Are you charging your worth?

If you’re not yet making the money you want in your business this might be one of those catch phrases that you’ve turned into a label you give yourself and your business.

It’s not helpful.

What does it even MEAN?

I don’t believe in charging your worth.

Who’s worthy? Who’s not? What exactly is your worth? Does it depend on life experience, professional experience, who your clients are, how long or how well you’re doing in business? Your professionalism, the results you get for your clients (and how do you even measure these results financially)?
Is it charging what others in your industry are charging? Who sets their prices anyway (they do)? Who says that matches their worth? How did they figure that out?

‘Charge your worth’ if you have a feeling you’re not (am I? aren’t I? how do I know?) can lead to feelings of insecurity, doubt, comparison, feeling behind and in a place of lack.

So how do you determine your prices and feel good about them, knowing you’re, er, finally charging your worth?

Well, surprisingly, it’s not about the money.

It’s not a financial figure per se. It’s what feels right. It’s what makes you feel fulfilled, happy to be doing the work you do, covers your lifestyle needs and wants (because these outer pieces contribute to your every day happiness). It’s not about how much you can charge – ‘the higher the better’ – no, it’s about what you personally need and want to feel satisfied and fulfilled doing the work you do for the financial exchange you receive for it.

It’s about finding the financial figure that supports you, through your business, and allows you to be of highest benefit to your clients. Struggling to make ends meet ‘for the love of your work’, that whole starving artist thing, isn’t helpful for anyone. Go do charity work alongside if you want to do that. Your business needs to be financially viable, otherwise it’s just a hobby. Charge what you need to charge. Don’t settle for just scraping by because you and I know that that doesn’t feel good. That does not an inspiring person make.

So, to sum up, charging your worth doesn’t come from exterior validation or industry ‘norm’. It comes from what feels right for you and what you need and want. The financial figure you come to is a natural outcome of these three. It will evolve over time. That’s ok.

Want help to refine your unique offering and package it in a way that feels good and aligned for you? Apply here to find out about working with me.