You Deserve to be Paid Well! (was... Intro and advice for newbie)

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone ~ just adding my 2 cents on this topic.

 

Peter, when responding to Serena with regard to charging for

services, you wrote: " I hate charging for my knowledge. " And, " from

my perspective it's not a good business practice. "

 

I understand that this is your perspective Peter, however I see this

message as VERY disempowering. Please know that I'm merely offering

a different perspective here, and mean no offense to you personally.

 

First, let me say that choosing not to charge for your services

might be a good spiritual practice, but it's certainly NOT a

good " business practice " !

 

When I first began my massage practice 20 years ago, I was reluctant

to charge for my services. For me, it had to do with issues

around " receiving " , as giving has always been much easier for me. As

a Hypnotherapist and Holistic Health Practioner, I find that

deservability issues are often at the root of feeling that it's " not

OK " to charge for our work, whether we're consciously aware of it or

not. This belief manifests in many subtle, self-sabotaging ways

which we learn to justify to stay in our comfort zone.

 

With all of the people who are being called to make the healing arts

their life's work, why shouldn't we charge for our services just as

any other professional would?

 

We go to school, spend a lot of money to become experts in our

fields, get certified and licensed and invest in the things we need

to evolve our practices. Are we " suppose " to do this all without a

return on our investment? Being of service is wonderful and I've

certainly given away countless hours of my time, but hey, it doesn't

pay the bills!

 

Another perspective is the importance of the " energy exchange " , of

which money is just one aspect. People get more value from something

if there is an exchange of some kind. I like to barter, but that

doesn't pay the bills either!

 

Throughout the years, I've found that the more I charge for

something, the more value people associate with it and the more

clients I attract. I've experimented with this constantly and it

never fails... if I don't charge enough, I don't attract clients.

People associate a dollar amount with the value they'll receive.

 

And finally, but perhaps most important of all, is to ask what kind

of messages we put out to the Universe when we make money " bad " or

something we shouldn't receive as a good therapist. Hey, we change

people's lives in profoundly positive ways!

 

To any new practioners out there, or seasoned ones still struggling

with receiving money, I encourage you to know that YOU DESERVE to be

paid for your services just like any other professional in any other

field does. And, PAID WELL.

 

Thanks for allowing me to share my perspective,

Michelle

[Guest guest]

No offense taken I assure you, it's wonderful that we have a group here that can

be so open and honest.)

 

Peter King,

V.C.T.C, I.T.E.C, I.C.H.T, S.G.C.C, M.B.S, RMT

Holistic Teacher & Founder Of The Kingswood Reiki Foundation,

http://uk.thekingswoodreikifoundation

NAMASTE, Dedicated and Specialist Therapy music

http://www.mgmusic.ltd.uk/albums/namaste-index.asp

Co Founder of Merry Meet, Distinctive tools of the craft.

http://www.merrymeetonline.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Michelle <michelle

 

Saturday, 1 July, 2006 5:44:24 PM

You Deserve to be Paid Well! (was... Intro and

advice for newbie)

 

 

Hi everyone ~ just adding my 2 cents on this topic.

 

Peter, when responding to Serena with regard to charging for

services, you wrote: " I hate charging for my knowledge. " And, " from

my perspective it's not a good business practice. "

 

I understand that this is your perspective Peter, however I see this

message as VERY disempowering. Please know that I'm merely offering

a different perspective here, and mean no offense to you personally.

 

First, let me say that choosing not to charge for your services

might be a good spiritual practice, but it's certainly NOT a

good " business practice " !

 

When I first began my massage practice 20 years ago, I was reluctant

to charge for my services. For me, it had to do with issues

around " receiving " , as giving has always been much easier for me. As

a Hypnotherapist and Holistic Health Practioner, I find that

deservability issues are often at the root of feeling that it's " not

OK " to charge for our work, whether we're consciously aware of it or

not. This belief manifests in many subtle, self-sabotaging ways

which we learn to justify to stay in our comfort zone.

 

With all of the people who are being called to make the healing arts

their life's work, why shouldn't we charge for our services just as

any other professional would?

 

We go to school, spend a lot of money to become experts in our

fields, get certified and licensed and invest in the things we need

to evolve our practices. Are we " suppose " to do this all without a

return on our investment? Being of service is wonderful and I've

certainly given away countless hours of my time, but hey, it doesn't

pay the bills!

 

Another perspective is the importance of the " energy exchange " , of

which money is just one aspect. People get more value from something

if there is an exchange of some kind. I like to barter, but that

doesn't pay the bills either!

 

Throughout the years, I've found that the more I charge for

something, the more value people associate with it and the more

clients I attract. I've experimented with this constantly and it

never fails... if I don't charge enough, I don't attract clients.

People associate a dollar amount with the value they'll receive.

 

And finally, but perhaps most important of all, is to ask what kind

of messages we put out to the Universe when we make money " bad " or

something we shouldn't receive as a good therapist. Hey, we change

people's lives in profoundly positive ways!

 

To any new practioners out there, or seasoned ones still struggling

with receiving money, I encourage you to know that YOU DESERVE to be

paid for your services just like any other professional in any other

field does. And, PAID WELL.

 

Thanks for allowing me to share my perspective,

Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Can I just add my little bit. I didnt want to charge

for Reiki treatments, but the insurance in Gibraltar

is £400 about USD 700 a year and by law here I have to

be insured. Add to that the price of a portable

massage couch £300 add the price of the courses

another £350 and I am over £1,000 out of pocket, that

is more than a months wages for me in my office job.

I have no choice but to charge. I had originally

planned to have a tin where people could make a

donation if they wished to my favourite charities, but

I need to cover my expenses.

 

Hugs

 

Lizzie

 

 

 

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