactly good for many people, and is one of the most frequent obstacles among entrepreneurs, especially at the beginning, and sometimes even when you already have years of experience. It is normal, it is something that you may not be used to, that causes you insecurity or that brings out all kinds of mental beliefs that were hidden there. However, it is essential that you control or change those limiting beliefs and lose your fear or you will not be able to live on your business.
I fully understand your situation, the first few times I offered my sessions instead of saying the investment calmly and safely I practically barked. It is something that we do not come from the world of sales or marketing costs us a lot, it is normal and has a solution. I am the proof, before I sweated to say my price and now I say it like someone who says it is raining.
It is a matter of mentality and although it costs a lot or you overcome it or you do not survive, it is that simple (not easy). If you want a business and want to live (and well) on it, you have to sell what you offer. Point. The problem is what you associate with selling: manipulating, cheating, being a burden, and what is hidden underneath: not liking, being criticized, being laughed at, etc. To which we must add associating the price of what you sell with your personal value, Error. There is no price that can pay what you are worth and that you have to be clear about now. Apart from all this it is good that you are clear that:
Selling is helping
As you hear it, it is not pressuring, nor overwhelming, nor cheating. It is helping because you offer someone what they are looking for, no more and no less. If I have tremendous back pain and a physical therapist offers me his services, what is he doing? Helping me! Offering me something I need and want and it is independent of whether I decide to hire him or not, that already depends on me, but he is helping me. If you don't have clients in your business and I offer you to work with me and share strategies to achieve it, what am I doing? Helping you! And it will be up to you to accept the help or not. Well exactly the same thing happens in your case. If you have something that people want, that is useful, that solves a problem, that is precious, by offering it you are simply helping. This is clear to you when you love what you do and see the value it has,that's when you teach it with confidence and enthusiasm.
Helping doesn't have to be free
A very frequent belief, in fact I have had a reader writing indignantly to me because I charge for my services and telling me that real help is free. Sure, sure, that's why you go to the hairdresser for free and to the dentist for free and your lawyer for free. Do not be fooled and do not fool yourself msima, you can help for free if you want but you do not have to do it or you do not have to do it only for free (and less if you have a business). I help free with my articles but if you want to work with me privately and I dedicate myself to you 100% you have to pay. If I have to choose between helping free and my son eating, I have it very clear. And you?
What you do has a lot of value
It is very easy to underestimate what you offer and we think that no one will pay for it, but it is not, what you do has a lot of value and you have to be aware of that. Because as I said before, when you really believe that what you offer helps, when you love what you do, you don't feel that you are selling, you transmit enthusiasm. Sometimes it is difficult to be aware of the value of what you offer and you need external help to see it, such as testimonials and letters from your clients or readers. If you still don't have testimonials or letters of support, one thing you can do is write how what you offer to your clients helps in these areas: spiritually, health, family, money and future. Make a list and keep it in mind so that you stop underestimating what you sell.
Do you stop to think if you are going to pay the plumber, your dentist, your hairdresser or the refrigerator that you bought yesterday? No! They offer you a service and you pay for it, period, it is an exchange of value. And it is exactly the same in your case. Just depend of you.
It is clear that not daring to charge has some very clear disadvantages that almost do not even need to be mentioned: you do not have money, you get overwhelmed, you do not focus on what you owe, you give a bad professional image, etc. But the problem is that it also has advantages, yes, you heard correctly, advantages and that's why you continue to do so. Some of the advantages are:
- Do not leave your comfort zone, because look how difficult it is to ask for money and I will not tell you when your prices are high… People like it, "look how nice and how good this girl who does not charge me anything…" Avoid criticism, "but How are you going to charge for that, because so-and-so makes it cheaper, but if we are friends… ”.
They are powerful advantages, it's up to you to weigh pros and cons and decide, because it's all a matter of deciding, do you want to live from your business or do you want it to remain a hobby (and expensive, too)?
Options to start charging for your work
I know for a fact that it is very scary and at first you will be shaking and, of course, you will meet criticism, so what? This will mean that you are doing something right, at least you can live from your business, value what you do and, above all, help people who really value what you offer and how important it is to invest in yourself through others.
Do you have any other option? Actually yes, these are the three options you have:
- Learn to do it yourself. Hire someone to do it for you. Forget having a business.
So get down to work, stop making excuses, make a commitment to yourself and your business and the next person who asks you for what you do so well you charge.
