I always asked High Earners: “Are you doing what you’re doing for the money?” No, they insisted, quite vehemently. They were driven by the passion, by the challenge, by the recognition. But not money.
Yet, in the next breath, they all said the same thing. “But I damn well want to be well compensated…because I know I’m worth it!”
Where did their strong sense of self-worth come from, I initially wondered? As a chronic underearner, I wanted what they had. The answer soon became stunningly clear.
They had a simple strategy. Whenever they were asked to do something, whenever an opportunity arose, if their reaction wasn’t a strong ‘Hell Yes!’ it was clearly a “Hell No!”
These women each told me that, initially, they were afraid to speak up and tell the truth. But they forced themselves to ask for what they wanted, just as they said ‘no’ to what they didn’t want.
This simple (but scary) act was the secret to their financial success. Here’s why:
- Asking for more is an act of self-love.
- Saying no is a statement of self-respect.
- Refusing to settle is a show of self-esteem.
- And walking away is a sign of self-trust.
Whenever you stand up for what you want, whenever you refuse to take less than you deserve, your life will begin to change, sometimes dramatically.
You’ll also notice a shift in how you feel about yourself. Speaking up becomes not something you should do, but something you have to do – because you know in your heart you’re worth it.
Where do you need to start speaking up? Tell me about it in the comments below.