Your Price Isn’t You

You’re putting together a quote for a new project.
You’ve added up the labor, the materials, and the hidden costs that always creep in.
You’ve built in a line for profit so you can do your best work, not just survive.

And then, just before hitting send, the doubt creeps in.

That’s a lot of money.
Can I really charge this?
What if they say no?
What if they think I’m greedy?
What if I’m not worth that much?

I’ve been there. Still go there sometimes.
Pricing can feel personal. But it’s not.

Your price isn’t you.
It’s not a reflection of your worth as a person.
It’s just a number.

A number that allows you to show up fully, to do your best work, and to deliver something you're proud of.

If you're pricing it the right way, that number would be the same no matter who the client is.
It’s the number it takes for you to do the job right.

If a client can’t afford that number, that doesn’t mean your price is too high.
It means their budget doesn’t align with the work.

That’s not personal either.
It doesn’t make the client a bad person any more than it means you overpriced your work.

It’s just a number.

When you blur the line between your identity and your price, everything gets muddled.
You second-guess.
You feel guilt.
You lower your number to feel safe or liked.
And in the process, you undercut your work, your energy, your ability to serve.

So the next time you’re tempted to reduce your price just to be agreeable, remind yourself:

Your price is not a personality trait.
It’s not a moral statement.
It’s not a character flaw.
It’s a number.

And if it’s the number you need to do great work, then it’s the right number.