This week’s question comes from Kimberly who asks:

“Hi Valerie,

 

Thanks you for your articles, I really enjoy them!

 

I have a question I’ve wondered about for some time and hope you can shed some light on this concern. I am a health coach and love what I do yet I spend way too much time “working in my business” and have not had much time to work “on it” and therefore it is growing very slowly. I’ve read many books on the subject and know I need to do a few things differently, mainly raise my prices and hire some help so I am not always working. I am resistant to raising my prices as many people I work with barely can afford me now. Any ideas on how I can get over my resistance?”

 

Thanks for your question, Kimberly!

 

Your awareness about your resistance is the first step in moving through this so you can have a business you continue to love-one that is lucrative and gives you time for other things. If you continue to work too much as you mention you may get to a point where you no longer love it.

 

First off I would suggest you hire that help now. You want to be working in your “zone of genius” and although you didn’t say it directly you may be wearing too many hats in your business and that does not give you time to focus on what will bring in the revenue. If necessary, you may incur some business debt to do this, yet in the long run it is well worth it. What jobs are you doing now that take time or that you are not great at? Start with at least one and find someone to do that for you. You can google search specific categories. Another option is to ask colleagues and friends for referrals.

 

Lastly, your resistance to raising your prices is costing you. Explore what your real fear is here. You may be settling for people who are not your ideal clients because you are making an agreement with “lack” yourself. When you offer something of value to your clients and support them in their goals you deserve to be paid well-period. You say you know you need to raise your prices so you must be aware that they are too low. Ask yourself, what is my motivation here? When you devalue yourself by taking less than ideal clients, or charging lower fees, you are in fact saying, “I don’t deserve more.” Contrast this with saying and believing that you have a valuable product/service that can help others and that you deserve a good income.

 

Make a decision to raise your prices. The truth is, if you don’t find enough value in what you have to offer and charge for it, others won’t see the value either. Set your prices based on your financial goals rather than what you believe people can afford. By doing this you begin to value yourself and begin to attract your ideal clients who will value you and pay your asking price.

 

Believing in You!

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P.S.  If you would like more support in applying these principles, give us a call.  In between our speaking and coaching engagements, we carve out a few individualized sessions each month. Schedule your appointment here.