A few weeks ago, I was invited to speak at a church for their morning service. The church was about an hour and a half from home, so I had to think about gas mileage as part of the adventure. I sought some advice from Lynne {who speaks often} about how to handle things like costs and honorariums when arranging speaking engagements.
She said this to me: Bottom line: you have to figure out how much you're worth for something like this, set a price, and don't be afraid to stick with it.
Yeah.
That's the face I made too. How much I'm worth? I have no idea! How can I say {to a church, of all things} that I "charge" this much money to come and share? Especially when I consider the mere invitation an honor and a trust?
For me, the money isn't the issue. For me, the issue is the hard swallow over realizing I really do have to sit down and determine "what I'm worth" for speaking engagements. Lynne explained to me that when I speak, I'm spending time in prayer, study, and research to even write my talk, and then there's the writing and the reading/learning/rehearsing of the thing...the time out of my day/night/regular life/marriage to travel to the event and present the material. She said I shouldn't feel bad charging for my time, my heart, and my words, because it's what I have to offer.
So why do I?
Why do I feel like it's easier to say to churches and organizations...Oh, you can just pay me whatever you think is fair...instead of confidently standing up and saying, Thanks so much for the invitation! Here's my charge for an evening of speaking...
HUGE gulp.
So...I decided the best starting place in figuring out how much I should charge is to back up and do a little research. Here are a few of my findings.
* Found this blog post by Rosetta, who is an established speaker, and one thing she talked about was her personal mission statement. {She talked about times she speaks for free or for a greatly reduced cost - and she's willing to do it because the event fits in with her mission statement.} I'm not gonna lie. I am not a fan of mission statements. I think they are wildly overdone and somewhat a waste of time, but in this case, I have to wonder...if I were to sit down and make a statement, it might teach me something about what I feel I'm worth and what I have to offer.
* Found this blog post by Chris, who talks a lot about creating a bio kit so people get to know you and what you have to offer. And you know what? If you know what you have to offer someone else, you might just learn a little bit about your worth.
* I loved this one by Dan - because in my bigger-picture project I've got going on here of actually figuring out what I want/need to charge when I'm invited to speak, it helps me know important things to factor in that might make mores sense on a situation-to-situation basis.
* And I loved this one by Sheila, from a Christian speaker's perspective...because it addresses how to make these kinds of decisions through the lens of prayer and the Spirit's guidance.
So...all that said...here's the assignment I am giving myself for the coming week.
Sit down and work on a mission statement for why I speak {and write} - and create a bio that forces me to look at who I am and what I have to offer. And then...using those things, create "the charge" - and be confident with the number I land on.
You might not be a speaker. You might not need this assignment to actually hand out - but you do have something to offer. Have you ever thought about what you're worth for what you offer? Make your own list - for what you'd say in a job interview - or any other setting that applies to you.
Seriously.
Try it with me?
10 comments:
Bekah God blessed you with a God given talent. You are very good at using His and your talent. I say any money that you can make using His talent is great. AS LONG AS, this money is used in a Godly way. Yes, the mortgage, food, gas can be a Godly way of spending. It's part of surviving and spreading His word. So I guess my rambling is just saying I feel you can charge for His/your mission and His/your talent as long as the return is for Him/you. Oh by the way you are very good at what you do. You are worth it.
Shawn - THANK YOU. :) Big smile. Question....do you find my Hobby Lobby addiction a good way to use the money? (I'm kidding!! I mean mostly.)
I have a different view about money. I think God gives us a lot of freedom with the choices we make and one of those is in the area of money. I think from the example of Ananias and Sapphira we see that they had complete freedom to give or not give and to choose how much. I do not think someone who benefits from doing something considered religious is under obligation to pour that money back into the Church. Where would that leave a pastor or missionary? If we view that as an obligation then where is the choice? If it is an obligation then it is not a gift. God does not need our money but he wants our hearts. He wants us following Him not from obligation but from love. Money is really only one way to give and most likely the easiest way. To give of ourselves and our time is much more a sacrifice. I think we should all be good stewards of our money but that does not mean we do not spend it at times on things that don't have much significance to eternity. I know I waste a certain amount of money but I do not think that makes me a poor steward of money.
I always struggle with what to charge people for things I make for them. Especially as I'm trying to get more of a sewing "business" started...thinking of the cost of materials, time spent sewing, quality of work, etc. I feel like I'd rather UNDER charge so that someone buys what I've made (and I don't have a million things I've made sitting around my house, unpurchased), than to OVER charge and have people think, "Who does she think she is??" Haha. But really...I love crafting and creating, so the time I spend doing it is FUN to me, but it still ought to be worth something!
It is one of my desires to encourage and speak one day, especially to help women. That is about as far as I've gotten with my desire though. I do have an etsy shop where I sell some of my art creations and your blog post touched a cord in me regarding it too. It can be stressful figuring out how much to charge for what you've created. I think sitting down and writing a mission's statement and taking more time to write a bio would help me too.
Thank you Bekah for being real with us and for sharing your struggles and heart with us.
Lee Ann
Oh thank you so much for this Bekah and for also passing Lynn's words along too! I have an at home cake business and I always struggle with this same sort of thing and have often lost money from an order just because I felt bad charging someone for my work. Thanks for the encouragement!!!
Mark - I agree that the money doesn't have to be put back into the church (tithe aside) - but my main concern is being sure I'm a good steward of the time and talents God has given me by not selling myself short!!
Jenna - Your stuff is amazing and I think you should NOT feel bad about charging for it! But I totally get what you're saying because I would struggle with the same thing!! Your time IS worth something!
LEE ANN!!! I looked at your picture and said to Ryan, "I think I know her!!" So then I had to go look you up and what a joy to find you! My description of you to Ryan was that "I always felt better after I talked to her." So your encouragement IS contagious and I'm so excited to hear from you again! And your art is beautiful. :)
Tia - You are welcome! I never thought about it in relation to home businesses but many of you have them and I can see how the same challenge would apply!!! People pay for cakes, sister, so don't you undercharge! (A true cake lover will pay!)
Bekah.....yup. I have 2 cents. Think of your speaking engagements as part of your job/duties/calling. You wouldn't tell the radio station just pay me whatever right? I feel my job is my calling. I'm a nurse because I truly feel God led me to be. I didn't start out here. Went to school for something totally different. But I know one thing, I wouldn't do this for free. This is time away from my husband, children and I give ALL of myself to my patients. Money isn't everything but I have bills to pay. If you give your all to something, time, your heart and soul, Gods love to others, don't you think you deserve something in return? (Here's a hint, the answer is yes.). :-). Molly
Thank you for posting about this Bekah. We all have situations in life where we are asked to evaluate our "financial worth." For me, I care for other people's children once in awhile and they are always asking "What do I owe you?" I think, because I see part of what I do as supporting my friends and community, and therefor as doing it for God too, I don't charge very much.
While I think Shawn has a point, I also think that as Christians we already (usually) take that into account when figuring out "our worth."
And also I think your friend Lynn is right too -- don't underestimate the amount of energy you put into preparing for an event, outside of the event itself.
Molly - I appreciate the hint because you know sometimes I have trouble with answers!! :) What did you start out going to school for?
Natasha - I think there's a very fine line between being conscious of when you need to charge less for something because of the ministry component and when you need to stand firm on something because it's important to be savvy. Enter the Holy Spirit to guide!!! :) Thankful for Him!
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