The Worth Lie…Ever.
What’s a human life worth? Exactly. It is truly priceless.
So why are we continually trying to get “paid what we are worth”? Every day, I see marketing and coaching programs that suggest getting paid what you are worth is not only possible but imperative.
Here are two that came across my desk today:
How to start getting paid what you’re worth
Tired of not getting paid what you are worth?
If your answer to the first question holds, then getting paid what you are worth is IMPOSSIBLE.
Please stop trying to get paid what you are worth, it will never happen. There is just no way you can ever get paid what you are worth. This approach is seriously flawed. It makes you feel undervalued and implies that if you are not getting paid what you are worth something is wrong. There is nothing wrong, except that you are struggling to achieve the impossible.
What’s the solution?
1) STOP trying to get paid what you are worth. Continually struggling to do so just creates frustration at best and undermines your self worth at worst.
2) Start paying attention to the value you contribute instead of the money you are making.
3) Upgrade your thinking to focus on the value people create for themselves from your product or service as opposed to the value you bring to them.
4) Understand the value you provide or value your customers create is very different from your value as a human being.
One of the many reasons people under-perform is that they are focused on an impossible outcome of getting paid what they are worth, instead of something actually achievable like being exceptional at their chosen endeavor.
I don’t know about you, but the people I want to work with and pay well are not the ones who are doing it for the money and struggling to get paid what they are worth. I want to spend my time and money with people who are striving for mastery and understand that mastery of their chosen profession is the value they bring to the world.
Mattison – You know I agree with you. You said it well when you said, “What you’re worth is priceless, so no one will ever be able to pay you what you’re worth.” Sell your coaching, not yourself. Master your coaching and people will happily pay you plenty.
Wow! What a game changer. Especially the part about it making you feel undervalued and the insinuation that something is WRONG. Just posted this one on my wall and am going to get to work now. Mastering my craft. Not focusing on $. Thanks again Mattison!
Ronda,
Thanks! I’ve been saying this in private for years, but recently it seems like there is a big push to “get paid what you are worth” the better solution is yours, just get great at what you are doing, have fun, create value and ask for the business. Simple 😉
Wise words. Game changing Mattison!
Mattison, you taught me this as part of my coaching with you…it’s made all the difference!! It’s so much easier to create my fee structure based on the value I create for my clients rather than what I’m worth. And it takes all the self judgement out of the equation…what a relief!! If I had to charge what I thought I was worth…some days that would be nothing and some days it would be infinite….and every day it would just be an emotional disaster! Thank you for saving me from the Worth Lie!
An insightful distinction. I agree that striving for mastery is key.
Thanks Rachel, I hope it helps some people upgrade their thinking.
I absolutely agree with this article. One of my personal mottos is, I believe, a corollary to the concept: “It is amazing what you can get done if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.”
Bryce, thanks for the comment. I agree with your corollary. If people are clear about the value they provide, they don’t have to scramble for “credit”. It’s a bit of a paradox really.
Gee, this seems a bit silly and mis-states a valid pricing tool. No one aims to get paid what they’re worth as a person. However, getting paid what you’re worth as a solution-provider to someone who has a problem is a valuable conversation to have with yourself or your advisors.
If you’re able to assist someone who’s struggling to enjoy their life, what’s that worth? If you’re able to provide an end to pain from struggling in a career for which the client not well suited, what’s that worth? If you’re able to help someone improve a long-damaged relationship with a spouse or parent, what’s that worth?
Get the drift? No one who encourages another to ‘get paid what you’re worth’ seeks to put a dollar price on the person; it’s simply a suggestion to have the under-priced party take a look at what they’re contributing from the long-term perspective of the client’s improved situation.