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Aligning Your Business With Purpose & Passion
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Do Not Quit. You Are Closer Than You Think
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Many business owners out there struggle with feeling guilty about charging what they’re worth. More than likely, you know the feeling of having to put a price on your service, art, and time, or skill. Wanting to charge what you’re worth but fear that others won’t see the value behind what you do.
The struggle between wanting to build a strong business with an income you can live on and deserve, doing what you love while at the same time wanting to give your clients everything they want for next to nothing because you love what you do.
Here’s what makes it hard: Most likely, you got started pursuing your passions not because of the money but because you love what you do. The truth is that many business owners out there are valuing their client’s feelings over their own business goals.
If you calculate how much you need to charge to reach your income goals, that number you might end up coming up with might very likely be out of someone’s budget. It might even be out of many people’s budget. That number might be higher than you feel comfortable with at the moment, and the idea of someone paying those higher prices for your services might be terrifying for you.
The goal of this post isn’t here to tell you that you need to raise your prices; raising prices is easy. It’s something I had to learn with my own business, and something I hope to pass on to others who might be struggling with charging what they are worth.
I WANT YOU TO REALIZE ONE THING;
YOU ARE WORTH
EVERY PENNY.
Stop being scared of charging what you are worth and calculate your numbers like a business. You put so much heart into your business so when you sit there calculating how much you need to charge, use your head and a calculator. Put your heart aside just for a little while, so the numbers behind getting your business to become sustainable long term are in your future.
Stop overthinking pricing and putting other people’s feelings above what you are worth.
I can promise you this; by Charging what you are worth you will;
COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO CAN NOT AFFORD THOSE PRICES.
And that is ok! What someone else can afford doesn’t have anything to do with your worth. You might even find people who think you are worth every single penny, but you still won’t fall into their budget. Accept that not everyone will be able to book with you.
YOU WILL COME ACROSS PEOPLE WHO SAVE UP TO FINALLY INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS
Because the investment is worth it to them. Working with people who believe you are worth it is one of the best feelings you’ll have as a small business owner.
YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE WHO THINK YOU ARE CRAZY FOR CHARGING THOSE PRICES.
You might even make a few jaws hit the ground. Be proud of your pricing!
YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE COMPARE YOU TO OTHERS BASED ON PRICES ALONE.
And you’ll have no problem wishing them good luck if they would rather work with someone else simply because they have lower prices because you know deep inside that there’s a reason they reached out to you. That they contacted you because they see the quality in what you offer.
YOU WILL START TO MANAGE YOUR TIME BETTER.
You’ll quickly see what things waste your time and the things that are worth pursuing. Knowing how to manage your time correctly will also help others not take advantage of that good heart you have. I get that when you pursue the thing you are most passionate about, it’s hard to make that a business. To separate wanting to do it all the time for free, for everyone. And finally, turn it into a business where you are spending valuable time doing something you love while also bringing an in income that you can depend on and deserve.
The beautiful thing about charging what you’re worth and shifting your mindset to realize that you are worth it is that you’ll instantly see your business transform and find those dream clients and customers more often.
When you work with people who don’t question your worth and genuinely understand the amount of work you put into your craft, it validates what you knew all along;
YOU ARE WORTH IT.
It’s time to stop feeling guilty about charging what you’re worth.
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Since the new website launch, I’ve had a few people ask why I decided to go with a Showit Website. Over any of the other options out there. Before I dive into why, I’ll start with what I was using prior, and the reason it was no longer the right fit for my business.
Since the very beginning, I’ve have used Shopify as my website platform. As an e-commerce shop, Shopify was always the best option. But over the years of growing my business, it became more difficult to build a space that really showcased everything I had to offer.
For years now, I’ve been making Shopify work, and for years I’ve felt held back as a creative. I’ve had to piece together apps in hopes of creating a space online I loved. Only to become frustrated with it a site that wasn’t a true reflection of my style and vision.
I KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE
Fast forward to this year. I knew it was time to make a big change. I knew I would still keep Shopify for the shop side of Modern Market, but wanted to find the right kind of platform that would make it easier for me to style and customize my site. After months of research and comparing different platforms I decided that Showit would be the best fit.
At the time, I was incredibly nervous about moving everything over. Especially since I had just invested over ten years into building my business on one platform. I knew that in order to grow with my business, I needed more. Now that the switch has been made to Showit Website. I couldn’t be happier.
The number one reason I was so drawn to Showit was the company TONIC, which creates the most incredible pre-made Showit Website Themes you’ll find online. After they launched their Paper Plane theme, I instantly knew it would be the perfect theme for me. It’s exactly what I had in mind for Modern Market. It’s literally like they knew what I wanted and needed and designed a site that was made just for me.
They have so many beautiful themes to choose from, which you can see HERE. If you see something you love, you can even use the code MODERNMARKET to get yourself 15% off!
Below I’ll share the top reasons I decided to go with Showit Website.
BEAUTIFUL DESIGN + FUNCTIONALITY
As I said above, the top reason I ended up going with Showit was because of the design company Tonic. Their website designs are so much more than just a pretty-looking site design. Now don’t get me wrong, of course, I wanted my site to look beautiful. BUT as a business, I needed something that helped me put my best foot forward. As a creative entrepreneur, I needed something to make it easy to showcase everything I have to offer. If you’re looking for incredibly beautiful + functional themes, look no further. I bet you’ll find your dream theme over at TONIC.
SHOPIFY INTEGRATION
Next on my list was that I needed something that would easily allow me to integrate within my Shopify store. This is where I host ALL my digital products, and it was an absolute MUST on my list. To my surprise, Showit makes this super easy. I love that I can have my main site. Which is finally 100% designed the way I want, while still selling through Shopify. I’ve been creating specially designed pages for each of my preset collections. This way I can really showcase the collections available. I’m so happy with how it all looks.
EXAMPLE:
My favorite part? I can finally show off those pretty before and afters!
EASY TO CUSTOMIZE
One of the main things I was concerned about was being able to actually customize the site and make it look the way I want. Have you ever bought something and then just get so frustrated with trying to use it? Yeah, you won’t feel this way using a TONIC Theme + Showit platform. Within two days of getting started with my theme, I was getting the hang of it. I have to say, the whole process was incredibly fun.
If you’re worried about making the switch over to Showit, and worried about not being techy enough to actually figure out how to do it, I highly recommend using a TONIC theme . Pretty much everything is ready to go and all you have to do is customize it to your liking. Showit support is also top-notch. The few times I couldn’t figure something out, they were super quick to jump in and help.
THE OPTION TO CREATE MORE PAGES
For those who have been following my business over the years, know Modern Market has A LOT to offer. Like a lot, a lot.
- We have beautiful presets.
- Launched over 700 digital products.
- Membership for social media captions.
- Software to help entrepreneurs manage their clients and business.
With offering so many different kinds of products and services, I needed something that would make it easy for me to design and create custom pages. This way, I could create an unlimited amount of special pages while still keeping everything on ONE site.
Before switching over to Showit, the second someone wanted to view our Social Media Captions Membership, they would get bounced off our main site onto another. That style-wise didn’t really match. And then if they wanted to learn more about our software. Again they would get bumped off our main site and to a new one.
Since moving to Showit, I can finally create pages specifically for different products and services. No matter where someone goes on our site, they will get the same style.
The biggest takeaway from making the switch over to Showit and using a Tonic theme is that I finally feel like the website I have, is a reflection of my style, dreams, and vision.
I couldn’t be more in love with this beautiful site we created with TONIC & Showit!
QUICK LINKS
Tonic Site Shop offers beautiful, customizable website designs for entrepreneurs & creatives.
Paper Plane is the theme designed by Tonic that I used for our website. (Mixed with a few Greyhound Elements)
Showit is a drag-and-drop website platform that provides total creative freedom over the layout and design of your website, all without a single line of code.
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We’re celebrating because the new Showit website site is officially LIVE!
The process of bringing this new vision to life has been so rewarding. It’s been amazing to see everything come together so beautifully.
It’s been years of piecing together different things to get it at least a little bit how I wanted, and it feels incredible to finally have a website that is the 100% what I’ve always dreamt of having. A place for all my ideas, dreams, and resources.
I spent months researching different platforms and decided to go with Showit Website. With Showit, I am using a theme from TONIC. I was completely blown away by how easy and enjoyable the whole process was. I’m working on a few articles and can’t wait to write more about the actual process of switching over and using a TONIC Theme for my new website for Modern Market. I’ll be sure to link those articles below when they are ready!
WHY YOUR WEBSITE MATTERS
Too often, we underestimate how important websites truly are. How they can completely change our outlook on what’s possible within the dreams, we pursue in life. It’s so much more than a website. It’s the place I get to share all the things I’m passionate in one place. While making an impact around the world.
So happy to finally share this new site with all of you. I’ll be writing a few articles on the process of switching over to a Showit.
This new launch has also allowed me to shift with my business. For those of you who have been with me from the very start know I got started as a portrait photographer who specialized in documenting motherhood. Later on, Modern Market was the place I shared the resources I used to grow my creative business. Over time it’s turned more and more into a community.
A community that I’m so honored to serve.
A NEW DIRECTION
Over the last year, I’ve done a lot of soul searching on the direction I wanted to go and knew I wanted to open the doors to more ways to serve. For years now I’ve found myself emerging in helping entrepreneurs with growing their business. I knew in my heart I wanted to continue building on to this community by including not just photographers, but all creative entrepreneurs.
My hope with this Modern Market is to continue to serve as best as I can, with the strategies and tools I’ve used to build my business from the ground up. A place I get to share my dreams, and goals while helping you with yours.
For a long time, I felt like the website platform I had was holding me back from growing my business. Now, with my new site, I truly feel like I’m no longer being held back. Instead, I feel more inspired to create than ever before.
SOMETIMES ALL WE NEED IS A FRESH START
This whole process served as a reminder that sometimes the things holding us back from building our dream business could be something as simple as our website. We put so much effort into so many aspects of our business. The marketing, the sales, social media, and all too often, our website is set up and left behind as we continue to grow throughout the years.
If your website isn’t currently living up to what you would consider your dream site, then maybe it’s time to make it happen and create a space that truly inspires you.
Today, I’m celebrating not just a new website design but celebrating all there is to come for all of us.
If you have questions about building a Showit website, just leave a comment below! I’d be happy to answer them.
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A personal letter to anyone thinking about quitting.
In the last week, I have had more people contact me who are thinking about quitting and throwing in the towel than ever before. People I have known for quite a while and some that were complete strangers. I’m not sure why in the last week, there have been so many people out there thinking about giving up, but it made me want to write a message for anyone who is currently thinking about quitting.
This is for you.
I want you to realize that you have not come this far, to only come this far. You have spent so much time, heart, and hard work creating something for yourself. Don’t you dare think about quitting. Realize one thing; you could be one day away from succeeding. That’s the thing with making your dreams a reality, you have no idea how close you are to it until you make it, and you could miss that entire opportunity by throwing in the towel and walking away forever.
We live in a world where people prepare a plan for failure rather than focusing more on making their dreams a reality. Stop spending time thinking about failing and how you can continue after not making it and start focusing on not quitting. Focus on making something work and push forward. Re-train your mind to focus on continuing to work even when it’s hard. When you get tired, learn to take a break instead of quitting.
I want you to realize is that making your dreams happen is supposed to be hard. It’s supposed to test you over and over again. When you pour your heart into something and don’t see it happen the way you want, it’s hard. That’s how it’s supposed to be. This is where grit comes in. You have to keep going even when you don’t see any change at all. You have to have a special kind of vision in your head to continue something that doesn’t work over and over again until one day, it works. Believe in your dream, your vision, and keep going.
Many people are scared of failure; the idea of not making it happen is often enough to get them to quit. The idea of putting so much time, energy, and effort into something they love and have it not be guaranteed can be paralyzing. But here’s the thing, if you learn to change your focus, you’ll realize that the only possible way to fail is by quitting, then the solution is pretty simple; Don’t Quit.
Learn to work for yourself. No one in this world will hand you your dreams. No one will put the hard work into making it happen for you. No one will stay up all night working on your dream. If you really want it, you have to work for yourself. If you believe in yourself, your work ethic, your drive, then nothing can stop you.
Never put a time limit on reaching your goals and dreams. You know how crazy it sounds to me when someone tells me they have been working on their business for three full years and are thinking about throwing in the towel? You are working on a dream that will be something you can enjoy the rest of your life. And you’re willing to set a time limit on making it happen and are disappointed in not yet achieving it in a few years? I wish I would have documented the days where no one knew who I was and the days I worked on something day in and day out while not one person noticed. Those days say more about who I am than today. Those days have built me into someone who does not quit, someone who can work for themselves and push forward until they make it and figure it out. And you can do the same, as long as you don’t quit.
If you are on the path of turning your dreams into a reality, then I’m willing to bet you have people in your life that don’t support what you do or don’t believe it’s even possible. It could be a complete stranger or your closest friend. It could be someone from the online world that’s never met you or family that’s known you your whole entire life. Regardless of who it is, it’s difficult to hear and feel. Put those people aside and focus on proving them wrong. I have something about me, I’ve had it my whole life, and that is this; I have always been able to pull the motivation from people telling me I can’t do something and show them that I can.
Tell me I can’t, and I will.
Learn to use the doubters as motivators and make your dream a reality.
Raise your standards and surround yourself with those who inspire you. The ones who know what it’s like to dedicate themselves to pursuing their dreams and thinking bigger than the rest. Stop feeling guilty for wanting more out of life than the typical person and pursue your dreams with everything you have.
Realize you have the same 24 hours in the day as everyone else, and it’s 100% up to you what you do with them. Every day it’s your choice to sit back and let those hours pass you by or get to work. Success never happens overnight. Success is determined by how you spend every single hour, day in and day out.
When you’re thinking about quitting, think about why you started and focus on envisioning the day you can look back to this day and realize that pushing past the hard day was the best decision ever. It will happen, but it can only happen if you’re not willing to quit. Anything is possible if you’re ready to put in the hard work and never quit.
Do not give up. You are closer than you think.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I'm Elena, your
new
CEO friend.
Multi-passionate, CEO of multiple companies, mama of four, obsessed with all things business and marketing, ready to help you attract your ideal client and customer. My goal is to give you the strategies and tools to grow your business so you can save time, get real results and focus on what matters most.
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You might know me as the CEO behind Modern Market & Wordsmith, but more than anything, I love sharing my process, resources, and knowledge with those who want to learn more.