How Much?

I can’t quite believe that I am almost at the end of my 2^nd month of running a business!

The days have flown by and I feel pretty chuffed with how they have gone……. I have even been paid (PHEW!)

One of the hardest challenges I have faced so far is knowing my worth.

When I started, I had a clear figure in my mind and that was it.  I would charge that regardless of who I was quoting for, a completely new business, or work through ex colleagues etc.

But, within a couple of days I had already broken my one rule.  I was wobbling on what my time was worth and muttering to myself ‘well they only need this so…’ or ‘I don’t want to lose the work so I can just about afford to it for..’ Suddenly, I was shy, embarrassed to say how much it would cost (Not a side of myself I had seen before).   

Luckily, the husband isn’t quite so, mmm…. ‘Soft’ when it comes to matters of money and he said;

‘What do you think your time is worth?’ and ‘If you think you’re are only worth X you will only ever be paid that’.

These words have had me thinking and viewing every quote in a different way.

Whenever, I have been in a position of being offered a job I have never been shy of negotiating the salary or benefits so why would I be now? Am I somehow worth less now?

The answer is no. Then I started to think about this scenario in a personal sense. If we allow people to undermine, bully and hurt us – are they therefore devaluing us?

Am I worth less than them?

‘When you accept less than you’re worth, that’s what people are going to keep offering you’

Now I can’t put a figure on what my feelings are worth to everyone I know but I know one thing for sure.  I don’t want to wait until I am in my 40’s or 50’s to be comfortable in my own skin, knowing who I am and what I am worth.  I want it to start today at 30 something and enjoy life with my nearest and dearest who value my ability to drink copious amounts of wine, to cook a nice dinner, to offer a shoulder to cry on or my ear to listen as they unload their concerns.

So, every day, I will be reminding myself of a quality/ skill or trait of mine to take into the day ahead.

Today I choose my ability to drink wine – Who’s with me??

x

Flexible

I am no contortionist but I have always tried to be flexible in my working life, start early if needed, stay late if the current ‘urgent’ task required me to.

Over the last 17 years I have done this almost without blinking, that was until I had IC and then I began to ask for my employer to be flexible.  One was a rigid as a wooden ruler (I left) and one was more like a bendy shatterproof ruler and happy for me to work at home, leave early take IC to the doctors etc. and in return they got more from me.  More dedication, more commitment and ultimately more respect.

So here I am like so many trying to balance motherhood, a career and attempting to be a good wife (I fail here a little too often… Sorry Hubby!) and I have realised that being flexible in the hours I work to suit my family has a fantastic impact on my productivity.

My thoughts on this are why are so many of us still chained to our desks Monday – Friday 9-5 (or whatever your core 37.5 hours a week are)?

Why do employers insist that their staff sit in god awful traffic for an hour in the morning and an hour on the way home or battle with overcrowded public transport?

Are we all at our most productive at these times?  Or is it historical bull sh*t, that the majority are too scared to change?

For me I am at my best from 7-10 and 2-6 so that is how I balance my day. I take breaks, I enjoy a coffee or 5 and I have a lunch break.

So come on businesses, join the revolution give your staff more freedom to work when they are more productive and haven’t gained yet grey hairs thanks to the daily commute and in return, I can almost guarantee that you will have a happier, more dedicated and flexible team to help your business to grow.