I recently had a discovery call with a potential client. The person wanted to buy my time to do a specific thing and asked about my hourly rate. I told her my hourly rate and she said “that’s a lot“. And I replied “and I’m worth every penny.“
I ultimately decided that this was not a person that I wanted as a client and I advised alternatives for them, wished them well and ended the call. I walked away feeling good about the call because I knew I had made the right decision and I also had been paid for my time so it did not feel like it a waste of time even though ultimately it was not a conversion from potential client to client.
My discovery calls are no longer free. I Instituted a fee for the 20 minute calls two months ago when I realized that there were many people using them as a free “pick her brain” session.
I use my discovery calls for a very specific purpose: to evaluate a potential clients issue and “Discover” whether I think I can solve it and whether I think we are good match.
It is not a “Ask the AntiHR, HR lady” session, it is not a “pick my brain session”. I share free HR tips via this Blog, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
My followers often make comments on my platforms or ask questions about specific issues that l often adopt into a blog post or chats for future tips. All of which is provided for free.
But if you want to Face Time with me to talk about a specific HR issue you have to pay for my time.
I am very very good at what I do and My time is valuable and Time is money.
It’s called boundaries. 😊
Charging a discovery call fee is one of the best decisions I have ever made for my business.
It immediately weeded out people who were never interested in my services in the first place but just wanted to use my brain for free.
Unfortunately as a Black woman this experience is not new. People try to use our brains for free all of the time. But now that I work for myself I am committed to not allowing that to happen anymore.
As a result of instituting the Discovery call fee, I have consistently converted more potential clients into actual clients In the last two months than I have in the last year of my business from a percentage rate.
While I have a lot less discovery calls volume wise the quality of the conversations has improve significantly. Potential clients are more prepared and tuned in. I will also add that I have not had a single no-show for a discovery call since I instituted the fee.
Why? I think it’s because when people pay for something it Immediately becomes more valuable.
Instituting the fee was honestly a boundary setting exercise for me. I was beginning to resent them because so many people were Using them inappropriately. I often advise and counsel my clients and even my social media audience about the importance of boundaries so I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t set some of my own😊
I love what I do because I am helping people to reclaim their freedom, to stand up for themselves, and release themselves from managers and Employers that are abusing them disrespecting them and discriminating against them.
I have fallen back in love with my HR consulting business because now when I talk to people I know that they are contacting me because they are serious about solving their workplace issue and potentially working with me.
Why? Because they are willing to make a small investment upfront. An investment that they receive as a rebate when they engage me for 1 : 1 consulting services.
I make no apologies for the business decision that I made and I’m very glad that I made it. I’m very grateful to my business coach Jacquelyn Omotalade and another Friend (Who I will allow to remain anonymous) who provided advice and confirmation that my business decision was sound.
Being an entrepreneur, self-employed and a small business owner is not for the weak of heart.
Being a salaried employee was definitely safer financially but it was a soul breaking business.
Working in corporate white majority work environments in the United States almost broke my soul.
Negotiating my way out and relocating abroad was an act and declaration of independence and freedom.
And I’m never going back to the gaslighting, Microaggressions hostility, toxicity And engrained white supremacy and privilege that permeates every American workspace.
Being self-employed or “unemployable” as I call it allows me to get up each day and decide what kind of day I’m going to have, who I’m going to talk to and what I’m going to do without the input of anyone else.
It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it.
Now I commit myself to Helping as many people, especially Black women, make the escape that I did with the 💰💰 To have the options to choose a different life if that is what they want.
So if you are stuck in a work environment that no longer serves you, I want you to know that you can choose how you exit.
If you believe you are being subjected to discrimination at work, Book a Discovery Call and Grab Access to my Online Course,
Learn the strategies & techniques I teach my clients that has resulted in many of them leaving discriminatory hostile jobs with💰💰💰
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is important to consult with legal professionals for guidance on specific legal matters.
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And remember:
HR is not your enemy but they are definitely not your friend
I am.
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