Viv Williams and Vanessa Ugatti discuss the challenges which law firms are facing through the pandemic and share some valuable insights as to how they can tackle these.

I’m Vanessa Ugatti, author of Amazon Best Seller, True Worth: How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It. I help accountants, lawyers and consultants to generate more income, have more time and create more freedom without having to get more clients, do more work or compromise value or values.

Ready to talk?

For an initial no-obligation chat, call 00-44-1202-743961 or to order your complimentary copy of Amazon Best Seller click here

There was never a better time!

I really didn’t want to jump on the band wagon and talk about COVID-19. I do not want to appear sensationalist and certainly believe that we all have a responsibility to look after ourselves and, as a result, each other, by following medical advice.

As I sat musing this, taking best advice and putting it into action, it brought me to a realisation. This was backed by a couple of conversations with leaders in law firms where we discussed how to ensure that they were going to continue to get their true worth, despite challenging conditions and when the pressure is on to deliver work, continue to bill and to collect cash to run the business.

​I’m Vanessa Ugatti, author of Amazon Best Seller, True Worth: How to Charge What You’re Worth and Get It. I help accountants, lawyers and consultants to generate more income, have more time and create more freedom without having to get more clients, do more work or compromise value or values.

Ready to talk?

For an initial no-obligation chat, call 00-44-1202-743961 or to order your complimentary copy of Amazon Best Seller click here

Don’t Let The Fear of Rejection Stop You!

However, in reality, it’s healthy to value yourself and there are occasions when it’s important to put yourself first.

See another of my articles relating to the necessity, at times, of putting yourself first:

Have You Put Your Oxygen Mask On?

The key is in how you deliver the “no” message.  If you relate this to your business, there are times when you must even say no to a client or a potential client, especially when it comes to charging what you’re worth.  If you don’t, you will create enormous problems for yourself.

Kristen was a real go-getter she wasn’t afraid to say “yes.” And it helped her shoot up the ranks at her job as a young woman.

She wasn’t afraid to try new things or risk failure. So the blogger and knitting enthusiast found herself with her own office at the young age of 21. But her love affair with the word “yes” didn’t last forever.

30 years later, she found that her romance with “yes” had finally lost its flame. She was stressed out.

Unfortunately you can’t always fake it until you make it.

She found herself saying “yes” to the wrong things, leaving her stretched and overcommitted.

So she decided it was time give a word in her lexicon some extra use.

Not all of us can say “no” with the ease of Grumpy Cat. #lifegoals.

It took a while, but once she perfected “the art of ‘no'” she knew she made the right decision.

In a blog post about her journey to learning how to say no, she says getting into the habit wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it. She feels better: free, happy, and more helpful!

GIF via “Despicable Me.”

Here are some simple tips that’ll have you saying that two-letter word with ease in no time:

1. Make the commitment to “no” official. Figure out why you need to say it, and declare it.

YES! And that’s OK. GIF via “Scandal.”

It’ll be easier to stick to saying “no” when you’ve sat down and told yourself why you’ve made the conscious decision to do so. Kristen’s turning point came when she found herself making and delivering 200 desserts by hand for a party that wasn’t even hers when she had her own party the same day! The stress of it left her feeling exhausted and victimized. She decided enough is enough.

So take a minute to think about it: Why do you need to say “no”? Is it to get more sleep? To be less stressed? To have more time to go to the gym or spend time with friends? Remember that every reason is valid. Just make sure you discover yours.

2. Remember: Saying “no” won’t make everyone hate you.

A re-enactment of how people will feel after you tell them “no.” GIF via “Skins.”

Until we learn how to add more hours to the 24 we’ve got in a day, we just can’t do everything. People get that we have limitations because we all have them. And, you know, there’s that thing with sleeping and eating that we humans can’t do without.

If people respect you enough to ask for your help, they’ll respect you enough to not take your “no” personally. Keep in mind that it isn’t the word “no” that’s inherently rude; it’s how it’s said that makes the difference.

3. Overcome FOMO and get comfortable with “doing you.”

It’s easy to feel like Homer, but you can overcome it. I BELIEVE IN YOU! GIF via “The Simpsons.”

The temptation to say “yes” can be especially strong when you feel like you don’t want to miss out on a great opportunity. If you’re tempted to say “yes” out of fear, ask yourself a few questions. For instance: Will there be other parties? Can I really take on another commitment? Will I feel energized or more exhausted if I do this?

4. Discover the magic of using “and” or “but.”

See how magical that word is?! GIF via “Spongebob Squarepants.”

I get it. The idea of a curt “no” might sound terrifying. And nobody likes rudeness. Try these simple additions to help you soften the blow while still sounding confident:

In the resources section of the She Negotiates’ website, negotiation consultant and executive coach Lisa Gates shows just how effective these words can be in different situations:

When you’re just flat out saying “no.”
“Yes, I’d love to participate, and I am going to have to decline.”

When you know someone who can do it.
“I love that you thought of me, and I’m unable to participate. How can I help you find someone else?”

When you want to show your appreciation for the ask.
“I think your idea is fabulous, and I’m not able to participate at this time.”

When it’s “no” for now.
“Yes, I’d love to participate, but at a later date. Can you ask me again in January?”

5. Keep it short and sweet.

Channel your inner Liz Lemon. GIF via “30 Rock.”

Know that saying “no” is enough. You don’t need to provide a long explanation to prove the worth of your “no.” Keep it simple while being truthful. It’ll be clear, and (bonus points) you don’t sound like you’re making up excuses!

And if you wish you didn’t have to say “no”? Here’s another example Gates offers:

I really wanted to attend your party but I was working late and the kids had a meltdown when I came home and by the time things were calmed down it was too late. Besides, someone boxed me in and I couldn’t get out of my parking space even if I wanted to. I’m sorry if you were counting on me. How can I make it up to you?

Doesn’t it sound so much better when you keep it short and to the point?

Following these steps are just the beginning. Fortunately there are a lot of resources out there that can help you learn how to say “no.” Check out these posts on Lifehacker or books like “How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty” by Patti Brietman and Connie Hatch.

Creating boundaries can be hard, but having them makes for a happier, more healthy life. It might feel counterintuitive, but saying “no” can actually improve your relationships. Think about it: If you learn how to turn down doing the things you don’t really want to do, then you’re free to commit to the things and people you’re crazy about (in the good way).

So go out there and flex those “no” muscles and tell me how it goes. Or not. It’s OK if you don’t want to report back just say no. 😉

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R

1. Always follow my dreams.

My parents never doubted my abilities and always supported me, even when I failed. They might have reamed me out from time to time, but they only did that when it was apparent I didnt try because they knew how much I had to offer.

2. Never give up.

If one thing support from my parents taught me it is to never give up, even when the world seems like it is pushing against you with full force. Once you give up you are defeated, but there is still so much waiting for you on the other side of defeat.

3. Work hard and stay humble.

You taught me to always work hard and stay humble because you never know when everything could be taken from you. To not showcase achievements because you know where you stand and as long as you work hard good things will come.

4. There is no shame in the struggle.

Because struggle often leads to success if you stay with it. Giving up or quitting is the only time you fail. The struggle is what builds character and what makes you strong. Without struggle there is no triumph and the feeling of triumph is all worth it.

5. How to be selfless.

You two were the most selfless people in my world, which in helped teach me how to be selfless watching you. You sacrificed so much for our family and I know I will never be able to thank you enough or repay you, but know that because of your selflessness it has in turn helped guide me to be a better person.

6. Honesty is key.

Ive tried lying, just like every other kid, sometimes I got it away with it and other times I havent. But you taught me that its much better to tell the truth than to make up a lie. The repercussions of lying are more likely to back fire and hurt someone.

7. Always express gratitude.

You both taught me to be thankful for everything in my life. To say I wasnt privileged would be a lie; to say I wasnt thankful for my life would also be a lie. I was in no way spoiled, I didnt get everything I wanted, I didnt get things just because I asked, but I had parents who would willingly drive me where I needed, pay for sports tournaments I wanted to participate in and give me $10 if I asked to go out to eat. I know how lucky I am and not expressing my gratitude would be an awful mistake.

8. Forgive others.

You taught me to forgive others, even when they dont deserve it sometimes because we all do and say things we dont mean from time to time. But forgiving someone helps lift a weight off your shoulders and in turn makes for a better life.

9. Learn from others.

Never think youre above someone because if your glass is already full then no one else can pour anything into it. In other words, never think youre too good to learn from anyone else because an attitude like that doesnt allow for personal growth, which will only harm you in the end.

10. Take pride in your work.

This is important, if you arent proud of your own work how do you except others to be proud of it? My parents have shown incredible support for my work and my dreams, which in turn makes me proud.

11. Be generous.

It is so important to be generous because you never know how much someone is struggling and could use a hand. Sometimes all it takes is a little extra generosity and love to show someone that they are not alone and that you are there for them in times of need. A little support goes a long way, you both taught me that.

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I came across this article which is very thought-provoking and again ties in well with my subject matter of charging what you’re worth.  In essence, the article talks about motivating people and says that as long as they’re being paid enough money, they will then be motivated to focus on the work at hand, improve how they do it and make a real difference.  The same applies if you’re a business.  When you charge what you’re worth, you’re able to put all your attention on doing a really good job and create more value for your clients than you would have done, if you hadn’t charged appropriately.

TRUE or FALSE: The best way to motivate a certain behavior in someone is simply to reward them for it.

False. Well, kind of.

Of course, it’s not entirely that simple. The ideal motivation depends on what kind of task you’re trying to get someone to accomplish. Author Daniel Pink cites a couple studies that prove this whole motivation thing is a lot more complicated than we thought. Let’s take a look.

The experiment: Give people different levels of cash rewards to perform various tasks.

Seems pretty straightforward, right? People were asked to memorize numbers, solve crosswords, play basketball all sorts of stuff. And they were promised cash rewards as motivation. Money money money money! So, what happened?

The result: For any tasks that called for cognitive skill, higher pay resulted in poorer performance.

Say WHHAAAAATTT!? Yep. As long as the task involved only mechanical skill, bonuses worked as expected: higher pay = better performance. But as soon as the task called for cognitive skill, bonuses worked in the opposite way: higher pay = poorer performance.

OK, well then how do you motivate people to perform those tasks that do require thought?

Daniel Pink says the answer here lies in three fancy buzzwords: autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

First, you gotta pay people enough that money is no longer an issue. Then they can actually focus on the work at hand. That’s where autonomy (our desire to be in charge of our own lives), mastery (our desire to get better at stuff), and purpose (our desire to make a difference) come into play.

Purpose is kind of the kicker here. We all want to make the world a better place. Maybe the thing standing in the way of us making a better world is just the outdated way we think about motivation. How about that carrot for thought?

“If we start treating people like people, and not assuming that they’re simply horses … if we get past this kind of ideology of carrots and sticks and look at the science, I think we can actually … make our world just a little bit better.”

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It’s all too easy to feel pessimistic about the world these days.

Here to tell you why that’s flat-out wrong is senior Fusion editor Felix Salmon. In a Wednesday morning interview with The Huffington Post at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the financial journalist shared an encouraging perspective: “The world is getting better,” he said. “We can never lose sight of that fact.”

In defense of that thesis, Salmon offered up a wealth of supporting arguments:

The world has been getting better for hundreds of years, the world will continue getting better. It’s more peaceful now than it used to be. We are richer now than we used to be. We worry about the world falling into a global recession, which just means it gets a little bit poorer for… half a year or so, but in the grand scheme of things, it grows.

We have more democracies now than ever. We have fewer dictatorships now than ever. We have fewer people dying of easily curable diseases. We have more literacy than ever. We have more girls being educated than ever. All of these things are good for the world, and over the long term, the world is going to be a much better place.

He added that the world will get better even if we don’t do anything about it. So to what should we attribute this forward progress, if most of what we do doesn’t actually have much of an impact?

Per Salmon, we owe it mostly to freedom, advances in communications technology, capitalism and education.

All of those things work in tandem “to unlock human potential,” he said, “and allow people to become richer and happier and healthier. That’s what happens over time, and it’s been happening for hundreds of years.”

“The future is bright because of the fundamental way where, if you get this nexus of free people, free markets, democracy, education, the Internet, all coming together, it creates value, it allows people to unlock value they have in themselves.”

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The Venus Awards Dorset recognise and celebrate the achievements of successful women in Dorset, so it’s a great honour to have been nominated.

At this stage I’m in the Dorset heats, and voting opens in just 2 weeks time – I’ll keep you posted!