top of page

You don't have to earn your worth



In the early years of my business, I desperately tried to justify every single investment.


I cut back on personal spending, especially solo travel. If I went somewhere, I had to find a work reason—attend a conference, set up a retreat, meet a client—anything that gave me permission to go. Just for joy? Just because I wanted to? Alone, even without my partner? That felt… selfish. Filled with guilt and self-doubt. A no-go. 


I thought once I had this income, or that client, or a certain external validation, then I'd deserve it.


But really—it wasn’t about money or time. It was about worthiness. I didn’t feel like I’d earned it yet.


That has shifted radically over the past months.


I no longer see self-care or joy as a reward. I see it as a requirement—to function well, to serve powerfully, to give fully. I stopped treating my own needs like something to negotiate.


And here's what I’ve learned:

When you reclaim and hold onto your truth, you return to your inherent wholeness. You no longer have to prove anything to anyone. You had been enough all along. When you stop trying to earn your worth, you reclaim your power—and start writing your own story.

I’ve seen this with my clients too.


Her boundaries were unclear. She negotiated from fear. She avoided hard conversations—even though, in public, she appeared to have a strong voice.


She didn’t ask for (enough) help.


She gave so much that she’d eventually burn out—then explode in frustration at her team during meetings that felt random and emotionally charged.


Her cup was empty—and her team, and the company, bore the consequences.


People started to leave. Turnover was high. They felt unheard, dismissed, and didn’t expect anything to change.


I got suspicious. I reached out to a few people who had recently quit to ask what was really going on.


They trusted me and were open—because I was a contractor. Close enough to have impact. Distant enough not to be afraid of telling the truth.


It became crystal clear: to scale the company, we had to start with her.


She had to:


  • Relearn how to set boundaries

  • Stand up for herself

  • Work from possibility, not fear

  • Allow herself to invest in herself

  • Bear the discomfort of feeling guilt for that shift


Her commitment was needed to make this - for herself, for the people, and for the business.

And when she changed—so did the organization.


Bit by bit, new investments became possible. Decisions got clearer. Communication opened. The team relaxed. The business moved back into flow.


We didn’t start with structure—we started with her nervous system. With her personal method of operation—before we touched the company’s.


The growth that followed was a result, not a solution.

And that’s the pattern I keep seeing again and again.


The business mirrors the founder. The health of the company reflects the health of its leadership. The symptoms in the organization often come from personal dynamics that haven't yet been named.


Whether it’s solo travel, or a founder learning to stand fully in her power—it always begins here:


When you stop trying to earn your worth, you begin to trust it.


And that’s when everything starts to shift.


~


Details have been modified to protect confidentiality and are drawn from multiple cases.


Hi, I’m Zsanett. I help expat women entrepreneurs and female-led businesses navigate reinvention—consciously, holistically, and on their own terms. I believe that your life and work should be about authentic self expression, and it all starts within you. How you live, lead, and do business reflects who you are. This is it: I help you walk the less traveled road.

 

Comments

bottom of page