I Cried in the Rain: How to Stop Lowballing your Brand (Sad story time)

It is time to tell you the story of how I unleashed my water works on a cold rainy September day.

If you’re a business owner and you’ve never cried in the rain, I might just be giving you the biggest bombastic side-eye right now.

You have read me cringe when I Embarrassed my Brand, now you’ll be reading me cry.

You’re basically working your way into my whole heart, I can’t help but think I have been charmed.

Whether you realize it or not, brands have boundaries because they are such personable concepts with identity fused to them.

You may not put your mind to it but trust me, you will know when you have lowballed your business. You will feel it in your heart, and if you’re emotional like me you’ll cry in the rain—specifically in a pouring rain that drenches your clothes and kit as you make your way home while questioning your entire human experience.

Who am I? ‘Sadness’ from the animation Inside Out? Look at me go.

So what is Lowballing?

Lowballing is a negotiation tactic or pricing strategy in business where someone intentionally offers a price or estimate that is significantly lower than what they know is reasonable or what they ultimately expect to charge.

Lowballing your brand can be detrimental because it may lead to undervaluing your work, accepting less than you deserve, or not charging what your products or services are truly worth. This can impact both your business's financial health and your personal well-being as a business owner.

Sad story time!

Being a beautician for as long as I have, I have had my fair share of what comes with this line of work.

I got this call one day, a photographer I knew wanted to work with a lady I was familiar with who wanted to take photos for a new dress she sewed herself.

It was presented to me as a collab, and I took it. Whether it was really a collab or not, to be honest I still can’t say for sure.

In the creative industry, a lot of people weaponize collabs to cheat others—they call in their good friend ‘exposure’ to coerce you, and sadly it is a slippery slope especially if you lack clarity in your business.

I got there, had a good time and did a great job as usual. I don’t know but deep down, I just felt this could have been a paid job and not a 'collab'.

The lady’s birthday was also coming up that same month and it all seemed odd.

Something like this had happened before when a photographer called me for a ‘collab’ and it turned out it was for his client’s birthday shoot.

In the instance of ‘collabs’ like this note that expenses are obviously on me.

As I trudged home that day with my heavy box on my shoulder, the rain decided I best not walk alone.

I ugly cried my whole way home and I just wanted to quit. Then I couldn’t afford rides for home services like I can now—Gosh, I would brisk walk for almost an hour from the gate to where our house was in the community.

With every step I took that day the rain beat realization into me.

Eventually the photos came out, and none of them highlighted my side of the work.

I wasn’t even allowed to select or look at the ones I would like to represent my work.

To hurt my feelings further, when the lady’s birthday came around she got her glam done with someone else—who she paid for.

I couldn’t help but wonder—Why wasn’t I worth the buck? Why did I get these shitty offers?

It sucked for me to go through that.

Yet, it was what it was.

End of sad story time.

Recounting that story once again really let me see how far I have come with this.

Here are four hard truths so you can get out of the lowball court.

1. It is nobody’s fault that you take shitty offers

I do not hold it against them for offering what they did.

At the end of the day I am the one who let that happen because I accepted it.

You have to wake up to the fact that people are not obligated to play fair—what people have is the right to make offers. If you decide the offer suits you then game on, if not you CAN leave the table.

2. People-pleaser equals prey in business

Aren’t you so cute! Look at you being nice and all thinking one good turn deserves another in business, awwww.

Please stop! Been there, done that—Hunny, they will get you like a Wolf gets a Gazelle.

No stars, I do not recommend.

Stay sharp, stay focused and understand that any deal that does not bring you good exchange should not fly in your field.

3. Not having a business policy is a cardinal sin

I mean—come on, of course the shitty offers keep rolling in because your gate is wide open.

Always remember that you are your brand’s first advocate, you protect her rights, you shield her from the wolves, and you implement swift damage control when necessary.

As the saying goes—"Where there is no law, there is no sin".

Without effective business policies you will have no control over your time and finances.

Before you know it your business will start to spiral and that is never a good look.

4. Know your worth FIRST

Before you request better treatment, how do you treat yourself first?

How you carry your business will communicate its value. Point blank period!

You will keep getting lowballed if you don’t know what you bring to the table, and you can’t know what you bring to the table if you don’t know WHY you are there in the first place.

Dive deep and get clear on your brand purpose, that will be your armor in the field.

Here is a bonus one liner.

Don’t let anyone dictate how you should play just because you’re new in the game.

Ever had a lowball story that made you cry in the rain?

Dear Insidher

Your business is my business, and for what its worth lets start reeling in the diamond offers.

To do that, you have to stop getting lowballed.

I’m offering you a 1:1 Brand Clarity Session—designed to help you untangle clustered thoughts, and bring focus to your brand vision so you can charge better.

If you're ready to Get Clear and Confident, tap here and you shall be whisked away!

Note: Collabs are a great way to explore good teams and new ideas. In part, this article explored the nature of some collabs that could negatively impact a business. Always lead with discretion when you are called for a collaboration. Goodluck out there!

Thank you for reading and relishing my gist!

If you loved this, stick around by liking & subscribing so we can have tea each week!

Love,

Your brandfairy.