By Aimee Woodall
I couldn’t make this up if I wanted to! Last night, I was out for a run in my neighborhood. Trucking along, deep in thought, when a guy on a bike rides by and screams out at me, “Recognize your value!” It was late—after dark—and no one else was around. And for the next three miles, I wondered whether it really happened. It was abrupt and, admittedly, a little jarring.
Maybe it was a sign.
Maybe it was my imagination.
Maybe it was Jim Carrey, rehearsing for Bruce Almighty II.
But whatever it was, the timing was right and it got me thinking about value; mine, yours, and ours as business owners, as clients, and as individuals. This encounter made me realize we need to reconnect with our value.
Here are three things to keep in mind when thinking about your merit as an entrepreneur:
- Assess Your Worth
One of the toughest things for a small business owner to decide, whether they sell widgets or consult on widget-making, is how to set their prices. There are formulas, there are “tricks,” “tips,” and “best practices.” There are workshops and gurus.
But that doesn’t translate into knowing what you’re worth and pricing your products and services accordingly. It’s a leap of faith to set a price for your business because it feels like a direct reflection of your inner value. Sometimes it is. When you’re selling consultations based on your expertise, it is a measure of your expertise, your knowledge and your time. It’s scary to price those services, but it doesn’t have to be.
Do your research, know what makes sense for your market and move forward boldly with your price based on what you’re worth and based on what you really have to offer.
- Know What Makes You Special
You’re one of a kind. You have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and talent that no one else has which makes you special. Know your superpower and flaunt the heck out of it so that your clients (and more importantly, you) know where your value lies. Your special sauce won’t look like everyone else’s and that’s a good thing.
Find what makes you special, show it off, and know that what makes you unique sets you apart in a crowded market.
- Stick To Your Guns
Sometimes people just aren’t picking up what you’re putting down. Most times that’s not about you; it’s about them. So turn down the noise and turn up the confidence. When you get pushback on your prices or when you hear that someone wants you to do this project “for exposure”, brush your shoulders off and walk tall with the knowledge that you are doing it right.
And, if you ever need a reminder about what you’re worth, I might suggest taking a run. Even if a guy on a bike doesn’t deliver the message, it’ll give you the time you need to reflect, reset, and reconnect to your value.
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Aimee Woodall is the owner of the Black Sheep Agency, a Houston-based strategic branding shop specializing in cause-driven marketing, public relations, social media, and community outreach. You can contact Amy by phone at 832-971-7725, by email at [email protected], or visit the website at www.theblacksheepagency.com.
