Selling Your Soul For Money
Image from Nick Ares
Money, marketing, beliefs and transformation. That’s a recipe to stir someone up.
You see, I was reading a recent post by Jonathan Fields who was promoting the marketing around a new live event from Danielle LaPorte and Marie Forleo in New York called Selling Your Soul.
The video Jonathan did was outstanding. I recommend you check it out from a marketing standpoint.
However this post is around a mindset of someone who commented on his post. I felt compelled to address it because there are many people who suffer from the same thought process. When I say suffer, it’s because they are the very same people saying they want success and to serve people in their highest good but remain in a place where they can’t…and they project their own challenges on the very same people who could support them.
I feel this mindset keeps people from being able to experience breakthroughs in business and in life. So I said what the hell, and decided to write about it.
If you want to read the comments in order to get where this post came from, read the comments section of his post.
I’ll admit I got triggered by her comment.
Why?
Because I used to think like this.
- I used to count other peoples money because I felt it wasn’t fair that I didn’t have any and they did.
- That they seemed to get all the breaks or were lucky.
- That rich people took advantage of poor people and that’s why they’re rich
- That if they had it they should give more of it freely to those who don’t.
“Giving to those who are quite capable renders them incapable of becoming their best.”-true
Basically below was my response to her comment with a bit more added for clarity in this post.
Selling Transformation Vs Time and Money
The old story of the farmer and the dentist is true here:
- The farmer ask the dentist to pull his bad tooth.
- The dentist says “That’ll be $600.”
- The farmer says, “Well how long will it take?“
- Dentist says, “about 15 seconds.“
- The farmer says, “that’s a lot of money for 30 seconds!“
- The dentist ponders for a moment and says, “I can take longer if you like?“
There is a huge myth that as coaches or trainers that we need to provide days, months or even years of “our time and effort” in order for someone to experience a transformation and to get a specific result. Or that we need to provide big binders of stuff, 30 CD’s of information and trade lots of time for the payoff.
It’s just not true in many cases.
If you can get a result you’re looking for in a fraction of the time but for a higher price, why on earth would you stick the old paradigm that a higher price means it needs to take longer and requires more stuff?
Personally the more I think about it, the less I feel I’m serving clients but charging lower prices. How committed are they to the outcome for say $297 as apposed to $2997?
How much hands on time do you think I can invest at $297 as apposed to $2997?
Get the point?
You’re Not Selling Your Soul For Money
You’re Selling A Transformation That’s In The Customers Highest Good
In my opinion the $1000 (the cost of the Sell Your Soul event) represents our level of commitment to our desired outcome in our business, whether it’s their program or another one. You’re not paying for the time it’s delivered, you’re paying for a result or a transformation in this case.
Chances are your commitment to that result goes through the roof when you’ve put something on the line like a large amount of money for someone who is quite capable of delivering the information.
Look at the money as an investment in yourself and a commitment to your result more than the time that’s taken to deliver it.
Chances are (and this is from my own personal experience) people don’t appreciate nor do they extract value from that which they didn’t have to work for or pay a high price for. (and yes price could be relative)
Why?
Because they didn’t make any kind of true investment. They didn’t put anything on the line in fair exchange.
They’re stuck in “good enough” land. “Life is good enough and isn’t painful enough so I’ll do things in a comfortable manner.” Hence they never rise up to challenge the next level required to break through.
Perhaps better questions are necessary to ask and a new perspective is required, in order to get different results.
Our time is valuable.
How much you charge for that time will directly reflect on the level (and quality) of the experience you can provide to them as well as at what level your customers will receive it.
Selling Your Soul For Money Is Just A Belief
I also choose to believe there is something bigger at play here than just money.
I’m selling the idea of investing in yourself and making a commitment to your outcome. The amount of money you invest represents that commitment and the level of skill the coach provides.
Questioning “why they are charging so much” and “how much will they make for an event” (In such a snarky manner) only shines a light on ones own belief around money and how they see themselves in the world.
The young lady quoted isn’t questioning Danielle or Marie and how much they are making. She’s really questioning herself and her own worthiness to be able to charge that much for her own services.
Or another way of saying it, “It’s not them, it’s me.”
Yeah I said it.
“What we see most in the world we see most in ourselves.”
Or also said:
“The judgements we make of others is simply a projection of how we see ourselves.“
Which is why I’m so comfortable bringing this to light because I have seen myself do this very same thing and act out in the very same way.
By the way, I’m not saying that just because a program costs a lot that it’s always beneficial.
I just know Danielle LaPorte knows her shit.
I bought her Fire Starter Sessions eBook (affiliate link) for $150 (yes an ebook for $150) and I can tell you it’s worth every penny. If you’re a creative solopreneur and trying to get your act together, it helps. It included worksheets and videos along with the ebook itself that to this day I still review.
But you know what? I paid a shit load of money for it and I value it the information in it.
She has a record of providing huge value, not selling her soul for money. She gives a shit.
Next Step
So what do you think of high end coaching programs/high ticket events and their value behind helping you create transformation?
Would you see an investment of $1000 to $8000 as a crime on behalf of the person providing the coaching or see it as a high leveraged investment in your self and your desired outcome?
I know I’m leaving this pretty open ended but I’m really curious of your feedback.
If you’re a coach, do you feel you’re serving your clients with higher quality coaching and by holding clients more accountable with higher prices or do you feel you’re selling your soul for money if you do?
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Tony:
I am really in agreement with this….It is amazing how much my mindset has changed in this area the past 6 years…when I 1st came online I was a ‘Cheapo’ who wanted Fee,Free, Free…Now I VALUE & Honor the ability to pay folks such as yourself….for services rendered,,,,,as another mentor said what is it worth to you to have your mind expanded, transformed & changed in a hour or two when instead if you kept groping along YOURSELF the same change may have taken years to see,,,,I say it is PRICELESS!!
Be Blessed
Matt
Well said Matt 🙂
Hi Tony,
I love what you discuss here.
Three power ideas I extract:
1) A program that costs money but provides awesome value is still a bargain if it works. Additionally I’m sure that Danielle and Marie are going to pour their soul into making it worth 10X what they charge.
2) Change can happen in an instant, Im a firm believer of that and have see in it happen hundreds of times in front of my very eyes in many situations in life including many of Tony Robbins Date with destiny Seminars (who incidentally cost over $5K + travel & lodging).
3) You are definitely more likely to use something that you paid a high value and that hurt a little in your pocket.
Thanks for your insights and for talking about a topic that is not that often discussed.
Bernardo
Glad you walked away with some Nuggets Bernardo.
Seems this is a bit of a taboo subject for folks so I’m glad to shed some
light on it.
Well Tony if someone only has $298 then they will be very committed to the result for $297.
So the question isn’t only about value/money it is also a question of how goods and services should be distributed amongst people who have varying amounts of money.
In my view those who deal in essential stuff (health, relationships and so on) should provide free content – through blogs and such.
I tend to agree in some instances Even. That’s why I mentioned in that statement that it can be relative. However in an overwhelming majority of cases in my opinion it just isn’t true. Just because a person has the money, doesn’t mean they are committed. They have to see it as something they truly desire. Maybe I’m taking it for granted that this isn’t always the case. People are resistant to change. They are resistance to commitment and their scared of their light even more than their dark. (actually getting the outcome they say they desire)
In nearly 20 years of sales (7 1/2 years of that in high end sales) people had the money, wanted the “thing” and still in many cases couldn’t commit. And I’m talking about anywhere from a few thousand dollars to upwards of over $100,000.
I don’t completely disagree with you. Today’s new economy online does revolve a lot around “free” it seems, or at least within this internet marketing space. I think you’ve seen over the past year or two I’ve given a LOT of free content. Some people appreciate it, many people it don’t.
This “free” content is and can be varying levels of content that educates and provides real value to the reader. A content strategy is in order for that provider to receive compensation though.
I think this is a great conversation.
This is such a wonderful post Tony!!! Wow! You really nailed it! Trading time for money is something we’ve grown accustomed to in one way or another. The truth is like you said is the amount of value the event gives and the results reached. More so it is saying yes that you are committed to yourself. That is the truth about transformation. Being a coach in different industries I know that people put a value on what they pay. If a person is paying $1000 believe you me they are not showing up a minute late vs when something is $97 bucks it’s like eh, whatever for some people. This post will inspire many people to claim their self worth. GREAT job!!!
The principles around money is a lot like when you’re in a relationship with
someone. If you don’t respect them, they won’t stay in your life very long
providing they think highly of themselves.
Funny how that principle works in all area’s of our life, especially around
discipline.
Thanks Therese 🙂
Tony,
I agree. Recently I was a beta tester for Leo Babauta’s Habit Course. I became a daily meditator! The course was so great and the support so good I decided to sign up and pay $397 when he opened it up to everyone. I’m now in the third week of creating my daily time for creativity. $400 sounds like a lot but how much is a life time habit worth? Priceless. I now feel confident enough to create a new habit when ever I wish and the material I need to do so.
I think the key issue here is this:
Most spiritual teachers, and I mean the true Buddha’s, don’t charge for their teaching. They give it away. My martial arts teacher, who is the student of a master in the lineage, only charges a mat fee. It’s because the love of giving aid is more important than the money.
Now, I’m not begrudging anyone for charging for services, but I’ve come to the belief that mixing spirit and money do not mix. They cannot mix, because they are at odds with each other.
Now all of that being said, I’ve spoken with Danielle numerous times, and I know she’s surging with power, intention, and energy. She’s awesome, and I think she’s worth whatever she wants to charge.
However…I do not like the mixing of spirit and money. It just doesn’t feel right to me, so I’m a bit conflicted here.
Moreso, I’m not one to believe that the company line of “we charge more because it ensures commitment” is anything more than marketing speak.
So my real feeling here is that it’s up to the buyer to do whatever they feel is right. I don’t pay for spiritual advice, but I do pay for business advice, which is what I think “Selling Your Soul” is. I think the problem is mixed messaging more than poor intention.
I totally agree on the spiritual message & money. I’ve never paid for “spiritual advice”. I did recently go to Gainsville and visited Gurudev Yogi Amrit Desai. Mind bendingly pleasing experience. Dinner $10 the event that night $20. What I walked away with? Priceless. As this post didn’t touch on mixing spiritual teaching for money, I do feel there are principles I that can tie into business. Not mixing of spirit and money is a conflict of your values and I get that. It’s not a conflict so much for me because I do feel there are principles of both that can compliment both. Even though that wasn’t a topic touched on in the post, it’s one I don’t shy away from here in the comments. On that note, I don’t intend to charge people for spiritual advice. Not in the slightest. “We charge more because it ensures commitment”…yeah sure, that could be coined as marketing speak. From my own experience with people, when you include $$ and a lot of it, it creates an emotional charge. From selling 100k mobile homes to to a $26 insurance product, I’ve seen what large sums of money do when it changes hands from a customer to the merchant. (And again I stress that “large amount” is relative to each individual) You see parts of people come out that you may not have seen before. Do you have the goods to stand behind what you charge is the key. Can you deliver the value, the transformation etc? The person participating has to have something on the line, whatever that is that represents an emotional drive. Sometimes (and many cases in business coaching) money represents that emotion. I could be totally off the mark, and I realize this may not be the case 100% of the time. However the point of my post was how can you be successful in your business if you feel it’s unfair someone providing answers is charging more than you think is fair prices. It seems to put one in the “victim” position and without power.
Right. The reason I mention the rest is because I got the impression that the “comment” was partly due to that persons thoughts on the topic of $ and spirt. And you’re right, there are some elements in harmony.
The hard part about being in business is charging what people can afford, yet still staying in business. It’s not easy.
I totally agree. After working in network marketing for 10 years (with one
company) I saw the relevance of what people could afford and what they
“chose” to think they could afford.
Interesting food for thought.
I think it’s challenging to disagree with you’re argument as any attempt to do so will be seen as a “projection.” Seems like a Catch – 22.
I honestly don’t know where I sit with the question at hand. These all sound like rational and logical reasons to charge high end price, but are they really true?
Part of the problem is that greed always trips us up in the end. But the only person who can know for certain if greed is a motivating factor – on a subtle or gross level – is the person charging the high prices.
Well you can certainly disagree if you wish. It’s a free forum to voice your feedback. I just feel our projections certainly do either promote or expose our core values and our attachment to certain words or ideas. Our “filters” (deep meta program level or core value level- and mostly unconscious) tend to drive these beliefs. (Such as around greed) Even though my writing seems logical, hence why you probably are still unease with the whole idea.
Personally, as I do provide a service (coaching and free lance services) I know that when I get paid higher prices I am able to provide an even higher quality “experience”. Anyone can provide a service but what kind of experience are you able to provide? Also, and more importantly what kind of results does that experience facilitate for the end user/customer?
Personally being on both ends of the spectrum now, I can say I provide a good service regardless, but providing an even higher quality experience (because I can by charging higher prices) leaves the customer feeling overjoyed about their outcome and overall experience.
So overall I know it’s a controversial topic which is why I decided to put it on the table. Thanks for sharing 🙂