What are you worth?
December 1, 2008
This chick is smart. I will ignore the fact that her book is perfectly pitched for women in their late twenties, because it worked for me. Maybe by the time you're my age, you're supposed to know what you're worth, and be paid what you're worth. I'm still working on it. Nicole Williams' book is EARN WHAT YOU'RE WORTH. I picked it up the other day because, well, yes, I'm struggling with the concept. Part of the issue is the dark side -- it's hard to know what you're worth when -- starting when you are four-and-a-half-- you learn that you are a sex object for men. I've mostly unwoven that spider web by now, but there are a few deep, residual doubts.
"What do you do? What are your rates?" I am asked. I don't really know. I do everything. It's all play to me. I love interviewing authors, writing articles, podcasting, media training, doing voiceovers and on-camera work. A photographer friend of mine scolded me not too long ago, saying I should charge everyone the same rates, except for maybe non-profits versus corporations. A recent project I took on -- that took me out of circulation for my other jobs -- paid one-fourth of what the market would bear. He groaned. I couldn't say no to the excitement. He groaned again. But you know what -- somehow I always seem to make enough to keep going. You know what else? It would be really nice to buy equipment for my studio or a leather purse and not look at the price tag, knowing I have the cash. Ooh! that's a goal!
So I consider maybe Nicole's EARN WHAT YOU'RE WORTH will help. One thing I love about her book -- she does not wave fear around like a weapon. She is all abundance. Ah, I feel better already.
She points out that whether we're entrepreneurs or employees, we own ourselves and our careers. "Opportunity is limited only by what you're willing to invest in and of yourself."
And Williams makes you -- yes, she exposes the fact that she never does the exercises "later" and so we must do hers now. This one is life-changing, or at the very least, comforting.
List everything you can think of under these categories: Education (more than your BS in Journalism, how about that screenwriting class), Unique Experiences (going to Barcelona to do a podcast and being kissed by a sea lion while swimming), Talents (it's okay to put dance along with interviewing), Skills (marketing, typing, connecting with the perfect people at the right time), and Health (well, there's dance again -- every day!) After I did that list, I added in what I learned from her chapter on Intangibles -- compassion, integrity, inspirational -- and was inspired to write a cover letter for a position I really, really, really want. I hadn't admitted it to myself, but that job is perfect. And then I see Nicole's quote -- hey, I love quotes.
This one is by Napoleon Bonaparte: "Leaders are dealers in hope."
Just simmer in that juice for awhile.
This chick is smart. I will ignore the fact that her book is perfectly pitched for women in their late twenties, because it worked for me. Maybe by the time you're my age, you're supposed to know what you're worth, and be paid what you're worth. I'm still working on it. Nicole Williams' book is EARN WHAT YOU'RE WORTH. I picked it up the other day because, well, yes, I'm struggling with the concept. Part of the issue is the dark side -- it's hard to know what you're worth when -- starting when you are four-and-a-half-- you learn that you are a sex object for men. I've mostly unwoven that spider web by now, but there are a few deep, residual doubts.
"What do you do? What are your rates?" I am asked. I don't really know. I do everything. It's all play to me. I love interviewing authors, writing articles, podcasting, media training, doing voiceovers and on-camera work. A photographer friend of mine scolded me not too long ago, saying I should charge everyone the same rates, except for maybe non-profits versus corporations. A recent project I took on -- that took me out of circulation for my other jobs -- paid one-fourth of what the market would bear. He groaned. I couldn't say no to the excitement. He groaned again. But you know what -- somehow I always seem to make enough to keep going. You know what else? It would be really nice to buy equipment for my studio or a leather purse and not look at the price tag, knowing I have the cash. Ooh! that's a goal!
So I consider maybe Nicole's EARN WHAT YOU'RE WORTH will help. One thing I love about her book -- she does not wave fear around like a weapon. She is all abundance. Ah, I feel better already.
She points out that whether we're entrepreneurs or employees, we own ourselves and our careers. "Opportunity is limited only by what you're willing to invest in and of yourself."
And Williams makes you -- yes, she exposes the fact that she never does the exercises "later" and so we must do hers now. This one is life-changing, or at the very least, comforting.
List everything you can think of under these categories: Education (more than your BS in Journalism, how about that screenwriting class), Unique Experiences (going to Barcelona to do a podcast and being kissed by a sea lion while swimming), Talents (it's okay to put dance along with interviewing), Skills (marketing, typing, connecting with the perfect people at the right time), and Health (well, there's dance again -- every day!) After I did that list, I added in what I learned from her chapter on Intangibles -- compassion, integrity, inspirational -- and was inspired to write a cover letter for a position I really, really, really want. I hadn't admitted it to myself, but that job is perfect. And then I see Nicole's quote -- hey, I love quotes.
This one is by Napoleon Bonaparte: "Leaders are dealers in hope."
Just simmer in that juice for awhile.
Labels: book review., EARN WHAT YOU'RE WORTH, Nicole Williams, setting rates, transcending the trauma, Wildly sophisticated
posted by Diana Page Jordan @ 11:31 PM
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