I have no illusions that people will stop thinking like this any time soon, but I still want to throw this out there… “expensive” is a relative/subjective term.
Folks say something is “expensive” when what they really mean is “I can’t afford it.”
Just because they can’t pay for something at the moment doesn’t necessarily mean something is expensive or overpriced. It just means they don’t have the money. Not the same thing.
Because something that is “expensive” can actually be a bargain if that something has the potential to improve your life and business or increase your knowledge, growth, income and circumstances beyond its mere cost.
If you are interested in building a well-earning business (and by “well-earning” I mean whatever your financial goals are, whether that is to create wealth or simply to be able to earn enough to live well and support your family comfortably and without struggle), I want to challenge you to rethink your approach when it comes to spending in your business–whether it’s on a product, service, training, supplies, whatever.
If something is worth its salt, it needs to be priced according to its value. You have to honor that. Would you want clients who want you price your service at less than what you’re worth? How smart are those clients who hire someone merely because they were cheap?
The laws of the universe are in play here as well. When you operate out of cheap/poverty/lack mindset, you attract those very same kind of clients to you.
I’m not saying everything has to be “expensive” to be of quality, but it’s the wrong word and thinking to even be focused from.
When it comes to investing in a business product, tool, service, provider, training, etc., find the right quality for you and then do what it takes to get it or make it happen (which may even mean you simply have to save up for it).
Don’t expect that service, provider, training, product, etc., to be “cheap” so that you can get something for nothing. You devalue others when you do that, and you know what they say: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
If you want to be valued in the marketplace, you need to treat, honor and respect others likewise.
Danielle, fantastic post! You explained everything I’ve been wanting to tell potential clients all this time. Most clients also base the fees they are willing to pay according to a provider’s geographical location and don’t take into consideration the high level services they want to hire for. I know this because I’ve been struggling with this for a long time.
Danielle, Points very well taken and I do need to rethink how I spend in my business. I believe if I reconsider the way I think about spending it will help me to better negotiate with clients who don’t want to pay me for what I’m worth. You know, after a while of dealing with obstinate clients, one can become sort of beat down and complacent. Thanks for reminding me to remember my own worth so that I can attract the types of clients I want to work with. This really is a part of the Laws of Attraction – “like attract like”. Thanks Danielle.
You’ve pointed out something very, very important, Becky! The fact that working with crappy, unideal clients is so demoralizing is one of the reasons people like me are CONSTANTLY reminding folks never to take on unideal clients. The cost is just too high to your business and self-esteem as you’ve just testified. I’ve had my own experience with the client from hell. The lessons I learned were valuable, but EXPENSIVE and I still suffer from some lingering negative effects from that experience. It’s just so important to NEVER let lack or desperation for clients/money make your decisions for you in your business. I know that can be difficult, but it’s a longer, more painful, route to success and growing your business that way and it will cost you hugely in the end.
I agree 100% expensive is really all relative. What may be expensive to me may not be expensive to the next person. Definition of EXPENSIVE – 1: involving high cost or sacrifice
2 a : commanding a high price and especially one that is not based on intrinsic worth or is beyond a prospective buyer’s means b : characterized by high prices.
Price is not always indicative of market value, personal value, or actual value. just look at cell phones for example. they don’t cost much to make or ship (approx $8.00 I heard) but I’m sure we have all paid many times more than that for one. but if you didn’t have the money for one with all the bells and whistles then you just got the basic one because it was too expensive or you didn’t see the value in having the highest priced phone.
You may still be able the assist someone if you get to the root of the “expensive” – whether they see the value and can’t afford it or they don’t see the value and therefore thing it is too high of a price. The former you may still be able to work with payment plans or checking back in at a later date. But never cheat yourself. With the latter you should just walk away. They may need to learn their lesson the hard way.
I’m also remembering times when I lowered my regular rates and I ended up in two situations: running around like a chicken with my head cut off over-doing everything and providing lots of extras to impress the person or dragging to do the work realizing how much I was wasting my time. And after working so hard to establish a relationship its almost just as hard to end — especially if you let emotions get in front of business.
Love this post. Have you ever read Get Rich Lucky Bitch by Denise Duffield Thomas? She talks a lot about this kind of thing.
No, haven’t heard of that one. I’ll have to check it out. I have another blog post from a million years ago that talks a lot more about this, but I couldn’t remember what I called it so I couldn’t find it in the archives, lol.