Did You Offer A Discount…Again?

I MUST BE MYSELF. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. If you can love me for what I am, we shall be happier. If you cannot, I will still seek to deserve that you should. I will not hide my tastes or aversions.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson,Self-Reliance

How long I lived a life not being myself. Or being ashamed of who I was because I was not loved for who I was. And I tried to be that person my first husband would love, but no matter who I shifted into, it was simply never enough. Or it was TOO much. I was too everything. Looking back, of all the things he said to me as we ended our 19 year marriage, it was this,I want to be with someone less powerful than you.

Me? Powerful? Never saw myself as powerful until my ex-husband told me that my powerfulness was something he could no longer live with.

I remember talking to my Aunt about this and she kindly reminded me that I come from a line of powerful women. All I have to do is spend a day with my Aunt and 3 of my cousins to realize that we are cut from that same powerful Scottish cloth.

And it helps to know that in God’s eyes, I am fearfully and powerfully made. That during my first marriage I lived a lie because I was not living up to the potential of my birth right.

When the love of my life and I re-met after 25 years, he told me, as we were staring at each other across the table at Dennys,you are the same bold girl I knew in high school. I knew as soon as he said that that I would never have to change who I am to be with him. That I don’t have to break myself for himor for anyone for that matter! And because my husband, my soul-mate loves me for me, we truly are happier because the feeling is mutual. I love him for him -there’s nothing I want changed. He is fearfully and powerfully made and I appreciate and honor his God given qualities.

It is our God given right to be loved for who and what we are. For we are each born with the Divine inside of us.

Are you breaking yourself for someone else? Are you with someone who wants you to change your tastes, your ways, your aversions? If you are, I invite you to Pause and ask yourself if you are worthy of being loved just as you are.

Did You Offer A Discount…Again?19553Did You Offer A Discount…Again?Oops, you did it again didn’t you? You discounted your products and services. bet you feel like crap right now and are really angry with yourself because you are not getting paid the amount of money you want, need or deserve. Am I right am I?

I can even imagine how this happened. You were having a conversation with a perspective client and they began hemming and hawing about the price and so you immediately jumped into discounting mode and then oops, you did it again.

You know what discounting represents? It represents that big pink elephant in the room called DOUBT! And you know what else? It tells me that instead of being focused on the results of your product or service you are focused on features and that is the wrong thing to be focused on my friends.

Your fee is a representation of your inner worth. When you doubt your fees you doubt yourself and your value. You are negotiating with yourself. Your internal conversation probably sounds something like this: If I don’t discount my services I won’t get this client or possibly you sayI am afraid they will think I am charging too much for my service orI don’t think they will be able to see the value of what I offer if my price is so high. The list is endless.

Behind the self talk is the reality that we doubt ourselves and do not truly values ourselves enough to charge what we are worth. Somehow the money becomes more important.

A good friend told me of a recent conversation with a client. At each point in the sales transaction this person had repeatedly and repeatedly demanded a discount. It was becoming and endless cycle of my friend providing outstanding service, client showing up, demanding a discount and getting one, and another and another. She even reported to me that she had taken a loss on some of the transactions.

Does this sound familiar?

Here is what needs to happen for you to STOP discounting and start valuing yourself!

When you are able to see the value of what you offer and the results that you create as being more important than the money that you charge you will never discount again. And it will get easier and easier for you to charge more money for your services because you are confident in the result your clients will get from working with you.

Is there ever a time where discounting is a good idea? I don’t think so. Instead create packages that are filled with valuable incentives and extras that your clients will really love. Just make sure that these extras don’t mean more of your time.

Not sure how to package, price and promote your services so that they are focused on the right stuff? Contact me to find out how we can work together and in as little as 4 hours have packages developed that will have your clients gladly paying for your services. Give me a call at 978-794-4991 or drop me an email at Maureen@daretobephenomenal.com and I will gladly send you an information packet.

Maureen Campaiola, known by her clients, asthe DARE Coach is President of DARE To Be Phenomenal. As an accomplished business coach, author, speaker and entrepreneur Maureen spends her time in the trenches working on solving the unique problems of women business owners and entrepreneurs. She can always be counted on to deliver smart , innovative solutions to turn a hectic and draining business into a thriving, highly lucrative, smooth running, and fun money making reality. In addition, she is the founder of the wildly successfulSuccess Minded Women’s Business Network where like-minded and highly motivated women connect, support and engage in joint ventures. To learn more about how you can step into your greatness, accelerate your business, AND achieve all the personal and business success you desire visit: www.daretobephenomenal.com or email: maureen@daretobephenomenal.com