“A big day for Connor asking for raises”

(Please note: confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me. This client experience has been written with their express consent and agreement.)

Connor is a branding and devising consultant and a long-time Uproar client. Connor is brilliant and compassionate and weird and ambitious. They understand what motivates people. They make bold art and help people take bold swings with their business presence.

Connor is a lot of things, but Connor is not shy.

Not too long ago, Connor popped into Voxer with a very specific coaching request: they wanted to ask two clients for a rate increase.

Something you need to know: Connor’s work is primarily freelance/solopreneur. More often than not, they’re entirely on their own. As they said, “Compensation conversations are really challenging, especially when you’re a freelancer. I’m worried that, by requesting more from these clients, I might lose their business.”

And that’s where we began. Throughout the day, Connor and I exchanged texts and voice Voxes discussing each client and things like what was motivating “the ask” (including, is it a money thing or are you hoping that by upping your rates you’ll be able to offload a dud-client), what their experience with setting their rate was… Future, history, safety, dreams. I pushed back and championed on. We chatted about confidence (or less thereof) and ego.

Look, some of the questions got personal, so I’m really not going to list them all here.

I asked. I listened. I reflected back to them what I was hearing.

Connor answered. Connor reflected. Connor explored.

And then they got to work.

The following day, they brought drafts: one was a straight-foward email countering an offer, and the other a request for a meeting specifically to discuss a rate increase for upcoming, new work. After both messages were sent, we Voxed about what the outcomes may be.

They wrote their talking points for their meeting, and shared them with me.

We got off on a short tangent about the Gilmore Girls.

They celebrated the accomplishment of getting beyond the fear and owning their work’s worth. We Voxed about what this experience of asking may do for their business overall.

They texted: “Big day for Con-Con asking for raises!”

And then, things naturally got quiet for a couple of days.

That’s how it goes inside shortwave.

I’m your on-demand executive & life coach who supports you, cheers you, calls you on your bullshit (in a way that feels safe to you), who identifies where you’re creating your own obstacles, and reflects back what makes you a glitterbomb.

Through Voxer, a free app that you can also access on your desktop, we’ll talk or swap voice memos about owning your leadership style, finding joy in healthy living, making a huge career leap, creating balance or harmony between work and life, reclaiming your mojo, braving public speaking, talking you down from a metaphorical ledge…

Whatever is on your mind, whenever it’s on your mind, I’m there. And the very best part: there are no appointments necessary.

Gone are the days and the hassle of scheduling an appointment and waiting for our meeting. For 6 or 12 months, I’m on standby for you.

​Inside shortwave, you’ll choose yourself, unabashedly and unapologetically across all of the parts of your life, and you’ll feel supported, seen, and heard every step of the way.

48 hours later, Connor was back.

The renegotiation went as requested, and they received the rate bump they asked for ($100, y’all).

The meeting had slightly different outcomes than desired – still in Connor’s favor, but differently than expected. The client offered Connor the opportunity to negotiate their rates on a project-by-project basis, and that’s what Connor’s going to do moving forward. This also gives Connor an opportunity when those little non-compensated asks arise: they’ll either pause and renegotiate, or politely refuse to do it.

In their own words, “Accomplishments all around.”

Inside shortwave, Connor is learning how to really own their worth.

“In talking through my concerns with Kari through shortwave, I grew the confidence to ask for what I deserved and I got it. I’m so grateful that Kari helped me cut through the noise and tune in to what I really needed as a solopreneur.”

Now, how can I help YOU cut through the noise?