3 ways to stick it to the patriarchy in your business
I’m all about finding ways to stick it to the patriarchy in your business.
For anyone socialised as a woman, we have experienced a whole host of conditioning throughout our lives. The patriarchy has pushed beliefs on us that we didn’t consent to. We’ve been told how we should live, behave and feel. We’ve been fed lies about the way things must be done, about the limitations on what we can achieve as women. And pals, enough is enough.
You started your own business to get away from the ‘traditional’ work of work, the ceiling on your income and the restrictions on your freedom. You started your business to live wildly free. I know it’s possible because I’ve done it (and I’ve helped others do it too). And a crucial part of the process was unpicking and saying ‘piss off!’ to the beliefs imposed upon me by the patriarchal systems that dominate our society.
So, here are 3 ways you can stick it to the patriarchy in your business.
1. Charge your worth and then add a premium
Historically, women have almost always been paid less than men. And this inequality hasn’t been completely quashed. The gender pay gap still exists across many industries and men are still promoted to senior positions more than women. The gap might be narrowing but it’s not closed.
One of the ways to stick it to the patriarchy in your business is by charging based on what you need and want to make. Not charging based on what others may have told you you’re worth. Not charging based on benchmarks in your industry.
- Consider what your covered, comfortable and exciting income numbers are.
- Set your capacity, the number of clients you can work with and raise your prices so that you can comfortably meet those income goals, based on the number of clients/projects you can work on at one time. Break up with the clients who are holding you back and start charging your worth plus a premium.
Learn exactly how to do this in my course Work Less, Earn More, Be Free.
You’re amazing at what you do. When you work with clients, you’re bringing so much more to the table than you think. You’re bringing your skills, expertise, knowledge, ideas, creativity, beliefs, experience (in work and life) and the work no one can deliver the way you do.
And sidenote: it’s not greedy or immoral to want more money than you’re making now.
You’re not taking anything away from someone else by charging more. You deserve to have an easeful, joyful and expansive business that supports you. You deserve to have an incredible life. And while money isn’t everything, everything costs money. So, without guilt or excuses, start working towards your ‘exciting’ income.
2. Create your own boundaries and stick to them ferociously
As women, we’ve explicitly and implicitly been told since childhood that saying ‘no’ is dangerous. The patriarchy has manipulated us into believing that women should be placid, kind, accommodating and selfless. That women who rebel against the norm face consequences, setbacks and sometimes violence. That’s why setting and sticking to boundaries typically comes with internal resistance.
Often, we’re worried about coming across as difficult or bitchy. But mate, deep down, you know this is bullshit as much as I do.
Frankly, what others may or may not think about your boundaries is not your business. If they have a problem with you respecting your needs and wants, they’re probably not the right client for you.
So, if you want to:
- uninstall all your work apps and take Friday off every week
- keep all client communications strictly to email only
- never work evenings or weekends again
- start work at 10:30am and not a minute earlier
- or work for no less than (insert dreamy number here),
I’m here to tell you it’s possible. And I’ll let you in on a secret: when you clearly communicate your boundaries from the outset, your clients – the ones who truly value the work you do for them – won’t even bat an eye.
3. Have a bloody gorgeous life and business
Here’s an exercise for you. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and allow yourself to dream about the kind of life and business you want.
- Do you want to move abroad, bask in sunlight everyday, and work as a digital nomad?
- Do you want to live rurally, surrounded by nature, and only work for 20 hours a week?
- Do you want to make an exciting amount of money so you can save, travel and treat yourself to a spa trip every month?
Whatever your dream life and biz looks like, it can seem far-fetched when you open your eyes again to another demanding email from that difficult client who is underpaying and overworking you. But my love, your needs and wants are firmly within the realm of possibility.
The patriarchy doesn’t want you to dream. It doesn’t benefit the patriarchal, capitalist systems in our society for you to live differently, make more money or design your own way to work and live. So, they discourage it and tell you it’s not possible for you. But – shock – they’re lying.
So, as an act of rebellion, take time to journal on what you truly want – without censoring yourself based on the opinions of others or your own self-limiting beliefs.
Give yourself permission to visualise and plan exactly what you want to do and how you want to live. This is the first step to making it a reality. Pal, you can make it happen. You just need to find your way to stick it to the patriarchy in your business first.
