#SocialMediaRant: Bills Bills Bills! (a lesson in personal & professional value)

Life

Feb 22

As you all know, my current goal is focusing on and welcoming financial abundance.

Dudes, ever since I got my car back ALL I have been listening to is Jay Z.

Picture it: Little white girl rollin up in a midnight blue beetle convertible, tan top, tinted windows blasting ... and I mean BLASSSTINNNNGGG Jay Z.

Money, cash, hoes, WHAT!

Money, cash, hoes ... COME ON!!!

To assist in the visualization/ manifestation of extreme abundance I am imagining myself as this badass male rapper that rocks bottles, models, and some iceeeeee.

Just received this from @LuluLemon. Is it strange that my first impulse was to find a class of 1st graders post a finger painting class and ask for a hug? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP THIS CLEAN!?!?It's so hard getting over that "hump" of wanting to just do what you love and understanding the value of it. Back in 2009/2010 I would have spent HOURS just talking to ANYONE about the state of social media, what they could do to create some awareness in the space ... etc. Then in 2011, I stopped bartering social media for couch surfing. That choice added a degree of responsibility since I had to make sure rent was paid each month. My time then had more value.

Sure, I still took on smaller companies that didn't have a lot of money to spend in social media (because again, this is my passion so I GENUINELY wanted to help educate people on the value) but all that I discovered was it ended up being SO much more stressful. I'd accept PEANUTS for a job only to do more work, and deal with chasing invoices and practically HUNTING people down to get paid.

By the end of last year though, I finally hit a breaking point. I need to work smarter, I thought, not harder. Hence this new visualization of abundance.

Just because something is your passion and you'd talk about it anyway does NOT mean you should EVER work for free. We all have bills to pay, mouths to feed, dates to pay for ... etc. YES, I do believe EVERYONE should pay their dues, hone their craft, and stay SUPER hungry - but there are certain bottom lines and quality of living that I feel like a lot of my friends (and myself obviously) sacrifice it all for.

"I just want to do what I love doing and yeah they can't pay now but if I help them promote it I might get a rev share!!!" I hear over and over and over.

If you're a programmer, SEO, or security dude, you're pretty much guaranteed X amount financially. If people don't like your rate, rad! as long as it's within a standard market price you'll both end up moving on and work is still there. When it comes to new media marketing though, it's SUCH a different playing field. People are more willing to ask you to budge on your rate because it's creative and they can't psychologically quantify the amount of work that goes into it. BITCH PLEASE!!!! Do you have ANY idea how much time it takes to even come up with digital strategy??

I have to not only meet with the team to identify needs and understand exactly what is looking to be addressed in the first place, but then I have to jump on my bed in my spirithood for at LEAST two hours to spark that creative tickle.

I kid, but kinda not. I do some weird things creatively to get to "that place."

It's not easy running your own business and going out on your own but it took ME to understand the value of my own time and to finally be able to say "no" to these people that didn't have money to cover whatever it was that I was trying to execute for them.

In doing that though, I discovered there are ABSOLUTE parallels between self worth and willingness to accept less than you are worth business wise.

Why should you go out there and find something else when XYZ is presented in front of you?! All you have to do is take a 50% pay cut, but you're cool with that because you never matter in the first place!!

That's basically what you are saying to yourself and it is COMPLETE crap. You're selling yourself too short!!

This visualization of abundance isn't about being capitalistic, or wanting money just to buy more things that I don't want or need ... it is about me, Jen, the 28 year old that is still finding her voice and understanding what she has to offer the world outside of the digital space.

It's WORTH!!!!!!!!!!!!! In a tangible and intangible manner!!!

What do I have to offer men dating wise? What am I bringing to the table as a partner? What is my "rate"? Do I know what I am offering? Is it in line with what I am seeking for in a mate?

Also, what do I have to offer to sponsors? What am I bringing to the table as a contractor? What is my "rate"? Do I know what I am offering for them regarding publicity generated? Am I cultivating my own community at the same rate?

It's crazy, and awesome having just had the detox and doing this extreme lesson in self care while simultaneously watching financial abundance come into my life.

I'm angsty for the first time in three years that I have SO much going on versus having to worry about where I was going to sleep, if I was still going to be eating spaghetti for the 1,000th meal in a row, or if rent was going to be paid on time.

This is YOUR mission though should YOU choose to accept. No one is going to hand this part to you. You have to first, understand your OWN value and then articulate it in not only a personal but professional regard. Are your current invoices matching what you think you are worth? If not, looks like it's time for some self care baby!!!! Stop starving nerderinos!!!!