I changed my mind about something.
There’s this unspoken rule in entrepreneurship and in life that once you decide on something, you have to defend it and do it forever.
I'm all about sticking to my guns. I think it's a very important thing to do for yourself.
I am a recovering people pleaser who kept going against myself to unintentionally control other people's perceptions of me. I was so scared of people being mad at me or upset with me about something I physically could not deal with it.
But then I kept betraying myself. I kept reminding my inner child and teenager that what I had to think never mattered, and I had to mold myself to fit in a box that was never meant for me.
It took me a long time to retell the story I was telling myself and those other versions of me.
I got to a point in my personal life where I became selfish without feeling bad about it because I didn't learn the right balance between making sure other people were taken care of and considered and setting boundaries and respecting myself.
For now, let's focus on the business part of things. Say you release a product you've worked very hard on and are very proud of. You do some research and experimenting, and price it accordingly.
You declare it publicly and stand by that price point no matter what.
You refuse to adjust that price as some kind of admission that you were wrong.
But then you're not making any sales and you're wondering what the fuck is going wrong.
If you're just getting started, of course you're not gonna make any sales at first. Nobody knows you, nobody trusts you, and nobody is going to blindly give you their money and time unless someone else does it first.
It's easy to become egotistical in business, especially when you created something that will change your life and the lives of others.
But business is about researching what works and what doesn't and acting accordingly as time goes on. It's taking feedback and using it to alter your strategy and see if it works this time. And if it doesn't, you repeat the process.
And it's frustrating at first. A lot of business owners give up within 90 days of starting. But success typically comes at least 6-9 months after you get started.
Right now, I’m in a place where I care more about getting the gears moving.
Here is an example of what I'm talking about. I'm not trying to sell you something; I'm trying to teach you something.
I created a digital product not too long ago called Social Media Cash Flow Systems™.
This is not some bullshit PDF that tells you generic information you can find on YouTube and Reddit about how to sell on social media using a digital product. Products like that are a scam.
This is a 150-page blueprint containing 50 evergreen social media management systems I have either developed or used personally throughout my 8+ yearlong professional social media career.
Each system is simple, evergreen, and designed to save you hours while increasing your impact and visibility.
I originally priced this digital product at $99. I did market research, spoke with my target audience, did everything I could to justify pricing it at that amount.
I did NOT want to decrease the price. I got too personal about it though.
I justified the high price point because of the value in something that's immediately available, can help people grow and thrive in their creative or business ventures, my professional experience and education, everything.
But I didn't make any sales after a month of the blueprint at that price point.
I went back to the chopping block. Something needed to change.
I'm just getting started. I'm getting taken more seriously on social media but I still have a long way to go.
What can I do now?
So I lowered the price. I'm going to see what happens.
I'm choosing to be a bit more flexible.
I originally priced my digital product at $99.
The blueprint is now $49, $50 off.
To be very clear, this is something that IS worth $99. Everything. The systems. The frameworks. The time it saves. The years of testing and refining that went into it. The mistakes people won't have to make because I already made them.
I'm able to be successful on social media because of these systems.
I didn't change the price on something in my business because it's worth less or that I panicked or because of some sob story about how I don't believe in this product.
The only thing that changed was my strategy.
I want more people to get access to knowledge without having to do Uber Eats to pay for it. I want more testimonials from people I've helped. I want more real-world proof that my knowledge is not only worth a fuck but genuinely helpful to other people.
Sales generate data. Data generates clarity. Clarity generates growth. And growth > pride.
Changing your mind in business is a true sign of growth.
When you are responsive to feedback, new research will always be present for you to help you for the better.
Business is dynamic. It’s a living organism.
Creative entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, content creators, and creatives in general struggle with this the most. We tie our decisions to our identity.
When you’re building something new, you aren't operating with perfect information.
You are testing a variety of things:
- Your audience’s readiness
- Your positioning
- Your messaging
- Your perceived value
- Your own capacity
- Your market timing
Pricing is not just about value. It’s about context.
At this stage, accessibility makes more sense for me than optimization.
It means you’re paying attention.
It means you care about building something sustainable instead of something performative.
Rigidity feels powerful. But adaptability actually is powerful.
Ego-based decisions will drain you. So will trying to be perfect. So will the fear of looking inconsistent.
Later on in life? I may raise the price again. That’s allowed too.
You are allowed to change your prices and positioning and niche. You are allowed to relaunch something differently, admit something didn’t convert the way you expected.
You are always allowed to keep trying and then try again.
🧠 Brain-Picks
- Overcommunication is a form of begging. Life really does get easier when you stop overexplaining yourself.
- Just a friendly reminder to stop expecting you from other people.
- I think one of the harshest lessons I'm learning as an adult (so far) is that when you're leveling up, not everybody you know can come with you.
🫀 Tips for creating and living creatively
- Your job is made up, and you float on a rock. Stress literally will unalive you. Please take care of yourself.
- Make money so you can walk out of situations you don't like.
- Hey, you were extremely generous with your patience. Now it’s time to be ruthless with your peace.
With gratitude,
Katrina
PS: Reminder that the Social Media Cash Flow Systems™ blueprint is now LIVE. 🎉
This blueprint contains 150 pages of 50 evergreen social media management systems that support your income efforts and save you time, branding information, content pillar creation, and more.
Get the systems here.
🍵 Thank you for reading The Heartwood Letter! If you really liked this edition of the newsletter, come explore my other offerings.
💌 If you loved it, tell your friends to subscribe here.
Unsubscribe here for any reason, at any time.