Daring to Price Yourself: The Antidote t

Daring to Price Yourself: The Antidote to a "Poor Mindset"

 

A few days ago, I wrote an article about "value" that got great feedback—so today, I want to dive deeper into this topic, especially focusing on one critical idea: being afraid to set a price is a classic sign of a "poor mindset."

 

To me, a person's abilities only become tangible when they truly believe in their own value—and start "selling" that value to the market. Life, in essence, is one big sales game. Let me break down why you must dare to "price yourself"—whether it's for your career or relationships.

 

First: For Your Career—Dare to Price Your Work, No Apologies

 

If you run your own business or sell a product/service, you need to set prices boldly and skip over-the-top explanations. All you need to do is tell your customers: "This is the value I'll bring you."

 

The core reason so many people fear pricing (or don't understand it) is simple: they haven't grasped the basics of value exchange. Think about the smallest example: buying a bottle of water at the supermarket for $2. The store gives you something that quenches your thirst—that's its value. You give them money in return. It's that straightforward.

 

So why do people get confused when it comes to their careers? The logic is identical. Your product or service is the result of your hard work, experience, and expertise. It solves your customers' problems and helps them—so they should pay for that value.

 

Charging money isn't greedy—it's how you truly integrate into the market, build a real business, and validate your worth. When you charge, two good things happen: you feel fulfilled (which fuels you to create more value), and your customers respect you more—because they recognize they're getting something meaningful in return.

 

Second: For Relationships—Price Your Worth, Too

 

Dating and finding a partner follow the same rule: you must believe in your own value, or others will never see your "shine." The root of attraction is recognition—whether someone admires your looks, character, or achievements.

 

Imagine someone who's great in many ways, but can't admit their strengths. They lack confidence and act like they're "worthless." How many people would be drawn to that? No one. It's like a free product—people ignore its value and never bother to look deeper.

 

If you don't affirm your own worth, others can't recognize it either. They'll never feel admiration or want to commit to you. Relationships have their own version of "pricing," too—it just isn't about money. It's about the other person respecting you and being willing to invest time, effort, and care in return.

 

A Flip Side: Investing in Yourself Is Just as Necessary

 

If charging for your value is a must, then paying to gain knowledge and experience is equally essential. I used to suspect everyone was trying to "scam" me—until I realized: spending money on growing your mind is never a waste.

 

Years ago, I'd plan my own travel itineraries and always end up stressed and disorganized. Then I started hiring people to design trips for me. I'd tell them my needs, and they'd handle the rest. The experience was seamless—proof that "professional expertise is worth paying for."

 

Later, when I started my business, I bought competitors' products to study their strategies. I copied what worked, improved what didn't, and absorbed their insights. It helped me launch quickly and avoid costly mistakes. As I wrote in a previous article ("Saving to Buy a House Is a 'Highly Effective Way to Stay Poor'"), I only spend money on two things: investing in my mind and investing in my business. That's never let me down.

 

The "Metaphysical" Truth About Free Stuff

 

Here's something a bit less tangible but equally real: if you offer things for free, you'll only attract low-energy people—"freeloaders" and people who drain your mood. You'll get stuck in endless frustration: working for nothing, dealing with complaints, and tangled in negativity. Over time, this wears you down mentally and physically—and even saps your motivation to keep going.

 

I'm not superstitious, but I believe in cause and effect. If you're always around people with low awareness and bad energy, and you get nothing meaningful in return, how can you grow?

 

From my experience running a studio, I learned a rule: people who ask endless questions never buy. Those who understand value just purchase without overthinking. It's the old saying: "Those who buy don't ask; those who ask don't buy." Sometimes, I even refuse to sell to people who over-question—my work is valuable, and wasting time on someone who doesn't get that isn't worth it.

 

Deeply believing in your value and filtering out the wrong people? That's the secret to "high-level success."

 

Even for a Job—Dare to "Price" Your Labor

 

Even if you're an employee, you're still exchanging value. You need to dare to ask for a higher salary—dare to "sell yourself" for more. If you ask, you might earn $10,000 a month; if you don't, your boss will just pay you $3,000.

 

If this works for a 9-to-5 job, why do people forget it when building their own business? True "selling" isn't begging or groveling—it's understanding your value and offering it with pride.