The Savvy Entrepreneur

This is the fourth and final installment in the Doing Your Best series.

When I think of the expression “sell yourself short” a humorous mental picture comes up. I see a 6-foot tall person on display for sale, with a price tag (for some reason, it’s always a toe tag). The regular price is crossed out in red marker, replaced by a discounted price (you know, the price you would pay for a 5-foot tall person)!!

In business (and in life), isn’t that what “selling yourself short” really means? I see it all the time, and I’ve been guilty of doing it myself.

The most obvious way of selling yourself short is by lowering your fee. You KNOW your service is worth $X (and your competition is charging the same or higher), but you decide to charge only $Y for whatever reason. (I’ll discuss in a later post why certain entrepreneurs — typically new or women entrepreneurs — tend to lower their fees).

Apart from pricing your services accordingly, I’ve come up with 5 other ways for you NOT to sell yourself short:

• Believe in yourself. Attitude goes a long way in your journey. Be positive. Avoid negative self-talk. Take a compliment; accept it for what it is and say ‘thanks’. Believe (don’t just say) that you deserve to be successful. Emphasize your strengths instead of excusing your weaknesses.
• Show off a little. Don’t just say you’re the best, show how you’re the best. Have you helped a client accomplish something great or overcome an immense challenge? Tell others, and be specific. Proudly display testimonials. If done unpretentiously and in good taste, you won’t come off as cocky — you’ll inspire confidence.
• Take risks. Get out of your comfort zone by trying something new, taking a chance, doing something different. This will especially help when you feel like nothing is working or when you feel like you’ve lost some momentum. You’ll increases your chances of uncovering opportunities that may not have previously been available. You’ll discover or develop new strengths, skills and abilities. Best of all, you’ll be proud for having taken the leap!
• Dream big. Set SMART goals, write it down, share it with someone. Stretch yourself a little (see the above point). Set a reward for reaching a particular difficult goal.
• Stick to your core values. Don’t say ‘yes’ when you really want to say no. Define the things you’ll never compromise on (fee, type of client, place of work, family time, environment, people you frequent, trust, honesty, respect, etc…). Follow your gut instincts.

In the long run, by avoiding the trap of selling yourself short, you’ll come out a winner. By doing this every day, you will be at the top of your game and feel like you’re doing the absolutely best you can in your unique situation.

And if what I’ve discussed hasn’t yet convinced you, ask yourself “What does my toe tag say?“

I hope you’ve enjoyed the series and I look forward to reading more of your comments.

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