Meeting Topic
Charge What You’re Worth – Natalie Coombe
You’ve heard it before: “Just charge what you’re worth!” (I sometimes even slip and say it myself. It’s everywhere)
But here’s the truth, you CAN’T charge what you are worth – Because YOU are priceless.
There isn’t a number in the world that captures everything that makes you, you.
And trying to pin your prices to something as immense (and, let’s face it, impossible to measure) as your personal worth?
That’s how we end up pricing from doubt, insecurity, and “I’m not really good enough” territory (let alone our “no-one would buy from me!” fear)
No wonder so many brilliant women undercharge or feel totally lost about what to put on their invoices and their website.
But what if “knowing your value” was less about you, and more about the change you enable for your clients?
That’s the power of Value-Based Pricing. Because it’s not about putting a price tag on you – it’s about identifying the specific change you help your clients achieve, and understanding what that outcome is worth to them.
The Real Heart of Value-Based Pricing
Value-Based Pricing is about understanding the transformation you help create, and how much that change is worth to your ideal clients (who are often not the ones you started your business with).
Especially in tough times, your success depends on knowing who those people are – the ones who truly value what you do and are prepared and able to invest in real results.
Here’s the thing: your best clients right now may not be the ones you’ve always worked with. In every industry, there’s a subset of people actively investing – your job is to get laser-focused on attracting them.
That’s what happened with Bec. After 15 years in business, she thought she couldn’t grow or earn any more working with her old client base and hourly pricing.
Once she got crystal clear on her new ideal clients and shifted to outcome-based packages, the difference was night and day:
“Now I know how to show the value I offer to my clients…I signed up six new clients in 3 weeks. I estimate I’ll make an extra $30,000 per year”
Ready to Start?
Three Steps:
- Get honest about who your ideal client is now – the ones who get great results with you and are still willing and able to invest.
- Name the change or result you help them achieve.
- Consider: How much is that outcome actually worth to them?
If you find these steps tricky, you’re not alone! But this is the work that makes selling easier, raises your confidence, and (let’s be blunt) lifts your profits.
Want help figuring out who it is, and how much it’s worth?
Download my free workbook to work through these steps and start charging what your services are truly worth.
Because you ARE worth it
Natalie Coombe
Pricing For Profit & Lifestyle
https://www.nataliecoombe.com/
Next Meeting Topic
Do You Feel Like You’re Collecting Everyone Else’s “Monkeys”? – Glenda Lewis
The Leadership Academy – November 2025
The title might sound playful, but “Monkey Management” is a genuine and very common leadership challenge. The concept dates back to the 1970s, yet it remains just as relevant today.
So, what exactly is Monkey Management?
A “monkey” is any task, problem, or responsibility that suddenly becomes yours — even though it didn’t start out that way. Leaders accumulate these monkeys more often than they realise, and before long, they’re carrying a whole troop on their back, draining time, focus, and energy.
How Monkeys Jump onto Your Back
When coaching leaders, one theme I hear often is the feeling of being overwhelmed. Once we unpack a typical week, we find they’ve unintentionally taken on work that belongs to others.
Monkeys usually arrive in moments where we think we’re being supportive or efficient. Common examples include:
- “I’ll sort this out for you…”
- “Leave it with me – I’ll think about it…”
- “It’ll be quicker if I do it…”
These comments seem harmless but are the exact moments when monkeys leap from someone else’s shoulders onto yours.
Keeping Monkeys with Their Rightful Owners
The first step is becoming aware of how these moments happen. Once you see them coming, you can redirect the monkey – without being dismissive or unhelpful – and strengthen capability in the process.
Here are some more constructive responses:
Instead of: “Leave it with me.”
Try: “Let me show you how I would approach this, and then you can bring me the final version.”
Instead of: “I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
Try asking:
- “What option do you think will work best?”
- “What outcome are you aiming for?”
- “Considering our quality expectations, what’s your next step?”
Instead of: “I’ll do this — it’ll be quicker.”
Try: “Take the time to work through this properly. I’d like you to learn the process so you can handle it confidently next time.”
These responses might feel a little awkward at first, but they quickly become second nature – and your workload will noticeably lighten.
Three Top Tier Monkey-Management Tips
- Delegation means the monkey stays with the other person.
Good delegation doesn’t involve taking tasks back. Support the person, yes — but keep ownership where it belongs. - Prepare your responses.
Having a few set phrases ready helps you avoid slipping back into “I’ll just do it.” - Define roles clearly.
Clear expectations and boundaries dramatically reduce the number of stray monkeys that end up on your back.
Building “Monkey Management” into your leadership style will reduce overwhelm, strengthen your team, and stop you from feeling like you’re putting on a zookeeper uniform every morning.
