Know Your Worth.

The first time I had an opportunity to speak at a paid event, I was so excited that I began to type an email stating that my fee would be $250.00. However, I paused because I wasn't sure they would pay that, and I really wanted the gig. So I called a friend of mine who had some experience in this area.

When I told him the situation, he said "$1000.00." I said, "but it's going to be less than 10 minutes," and he said "$1000.00." I spent the next 5 minutes explaining to him that he was a celebrity, so he could charge those numbers, but I was "just Fabian." He immediately corrected me by saying two things:

1. His rates start at well over $1000.00.

2. I am NOT "Just Fabian"... I am Fabian, and what I do has value.

Man... I walked away from that conversation thinking two things:

1. My friend really believes in me.
   

2. Ain't no wayyyy this organization will pay me $1000.00

I went back to my laptop and reluctantly sent that email requesting $1000 and spent the next 2 hours with a belly full of butterflies awaiting a response.

When the email came, it said, "we accept your offer, please also provide a list of any props you will need and an estimated budget".... WHAT!!!!!

I almost fell out of my seat. It seemed as if everyone in this situation knew my worth except me.

Since then I have walked away from opportunities that significantly undervalued what I was offering. I will often speak for free, especially to troubled youth, but I'm also learning to walk away when it feels like exploitation. I had to learn to know my worth.

I want you to know your worth too, I want you to be your biggest cheerleader, I want you to believe in yourself more than anyone else believes in you.

Know Your Worth. 

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