Are you underpaid for your services?
How much are you getting paid for the work you are doing?
Are you stretching your dollar thin? The paycheck-to-paycheck phenomenon is exacerbated during the holiday season. We spend a lot of money during this season which eventually leads to a financial wake-up call. Couple these high expenses with the reality of a recession-may leave us all financially breathless.
According to Zippia.com entrepreneurs make $70,849 per year on average, or $34.06 per hour, in the United States. Entrepreneurs on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $42,000 a year, while the top 10% make $118,000. Location impacts how much an entrepreneur can expect to make. Entrepreneurs make the most in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Michigan.
And for those that are gainfully employed the median salary in the United States is $70, 784. The median necessary living wage across the entire US is $67,690. The state with the lowest annual living wage is Mississippi, with $58,321. The state with the highest living wage is Hawaii, with $136,437. Other expensive states (unsurprisingly) included New York and California, which have notoriously high costs of living and expensive housing markets.
This is a question as old as time. The more we work, the more we do, and the more we realize that our income is not working for us anymore. Most recently, I took a road trip, and filling my gas tank was over $77 a pop. I thought to myself, how can someone making $34.06 per hour justify a weekend away?
If you are an entrepreneur-how can you make more money? This is a position many entrepreneurs find themselves in. Many entrepreneurs and creatives find themselves giving away their services for free or for under-market value. I understand the struggle. For so many years I was driven by a mission of helping people. This resulted in the cost of burnout and questioning my business plan. While I am adamant about serving those with limited resources, I had to consider the welfare of my mental health and my family's needs.
I remember the days when I first started my entrepreneurial venture. I was driven to give as much of myself as I could. I was determined to be a good role model for my kids and help as many people as I could. I was the epitome of an altruistic business plan. I had a vision, yet, I did not have the financial savvy to build and scale a thriving business. (I kept telling myself, I am making a difference--this was my excuse)
Clients who clamored for free help started knocking at my door. I had one client after another pitching the reasons they could not invest in themselves.
This pulled at my heartstrings.
One quiet afternoon, my husband asked to have a conversation. Russ, my husband of 15 years, sat down in my office and asked me the question, "Are you making any money"?
Gulp. Gasp. Reality hit.
I gasped and covered up this inquiry with a half-smile. "What do you mean hun"?
My husband has been in business for himself for over 20 years. He has weathered volatility and immense financial upset. Yet, every year he boasts a healthy profit. At that moment I realized that I was leading with my heart and not embracing the role of a businesswoman. From that moment on, I recognized the duality of being a heart-centered entrepreneur. I had the power to help, and I have the power to make a substantial income. My head was now in the game.
With one fell swoop, the support of a mentor, and a new lease on entrepreneur life, I became the badass businesswoman I was destined to be. Let me preface my tips by saying it is your duty as a professional or entrepreneur to give back and support your community. It is your duty to leave this earth a better place than you found it. Yet, you do not need to sacrifice your need to give for your destiny to thrive.
A pattern I notice is that when people do not invest in themselves, they do not do the work. You are doing a disservice by offering your skillset for free. It is tempting to give away everything, however, it accomplishes little.
Understand your value. What skills do you offer that no one else does? Position yourself as an expert in your industry. Be boastful and share how you do things better than anyone else. Do not be cocky. Access your confidence and share this vision with potential clients and customers. Your services, products, or skillset is worth something. Be consistent with your price.
The art of negotiation. Never approach a deal or a contract with a fixed mindset. Often your counterpart will begin with a lowball offer. Understand your pricing boundaries and do not waiver. If a potential client or customer walks away, understand that this is not an ideal transaction.
Do the research. It is essential you understand your competition. Do a SWOT analysis. This is the gold standard in auditing your potential. SWOT stands for STRENGTHS, OPPORTUNITY, WEAKNESS, and THREATS. Grab a piece of paper and take time to reflect on what you offer your potential and your deficits.
Take massive action. When you have clarity on your position, your brand recognition, and your capabilities put on your creative cap and start singing your praises everywhere possible. Take the time to care for your brand and build solid relationships in different places.
If you are ready to think about how you do money better and build a business or income-make a commitment to yourself. This is where the power is. Take back your power today.
--You got this, Jules
If you are looking to understand how to manage your money and are looking to increase your financial literacy--meet my bestie, Keri Dattilo, who is changing our relationships with money.
Building a thriving business and building a life that is worry-free is a hard ask. It starts with ourselves. Before you get overwhelmed reach out to mentors like Keri, Or simply use Google as a tool to understand how you want to proceed with your financial life. I love up leveling the lives of professionals and had the opportunity to meet one of the most prolific leaders in business expansion, Dan Martell. Dan Martell changed the way I look at my business. He helped me to understand the power of investing in ourselves and paying for help. I immediately changed my business plan and began to invest in the power of people who support my vision. Listen to my interview with Dan Martell here! ⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇