“I would do this even if I didn’t get paid for it.”
I cannot tell you how many times I hear some version of that from entrepreneurs.
And I get, I do. I’m here because I love doing mindset work with my world-changing clients. ✨
But here’s a “fun” memory from learning a hard lesson:
I was hired some years ago to sing on a background vocal session for an artist. Hence, I assumed I was singing “background” vocals. (Go figure.)
Instead, I realized when I showed up at the studio the “artist” would be listening to ME sing THEIR lead vocal from the engineering booth and would be slapping their photo on the recording and calling MY voice THEIRS and lip syncing to the recording in concerts. 🎶
…so that was fascinating.
Look, this wasn’t a big artist and I needed the money. So, I sang. I mean, I “love” singing. 🎤
This was back when written checks were a thing, and this was the first time I was presented with “the check will be in the mail tomorrow.”
Three weeks later after basically harassing the artist half to death, I got the check.
And it bounced. 😫
When I emailed the artist, the response I got back went a little something like this:
“Belinda, what we do is a ministry. We do this for the Love and we are servants. I find it very offensive that all you can focus on is your payment and not all the good this record will do in the world.”
…so that was…er…fascinating? 😉
Guess what I also learned?
THE LABORER IS WORTHY OF HER HIRE. (…check the Bible if you don’t believe the Book of Belinda.) 📖
I love it, but I don’t work for free. ❌
And this laborer got paid PLUS the bank charges for the bad checks (yes, checks PLURAL.)
Beautiful, I know you’re not doing this because you hate it. That would be absurd. But I’m telling you straight up that not owning your value and not believing in your worth is doing a holy disservice to you and what you’re putting into the world.
Modeling your worth empowers others to embody theirs.
If you’re having trouble towing the line with your pricing, schedule a free call with me and let’s get to the bottom of it.