When Arian Simone gives you advice, you listen. I mean, she is co-founder and CEO of the first venture capital fund focused on supporting businesses owned by Black women.
Through the Fearless Fund her team has raised millions of dollars to show love to Black women who own businesses throughout the country, mentored and empowered thousands and Simone is just a down-to-earth woman who is making a difference in the world.
So, when she looked me dead in the face during a recent interview and said, “Sis, you are not leveraging your power,” I knew to shut up and listen.
She was right. At that moment, I realized that I often just shrug my shoulders and say forget. I simply just let go and do the work no matter how long or hard of a journey it is even though I know the investment should be there.
I was telling Simone (stay tuned for more of her story) about a recent incident where a potential sponsor backed out on me because they didn’t want to do two Black projects.
She told me to go to the top and let them know who the heck I am.
As a woman, especially as a Black woman, I am told ‘no’ more than people would know. I don’t complain about it. I simply move forward and handle my business. I often undervalue or lowball my work and I don’t get the investment or money that it’s really worth.
Why do I shrug my shoulders?
I really don’t know. The move could be laced with fear, the inconveniences of always having to damn near do a dance to prove myself even though the work is there, or maybe I’m just tired.
Whatever the reason, I still need to grab a bullhorn and let people know that even if they don’t want to support or invest in my worth, I know my value.
“Just as easy as you ask for $125,000, you can ask for a million,” Simone boldly said during our interview. And again, she is right. When you really think about it, if someone says ‘no’, I’m just back where I started. But I should definitely let them know what they are missing out on.
Know your worth!
I don’t care what it is. Even if you are not cashing in on something you should know what it’s worth.
Book author, attorney and business coach, Rachel Rodgers talks about value and worth in her book, We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide To Earning More, Building Wealth, And Gaining Economic Power. Rogers gives an example of what the average salary is for house managers (stay-at-home moms or dads would fall in this category full-time but most of us probably manage households). Hell, depending on where you are that’s a six-figure salary!
The more you know about the real value of your skillset and time the better prepared you are to get what you are worth from business, friends and family. Don’t think this is just about your professional life. Your personal contributions are worth something and the payoff might not be in revenue. Instead, family and friends will be more appreciative and grateful for the things you do.
The average salary for a chef is $50,000 a year in the US. So, all those meals you make for the family are worth something outside of just a grocery bill. Private tutors make about $25 per hour and chauffeurs can easily make $40,000 annually. Even helping your children with homework or playing taxi to get them to and from events is worth something.
I did the math just for my personal life and if I got paid for the love I give, I would be ballin.
These are just things that some of us do daily and never really think about their true value because we are doing it for the people we love. But something as simple as making sure you know you’re worth in daily tasks can ensure you keep up with your value and keep you from feeling guilty when you need self-care (I am very guilty of this.).
As for work, things look a little different. Knowing the value of my skills and products better helps me negotiate sponsorships, grant requests, and advertising sales.
As a single mother of two teenagers, I own media that focuses on underserved and marginalized communities including a local news outlet and this newsletter. I also serve as executive director and founder of a youth journalism program base in a Flint, Mich. community center and I do a ton of speaking engagements. With that said, those platforms are valuable, my audience is valuable and I need to price things right to sustain and reinvest in the community instead of working to pay bills or simply making ends meet.
Don’t be like the old me. Don’t put limits on yourself because of fear of rejection. Whatever you are doing, make sure you know your value and worth. I don’t care how you find out. Call a mentor, do a Google search, or hire a consultant but I need you to stop cheating yourself!
