S7 Ep.202 The Myth of Charging What You’re Worth

n this episode, I’m breaking down one of the most persistent and harmful myths in our industry: the idea that you should “charge what you’re worth.” I know the intention behind that phrase is usually empowerment, but the impact? Confusion, insecurity, and emotional chaos. Your worth is not a number. It’s not a fee. It’s not something a client gets to validate or reject. Your worth was set long before you ever became a designer, and tying it to your pricing only creates a fragile business built on emotional quicksand.

I’m diving into why so many of us fall into the trap of undercharging, over-delivering, and apologizing for our existence — not because we lack talent, but because we’re emotionally entangled with our fees. When pricing feels personal, every client objection feels like a judgment, every negotiation feels like a threat, and every discount feels like failure. In this conversation, I walk you through what actually belongs inside your pricing (the strategy, the math, the process, the real cost of delivering excellence) and what absolutely does not (your identity, your goodness, your value as a human being).

You’ll also hear why clarity is the real source of confidence, why emotional pricing is a fast track to burnout, and why sustainable, strategic pricing is an act of stewardship — for your business, your clients, and the life you’re trying to build. And yes, we talk about faith, identity, and the mindset shifts that transform the way you show up as a leader and as a designer.

In this episode, you’ll learn: • Why “charge what you’re worth” is one of the most damaging myths in the design industry • The emotional patterns that lead designers to chronically undercharge • How tying identity to pricing destabilizes your entire business • What clients are truly paying you for (it’s so much more than creativity) • The role of clarity and math in building profitable pricing • Why sustainable pricing is an act of stewardship, not greed • How separating worth from pricing creates confidence, stability, and peace • The shift from survival mode to a business that truly supports your life

This episode is an invitation to release the pressure, reclaim your confidence, and rebuild your pricing on clarity instead of emotion. When you separate your self-worth from your invoice, everything becomes simpler, stronger, and far more sustainable. And the best part? Pricing stops feeling scary — and starts feeling grounded and peaceful.

If this resonated with you, make sure to follow the show so you don’t miss the next episode in this Myth-Busting series, and share it with a designer friend who needs this reminder. We’re not meant to build this alone — we grow together.



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