Understanding Your Worth
We’re on the heels of celebrating International Women’s day and I’m reflective. This morning, I need to write a letter of resignation and it’s making me think about my value as a woman, a mother and yes, an employee. I recently learned a huge lesson in my move from New York to Atlanta; I’m valuable and I need to walk in that truth.
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll see that my move to Georgia didn’t happen without it’s fair share of obstacles.
When I first moved here, I lost a job offer; but that was only after I was under contract to purchase a home. My friends, I had to hustle to get another job so that I can purchase the lovely townhouse that I’d already fallen in love with.
The Job I Love, The Pay I Hate
Well, God did make that happen for me and I found a job just under the wire to allow me to buy my new home.
There was just one little caveat; I was making 34% less in salary (yes, I did the math, LOL) than I had been in NY. It may not sound like that much of a decrease, but oh, it was.
This is a salary for new grads – not a single mother of two boys with a new mortgage to pay. Oh yeah, and a new car note, because I surely did buy a new car right after I closed on my house!
The problem is, I LOVE the job! I love the product, (WINE) and this position has allowed to exist in wealthy spaces that I’ve never been in before. On top of that, I work right in the heart of Atlanta – Midtown. This is by far, my favorite job; like ever! Yet, those raggedy assed pay checks meant that I would need to get a second job to cover my bills. I moved to Atlanta to make my life easier; not harder.
The Internal Conflict
So now here comes Bean’s conflict of conscious – do I stay at a job that I love, but one with a very low salary, or do I find something else with better pay, but I won’t like as much?
I was having this conversation with my bestie – and that’s where the conversation about self worth opens. As a woman, what am I worth? As an employee with more than 20 years experience; what number would you assign to that? I’ll tell you right now, if that number meant salary, your girl Beans is vastly underpaid.
I’m forced to think about my value as a mother. As someone raising children, there’s as example to be made. What am I teaching my boys? That it’s fine to settle and accept less? That’s not a lesson that I want to teach my children as their mother.
I don’t want to be the personification of simply taking whatever you are given. We should live with the purpose of always striving for more. I’m not teaching them this lesson by settling for a job that is not aligned with my experience.
My obligation to my children is understanding my value and walking proudly in it.
The Job Offer
So yes, I get a call from a company I interviewed with in the fall, but never heard back from. Long story short, they offer me a senior role with a pay increase of $17,000 annually and work from home twice a week. Oh, and I get to travel again – I’m getting my travel points back on Delta!!
So while I feel bad for leaving my current job after only five months, staying here devalues me. It devalues my experience and my earning potential. I’m worth more and another employer understands this.
Know the difference between what you’re worth and what you’re given.
Blissfully Single and Yours Friends,
