Happy Friday everyone! True story .... I asked my client for what I think I am truly worth ... 40% higher rate today!! ????
BACK STORY... I took a sabbatical after 12 years with GE ... for 18 months and started a process improvement training business. In November last year, I had spent all of my 401k savings. I spent my last $2,000 on Marisa Murgatroyd's 8 week EPM and crossed my fingers. Little did I know this would change my life forever!!
A few weeks into EPM I discovered my superpower .. my ikigai .. and decided to change the type of projects I was pursuing from tools based on process and people based. I was approached by a recruiter who loved me so much.. they decided to hire me instead of placing me at a client site.
This was after 6 months of casually interviewing and zero hits. This interview was different .. I now knew my super power and was so passionate and energetic about it they fell in love with my energy. I talked about my super power during the interview and about the process and breakthrough I just had with EPM. With no experience in recruiting or consulting .. I took the assignment knowing that "I Can turn any kinda chaos into greatness." ????
And so I did. I became the Change Management Coach/Consultant for the recruiting firm. I spent my nights over the last 6 months researching and reading and everyday I went in and KICKED ASS! OK .. HERE'S THE FUN PART...
Today, I had lunch with my client engagement manager. I took him to a nice upscale Jamaican restaurant (White American dude .. this doesn't matter except that "Jamaican" is what I am and a Jamaican restaurant is a bit different). I made sure he was really comfortable ????. Here goes ... I told him .. "back in November I doubted myself and underpriced my service (plus the scope of the project has changed, there's a lot more risk involved, the impact and benefit to the company is a lot greater and so on and so forth).
Also, I just realized that I am DARN good at what I do!! The whole time I was thinking about our lesson on premier pricing and charging our worth. He said "what's your long term plan"? I said "I just hired a mentor and coach and in 12 months I plan to launch a full blown coaching practice with many "Jennifer's" all over working with companies like yours.
I also plan to coach executives like yourself on a one to one basis". He said " that's really powerful Jennifer .. so what exactly does this mentor do?" I said ... she is teaching me to get out of my own way and to believe that I am AWESOME! She is also teaching me how to build a professional business" He said "I think you are truly amazing and we couldn't do this project without you! How much would you charge to coach an executive like myself privately?"
I thought to myself "YES!!!" He's said that to me many times before but in this conversation ... I wanted him saying "you're amazing" multiple times. I said .. "Hhhmm I'm thinking $20k and up". I also told him that I have been approached by other executives within his company for coaching but I'm not sure how that would work but my mentor will help me figure it out. ???? He's said "sweet .. let me think about that rate increase". We walked out .. I gave him a hug and said .. "have a fabulous weekend".
Now .. even though my fingers and toes are crossed I am not even nervous. You know why .. I am FREAKIN AWESOME!! can you tell I've been listening to coach Rono?? Note to self ... If I get this .. my stretch goals are met. I'll be able to pay for mentorship several times!!! Stay tuned …