Guest Post by Kate Northrup (author bio is available at the end of the article):
The key to financial success for women in business is knowing what we’re worth. Money is just a stand in for what we value. As humans we made up money to trade value for value.
We start businesses to make money, at least in part. So, if we want to make more money, and I’ve yet to meet a business owner who doesn’t, we have to offer more value. But offering more value AND getting paid well for it requires that we know how valuable we are.
No one will value you more than you value yourself. No one will value your business more than you value it. So how do we, as women in business, wire in our worth so that we’ll earn accordingly?
Here are three totally doable ways to increase the degree to which you value yourself so that you’ll be more highly valued in the marketplace:
1. Go back in time.
When did you totally rock in the past? Did you give the most incredible valedictorian speech at your high school graduation? Was the pie you baked last 4th of July the talk of the cookout? Do your friends always thank you for being an incredible listener? List all the things people thank you for and the moments when you really shined in the past. They don’t have to be related to your career. How you do anything is how you do everything. Next time you’re about to increase your rates, negotiate a deal, or ask for a raise, go back over this list to reminder yourself how awesome you are.
2. Create a praise file.
When you receive thank you notes, comments of gratitude on your blog, or loving emails from customers, family, or friends, save them. I have a file in my Gmail called “Keepers” for more personal praise and I also have one called “Testimonials” for praise related to business. Keep the files updated and anytime you’re feeling less than awesome, refer to it to remind yourself of how much you add value to peoples’ lives.
3. Notice your value every day.
Our culture doesn’t teach us to celebrate ourselves very much, but when it comes to valuing ourselves, we have to focus on it in order for it to grow. During the day, begin to notice things that you value about yourself and the ways you add value to other peoples’ lives. Before bed, write down 3 of these items in a journal. Make them specific and unique each day. You don’t have to boast about it, but making a practice of noticing your value every day will increase your self worth and your ability to charge what you’re worth in business.
If you want to make more money in your business, you have to add more value. And in order to add more value and actually get paid in exchange for it, you have to value what you’ve got to offer. And that starts with YOU. Use these three simple strategies every day and enjoy reaping the rewards.
About the Author
Kate Northrup is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller in finance, Money, A Love Story
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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