I work on a sliding scale. That means that if a person can’t swing the price that I quote you, and you still have the strong desire to learn from me, I will work with your budget accordingly.
Usually I allow the family or the individual to choose how much the information I can provide means to them, and they choose the best price that they can afford to pay. It seemed like a fair compromise, but now I’m not so sure.
I don’t feel the need to share that with everyone usually, because if you can afford the initial price I’m asking, and agree to it, then it’s a fair and even exchange. I feel like it’s a strong indicator of how much you value the service, and how much you’re willing to invest in it, and yourself.
Personally I feel like the price I initially ask for is well under what I’m worth to begin with for the amount of energy, experience, and focus I invest. The price I charge currently is what I was paying 20 years ago with my old teacher. She would incrementally increase the price yearly. I’ve never done that with anyone. I’ve noticed a pattern with myself that I have had a hard time standing up for what I’m worth.
Work, when it’s so personal, and so much a part of your individual creativity, is hard to put a price on. And to get people to see the value in what you do is also subjective.
You can be the best teacher, say and follow through with all the right things to garner true, real, stunningly amazing results. You can be the kindest, the most supportive and thoughtful person but you can’t necessarily get others to see it, and value it.
It’s also not my goal to keep students forever. I tell them that all the time. I’m not trying to milk them for money, or make them think that they can only do it with me helping them get there. My goal to get them stable on their own feet in the practice, so that they can see the value of the effort that we co-created together, in themselves.
I don’t have as many students anymore as I once did. Time has passed, and people value different things to invest in. And I understand that. What I don’t understand is some individual’s need to be cruel as they go.
One student I had just left for college abroad. I noticed that it was the first time I actually felt good about the parting of ways. She was honest and respectful. She appreciated my efforts as a teacher, and was mindful about how she left. I appreciated that. It makes the parting of ways so much easier. Paving your way with love always does that.
So, as I look for my next step forward, I will take it all into consideration. I will be mindful of my worth, knowing that I don’t need to give myself away; because my time and energy are valuable and important to me. And I can be kind and appreciative of those who work hard with me to create something deeper within themselves.
Not everyone will understand and be thankful for the efforts that I make no matter what I do for them, but I can be. I can feel secure in the fact that I will always make a conscious effort to navigate my life with that loving mindset. Now, to figure out how to make consistent money doing it. 😉
