This week I’ve only had time to read half of Chapter 3 of ‘Overcoming UnderEarning’ by Barbara Stanny.

In the first paragraph Barbara writes “the key to upping your earnings is rarely working longer hours …” - yeah, that’s what I’m doing now. I’m working pretty much every waking hour, except on weekends.

She talks more then about how high earners ‘think’ differently which results in different choices and outcomes. And some of the inner voices that tend to hold us back like “you do not have what it takes”. (I hear that one sometimes myself. I think, I don’t know if I can do what someone like Wendy Piersall’s done.)

She goes on about how to be able to shift your thinking you need to do both Inner Work and Outer Work. Inner Work has a lot to do with self esteem and included in the book is a ‘Self-Esteem Inventory’. I can’t write all of it out here though, but I will say that some of them apply to me, and most likely to many women.

According to Barbara women tend to put others before ourselves and tend to feel like we are being selfish if we don’t. It is most likely the way we are raised. Many women, more so than men, tend to be raised to believe that we are supposed to take care of others and as a result we neglect ourselves.

One result of this is not recognizing or valuing our own worth - including how much money we deserve to make. Then many women feel guilty when they want to do more for themselves - whether it be for their careers, health or financial situation.

My favorite quote from this section:

“Don’t forget to love yourself.”

– Soren Kierkegaard

Next time - the rest of Chapter 2.