Hello ladies. #DAY 1: Where am I pricing out of fear?
The easy answer is this: Yesterday I accepted a brand partnership. It is my first client on this new venture and they extended my contract from 3 months which I have just completed to a 6 month contract which will be my second partnership with them. They offered me slightly more as a base rate and created more lenient targets for bonuses that I can reach. I didn't even negotiate. I thought, they already know that they are my first client and that I must look after them well and perhaps charge my next clients what I feel I deserve, while using my current client as a reference for what I can do. Yes, I did it out of fear of losing them and appearing like I am not grateful. The more difficult response is: I have always been like this... I feel bad for being center of attention and asking for more. I feel like I have been undercharging for every aspect of my life metaphorically, including friendships, family and relationships as well as work. Please help me rewire my brain/ mind to accept that I should be valued. Thank you.
Joanna, thank you for naming this so honestly.
It takes courage to see that the instinct to “be grateful and not risk the relationship” may have been shaping your pricing.
One gentle insight here: what often looks like undercharging is really a system that learned to preserve connection over self-expression.
You’re already becoming aware of the pattern, and that’s the beginning of change.
I look forward to unpacking this further together!