Getting Paid for the Results, Sleep Masks & Baby Feet
The proposal was accepted. The work got done. The client is happy.
But when you look at the numbers (and the energy it took to get there), you can’t help but wonder:
Did I charge for the right thing?
This week, a gentle (but firm) reminder:
You’re not being paid for the deliverable. You’re being paid for the result.
And if you're giving away your highest-value thinking before the invoice goes out? You're not alone — but it's time to stop.
🧠 You’re being paid for what’s in your head, not just what’s in the file.
That intake call where you clarified their entire strategy? The questions you asked that restructured their whole offer? That feedback voice note they forwarded to their entire team?
→ That’s the stuff that moves the needle. And it’s often the stuff we forget to price.
⏱️ You’re being paid for your experience, not your hours.
If it takes you 2 hours to do what used to take 10, that’s not a discount - that’s mastery.
→ And in a world where AI can do things faster, what clients need isn’t speed. It’s discernment.
→ Your clients aren’t paying for time. They’re paying for transformation and the expert guidance that makes the tools actually work.
📆 You’re being paid for access and availability.
Urgent deadlines. Night, weekend, or holiday work. Being the person they call when everything’s on fire.
→ That kind of responsiveness isn’t standard. It’s premium.
→ If it costs you a boundary, it should earn you more than a thank-you.
💸 You’re being paid for opportunity cost.
Even if your tools are free, your time isn’t. And every minute you spend creating or improving a "free" deliverable is time you don't spend on something else that could produce revenue.
→ “It doesn’t cost me anything” is rarely true. Every hour you give away has value, even if it didn’t come with a price tag.
Here’s what you can do this month:
→ Look at your last 3 client wins. What actually created the result?
→ Review your scope of work — is your real value priced in, or hiding between the lines?
→ Practice saying: “That’s something I’d be happy to scope as an add-on.” (And then stop talking.)
Inside the Weak Ties/Strong Bonds membership, we talk about this all the time — especially with women whose biggest value shows up before the deliverable ever lands.
If you’ve been undercharging for the thing that makes you indispensable — this is your nudge.
🪢 Laura & Lauren
Things We Loved This Week
Laura’s Things
😴 I bought this sleep mask because I thought it would help me not sleep on my stomach. It's worked AND as a bonus, I've been sleeping WAY better than before.
🏠 I've become obsessed with looking at chic pre-fab homes.
😂 I've lost track of how many times I've watched this.
Lauren’s Things
💊 I have finally accepted that I need to be able to track whether I've taken my pills yet today. I'm only fine with it because it's this cute.
🦶 New year, new me, new skin on my feet. It's Baby Foot season, y'all.
🤤 The Laab Ped Udon at Saape. Guaranteed to bring joy regardless of the President's behavior.
