Our greatest failing as women is not knowing our value in the marketplace. We know who we are. We know what we contribute. We know how valuable we can be to a company – ours or someone else’s. Pricing ourselves is where women fall down. We don’t know or own our value.
Several recent reports on the status of women business owners point out that women business owners are as capable as anyone or more of running a business. These reports also state that women make less revenue overall. There are many factors that contribute to this including the industries we choose, access to capital, gender bias and our thinking about our value.
In her book “Knowing Your Value”, Mika Brzezinski points to ways women undervalue themselves in the marketplace as business owners and professionals. It is in our nature and our programming to give more than we receive, to enjoy fixing, creating, nurturing, supporting and not being so concerned at the time about what we are getting out of it. Mika points out that we expect others to see our value and want to compensate us for it. They don’t. There is programming that tells us not be too self-centered, to think of others first, and other concepts that are familiar to you. We don’t tend to ask.
Owning My Value
This came home to me this past week when working with one of my clients. I began working with Claire several years ago when she called me out of desperation. She was a high fashion model hiding in her parent’s home suffering from a disorder that kept her from engaging in her life. She had no income at the time and out of compassion I took her on at a rate she said she could afford. My female programming said to help someone in need. She is now back on the runway. She still has fear so created a side business in which she teaches young boys and girls to model. Claire called me this past week for an appointment asking if I could lower my rate. My first inclination was to sympathize then reflecting back on my value I summoned the courage to suggest that we schedule when she was in a better financial position.
I saw intuitively all the concepts that both she and I held about women and their value. She thought I should give to her. I thought I should give to her. In doing so, we both would be perpetuating the diminished value we hold as women. This may be the end of our coaching. It may be the right time for her to move on feeling certain that she can model and teach modeling. For me, it was about taking ownership of my value. Intuitively I see Claire working to own her value so that she can set a fair value for her modeling work. I suggested that she read Mika’s book. She was eager to do so. I continue to be a caring, giving and compassionate person, and it will not get in the way of how I hold my value.
Pay Women Less and Get More
My website needs backend upgrading, so I contacted three professionals asking them for bids, two men and one woman. Since I am focusing on women and their value right now, I noticed my own pictures. I believed that Susan, the only female to bid, would charge less, work harder and give me more than I expected. Intuitively I see the programming that undervalues women and where we undervalue ourselves. Susan gives more than she receives and is working to balance giving with receiving in order to raise her value.
Guilt Gets In The Way
Wendi called because she had submitted an invoice to a client incorrectly stating the cost at a lower rate than they had discussed. Wendi was guilty – a common female reaction. She wanted to own her value, explain her error and expect her client to accept a corrected invoice. I saw intuitively that Wendi could do so but had to get out of guilt and be clear in her own space about her value before she contacted her client.
That’s Too Much!
An old friend became a dental
Our greatest failing as women is not knowing our value in the marketplace. We know who we are. We know what we contribute. We know how valuable we can be to a company – ours or someone else’s. Pricing ourselves is where women fall down. We don’t know or own our value.
Several recent reports on the status of women business owners point out that women business owners are as capable as anyone or more of running a business. These reports also state that women make less revenue overall. There are many factors that contribute to this including the industries we choose, access to capital, gender bias and our thinking about our value.
In her book “Knowing Your Value” Mika Brzezinski points to ways women undervalue themselves in the marketplace as business owners and professionals. It is in our nature and in our programming to give more than we receive, to enjoy fixing, creating, nurturing, supporting and not being so concerned at the time about what we are getting out of it. Mika points out that we expect others to see our value and want to compensate us for it. They don’t. There is programming that tells us not be to self-centered, to think of others first, and other concepts that are familiar to you. We don’t tend to ask.
Owning My Value
This came home to me this past week when working with one of my clients. I began working with Claire several years ago when she called me out of desperation. She was a high fashion model hiding in her parent’s home suffering from a disorder that kept her from engaging in her life. She had no income at the time and out of compassion I took her on at a rate she said she could afford. My female programming said to help someone in need. She is now back on the runway. She still has fear so created a side business in which she teaches young boys and girls to model. Claire called me this past week for an appointment asking if I could lower my rate. My first inclination was to sympathize then reflecting back on my value I summoned the courage to suggest that we schedule when she was in a better financial position.
I saw intuitively all the concepts that both she and I held about women and their value. She thought I should give to her. I thought I should give to her. In doing so we both would be perpetuating the diminished value we hold as women. This may be the end of our coaching. It may be the right time for her to move on feeling certain that she can model and teach modeling. For me it was about taking ownership of my value. Intuitively I see Claire working her own value so that she can set a fair value for her modeling work. I suggested that she read Mika’s book. She was eager to do so. I continue to be a caring, giving and compassionate person and it will not get in the way of how I hold my value.
Pay Women Less and Get More
My website needs backend upgrading so I contacted three professionals asking them for bids, two men and one woman. Since I am focusing on women and their value right now I noticed my own pictures. I believed that Susan, the only female to bid, would charge less, work harder and give me more than I pay for. Intuitively I see the programming that undervalues women and where we undervalue ourselves. Susan gives more than she receives and is working to balance giving with receiving to raise her value.
Guilt Gets In The Way
Wendi called because she had submitted an invoice to a client incorrectly stating the cost at a lower rate than they had discussed. Wendi was guilty – a common female reaction. She wanted to own her value, explain her error and expect her client to accept a corrected invoice. I saw intuitively that Wendi could do so but had to get out of guilt and be clear in her own space about her value before she contacted her client.
That’s Too Much!
An old friend became a dental hygenist. Her perspective on dental health intrigued me. I indicated my interest in her approach and agreed she would send me information. We were both very excited by the possibility of working together. Karen immediately sent me her intake form. I emailed her for her rates and asked if she took insurance. I got no response. As an intuitive, I saw that Karen became uncomfortable with owning her value. I expect that her rates are high and that she does not take insurance. I am waiting for her to take a step up and own her value, telling me precisely what it is and doing so without guilt.
Not Valuing Yourself
Valerie has been in business for 20 years and recently became a coaching client because for the first time her business is struggling financially. She owns a design company and is well-respected in the industry. It was important to start with an understanding of the finances of her company. I soon discovered that Valerie did not value herself as the owner as she had not paid herself for some time. As an intuitive, I saw that this comes more from a concept in her space than with financial reality. Being self-sacrificing was a value that she held without realizing it. Paying herself more than the rest of her staff made her uncomfortable. She is more comfortable giving them big salaries and not receiving any for herself. This is hurting her and her business.
Energy Level of Value
Our concepts about our value get in the way of our success. To change these concepts means getting out of our comfort zone, having a fair sense of our value and finding a way to own that in our business or our profession. Everyone is intuitive and pick up on us whether they do so consciously or not. How often do we give off the energy that lowers our value? People react and respond to what they feel from us. So what energy do you give off about your value? Take the time to meditate on your value. Know it. See it. Feel it. Value is not about demanding a lot of pay. It is an energy level that results in owning being valued and compensated. We know our value but have trouble being paid for that at a high level.
Gender Bias
When Meg Whitman took over HP the board for the first time in its history decided to lower the pay package for their CEOs. She took it and I was furious! The previous male CEO received a more generous offer and just received an enormous severance package when they let him go.
Do we hold gender bias and under value women ourselves? Do we pay our male staff more than our female staff? Do we expect to pay women we contract with less and do so because we can? What actions are we taking to increase our own value and supporting the value of other women?
Take the time to reflect (meditate) on the steps you want to take to raise your value not just in your mind but also in your ability to receive financially. Take the time to reflect on what you can do to raise the value of women you hire. Do our actions and decisions support women being paid less? It is time for a change. Be part of it.
. Her perspective on dental health intrigued me. I indicated my interest in her approach and agreed she would send me information. We were both very excited by the possibility of working together. Karen immediately sent me her intake form. I emailed her for her rates and asked if she took insurance. I got no response. As an intuitive I saw that Karen became uncomfortable with owning her value. I expect that her rates are high and that she does not take insurance. I am waiting for her to take a step up and own her value, telling me precisely what it is and doing so without guilt.
Not Valuing Yourself
Valerie has been in business for 20 years and recently became a coaching client because for the first time her business is struggling financially. She owns a design company and is well-respected in the industry. It was important to start with an understanding of the finances of her company. I soon discovered that Valerie did not value herself as the owner as she had not paid herself for sometime. As an intuitive I saw that this comes more from a concept in her space than with a financial reality. Being self-sacrificing was a value that she held without realizing it. Paying herself more than the rest of her staff made her uncomfortable. She is more comfortable giving then big salaries and not receiving any for herself. This is hurting her and her business.
Energy Level of Value
Our concepts about our value get in the way of our success. To change these concepts means getting out of our comfort zone, having a fair sense of our value and finding a way to own that in our business or our profession. Everyone is intuitive and pick up on us whether they do so consciously or not. How often do we give off the energy that lowers our value? People react and respond to what they feel from us. So what energy do you give off about your value? Take the time to meditate on your value. Know it. See it. Feel it. Value is not about demanding a lot of pay. It is an energy level that results in owning being valued and compensated. We know our value but have trouble being paid for that at a high level.
Gender Bias
When Meg Whitman took over HP the board for the first time in its history decided to lower the pay package for their CEOs. She took it and I was furious! The previous male CEO received a more generous offer and just received an enormous severance package when they let him go.
Do we hold gender bias and under value women ourselves? Do we pay our male staff more than our female staff? Do we expect to pay women we contract with less and do so because we can? What actions are we taking to increase our own value and supporting the value of other women?
Take the time to reflect (meditate) on the steps you want to take to raise your value not just in your mind but also in your ability to receive financially. Take the time to reflect on what you can do to raise the value of women you hire. Do our actions and decisions support women being paid less? It is time for a change. Be part of it.