When is giving too much - enough?

I don't know about you, but as a serviced-based entrepreneur, I constantly wonder if I'm giving enough, or if my offerings are "fair" to my clients and prospects. As such, I've had a hard time feeling like what I'm offering is "worthwhile" for the amount of time and energy I spend on it.

When I was a baby business owner, I constantly undercut myself by offering the best deals and discounts - because I was afraid that nobody would buy otherwise. But projects always have hiccups, and often take longer than we plan for them to. So while I was justifying my low, low rates, I'd constantly give and give more and more, because I'm not one to "just plug it into a template" and leave it at that. I always go above and beyond to custom-build each website, and give my clients a truly personalized experience.

As a result, I constantly felt like I was being cheated... like I was spending way more time and energy than what I was being paid for. This has been a consistent cycle for me, even after 2 years in business.

I've worked to combat this cycle in a few ways:

1. I've grown very confident in my skills, and no longer feel imposter syndrome for charging what I do.
2. I raise my prices every 8 months or so.

But the cycle has not ended, and every few months I find myself spiraling out again, into the abyss of feeling like I'm "working for free."

See, as a purpose-driven service provider, giving my time feels good - it feels like giving back to the community for the success I've experienced. BUT - and here's the big catch - it doesn't feel good when bills come due and I find I've put out a lot more than what I've brought in. Basically, giving all my time doesn't pay the bills!

And yes, raising my prices and offering less discounts does weed out some clients. Thing is, I want to work with people who have big visions and who also value my time and skills. I've worked long and hard to develop my method and the backbones of what I do, and the clients who are aligned with me will recognize that.

As hard as it is to draw boundaries and say no sometimes, it is a skill I need to practice more. Not all clients are going to fit my needs, nor will I fit theirs. It's a game of synchronicity, and of numbers. When it comes down to it, the more people you put yourself in front of, the higher chance there is that you'll resonate with each other - and that's when the magic happens ???

But in order to get in front of them and make them resonate with you, you do have to give some of your time/skill/energy.

So how do you know when you're giving too much?

Easy, you feel it! If you start to feel like you're burning out, like everything is becoming a chore, when it isn't fun anymore, when your bank account is running on empty or you're barely scraping by... that's when you know.

If you have an in-demand skill, you're an expert at what you do, and you're getting your message out to resonate with your ideal clients, then there is no reason you should feel any of those things. So if you are, then you're giving too much.

Maybe it's time to take on less. Here are some things to consider that will help you lighten the load:

• Is there any part of the process that you can automate that isn't already?
• Can you batch content more on your "off" days so you have somewhere to pull from when you're feeling overburdened?
• Can you outsource any of the process? (If you can't afford to hire a team member, maybe you can come to a work-trade agreement, or bring on an intern?)
• Are you maybe taking on too many projects at once?
• Can you raise your prices so you can afford to "work less" for the same amount of incoming revenue?
• Are you allowing your clients to cut corners or offering extras where you shouldn't be?

I know it's easier said than done. For my part, I never want my clients to feel like they're not getting their money's worth, or like I'm trying to cheat them, but at the same time, the money I bring in has to feel worth it for me, too. Cutting corners for your clients doesn't pay the bills, and in the end, you'll feel cheated, too.

The energy you put out is what you'll receive.

Another part of the equation that often gets ignored is that if the energy you're putting out as a business owner is "GIVE, GIVE, GIVE," "FREE, FREE, FREE," then that's what you'll get back in return...

The clients and prospects you'll attract are the ones who are expecting you to give them discounts and to cut corners for them. And in my experience, they are also the most demanding of your time. They may often walk away displeased, regardless of the "deal" they got and feeling like they wasted their money anyway.

So in the long run, it's better for you and them if you put your foot down, say no, and walk away, hard as that can be sometimes.

As a purpose-driven business owner, I want to say "yes" to everything and everyone, because I want to help and serve everyone. But as a solopreneur, I also have to know my limits, and set healthy boundaries.

When it comes down to it, working with you should be a win-win for everyone involved... including you!

Need support with brainstorming around how much to give in your business? Book a free 30-minute gameplan call with me & we'll go over effective strategies for using your time wisely! ??

Much Love & Light to you! ??

~Beckett