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Self-esteem, Confidence Help Address Billing Issues
By Dr. Ray Angelini
The Saratogian
July 11, 2002
Dear Dr. Ray,
I've had a long-standing difficulty with respect to billing my clients. I always feel so bad billing people, then I am annoyed at myself at tax time when I realize that I did not make as much money as I feel that I deserve. I even under-bill people I know can afford it! I really hate thinking about money and my fee. What would you recommend?
— Broke in Ballston Lake
Dear Broke,
Awareness about your attitudes regarding money is the first step in overcoming your billing difficulties with your clients. For example, I have encouraged many individuals who work in helping professionals who believe it is somehow unseemly to receive money for services that contribute to the social good.
If this is the case with you, I would recommend that you decide at the beginning of the year how many clients you can afford to see pro bono and how many you need to charge your full fee. Taking time to do this will help you gain clarity with respect to what it is you want from money and may serve to address any underlying guilt you may have for charging what you feel are worth for your services.
However, the main factors that are usually involved with issues around billing have to do with self-esteem and confidence. Self-esteem and confidence are not the same. Self-esteem is believing in your basic worthiness, while confidence comes from believing in your competence. Professional self-esteem comes from providing a worthwhile and valuable service to others. Professional confidence builds by increasing your knowledge and experience.
I strongly suggest that you examine these issues, as I suspect that your difficulty with billing your clients is due to challenges in one or both of these areas.
Working with a professional coach or therapist can be invaluable in sorting out difficulties in these areas. Feeling good about yourself is essential for personal and financial success. The vast majority of adults have self-esteem and confidence issues. It is the responsibility of every adult to address these concerns for themselves and encourage and support self-esteem and confidence in others.
Anything you do to increase your self-esteem and confidence will undoubtedly result in an increase in your income and a decrease in your struggles with asking what you are worth from your clients. Money will flow out of our generosity to ourselves and others. Start giving and receiving today!
