It's a coinky dink to find another creative who side hustles as a bookkeeper...which is was I did for over a decade. Here's what I learned: When I would discount my rate to new businesses/startups, they never appreciated it. Instead of it coming across as it was meant to (helpful generosity), it showed I lowered my worth somehow. So I stopped doing that. I explained that this was my rate, I worked fast and was trustworthy. If they wanted to pay less, they might get less. And while my mother always used money to control, I've always seen it as a form of love and power (power, in the sense of being able to help and maybe change things for someone). Can't wait to listen to the Woo, Sarah. Hope all is well with you. And we need to put something on the calendar. xo
Great read. I toggle the line between generosity & self worth as a coach who was previously a Buddhist monastic. At the monastery I lived off of the generosity of others and saw that it was possible to live in reciprocity beyond transaction. But I’ve found trying to implement a model of reciprocity not rooted in 1:1 logic based capitalistic transaction is risky and can put my nervous system into deep dysregulation which lowers my capacity to be of service. I have to feel into in each context I’m in these days but I appreciate your reflections here.
It's a coinky dink to find another creative who side hustles as a bookkeeper...which is was I did for over a decade. Here's what I learned: When I would discount my rate to new businesses/startups, they never appreciated it. Instead of it coming across as it was meant to (helpful generosity), it showed I lowered my worth somehow. So I stopped doing that. I explained that this was my rate, I worked fast and was trustworthy. If they wanted to pay less, they might get less. And while my mother always used money to control, I've always seen it as a form of love and power (power, in the sense of being able to help and maybe change things for someone). Can't wait to listen to the Woo, Sarah. Hope all is well with you. And we need to put something on the calendar. xo
Great read. I toggle the line between generosity & self worth as a coach who was previously a Buddhist monastic. At the monastery I lived off of the generosity of others and saw that it was possible to live in reciprocity beyond transaction. But I’ve found trying to implement a model of reciprocity not rooted in 1:1 logic based capitalistic transaction is risky and can put my nervous system into deep dysregulation which lowers my capacity to be of service. I have to feel into in each context I’m in these days but I appreciate your reflections here.