Do You Value Your Business?

When I think of a business, my mind doesn't go to a brick and mortar.

One, you don't need a brick and mortar to own a business.

Two, when I think of a business, I think of a person. A person who has the vision and skill to bring value to whatever their area of expertise is.

YOU are your business. Valuing your business is all about how much you value YOU.

People who say "brand yourself" are referring to you, because YOU are your brand. I think people often separate the person from the business because the old adage "its business, not personal" makes people assume that they can't take anything regarding their business to heart.

But I beg to differ. My business is my heart. I wrote the vision, created it, birthed it and I do whatever it takes to make sure it is alive so the world can see what I have to offer. When you learn to value yourself, your business value automatically changes.

Never allow  a client or even yourself to question what you bring to the table by altering your prices. Because the value of your business doesn't just drop. The value you've placed on how much you have to offer does as well.

A few years ago, when I wore the freelance publicist hat, I had a client. I agreed to do work for three months for free so he could see what I could do (and yes, there was a contract in place). When the fourth month came up and I mentioned payment, he started talking about how he would need to see results first.

For my PR pros out there, we know how much we HATE to hear that word. Working in public relations is hard enough without having a client feel like they shouldn't pay you just because they don't get any placement (I learned then and there why people have retainers paid up front).

You bring the value and set the bar for how people will treat you by starting off on the right foot with your business. Know your industry, know your consumer and know who YOU are. Simple as that. In a nut shell, know your worth. That's not just a saying for ladies trying to figure out which guys they shouldn't date.

Have you learned to  value your business? As a business owner, has there ever been a time where you questioned your worth?

Comment below or shoot me an email (myad@writetouchconsulting.com) with your thoughts. I'd love to hear from you.