EDIT
ORIA L FEAT URE
Know Your Value
I
By Aimee Woodall
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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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. SBT
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 aimee@theblacksheepagency.
com, or visit the website at www.theblacksheepagency.com.
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