I Initiate Pay Cuts for Myself

When people hear that I’ve initiated pay cuts for myself with some of my clients, they usually look at me like I’ve lost my mind. But here’s the truth: this was always part of the plan. I didn’t build this business to chase a check, I built it to be useful. Okay maybe, a little bit more money was the initial motivator. But once I realized what I was honing in on, the type of people I wanted to team up with and celebrate their brand, I should chase where I was needed. 

I started out simply by helping where I was needed in my own community. It wasn’t glamorous, and it wasn’t about profit margins. It was about being a reliable villager. The kind of person small business owners can turn to when things get messy or overwhelming. Because opportunities don’t just show up on your doorstep, your community creates them for you!

From the beginning, my goal was to be the person someone talks about like this:

“This girl helped me, and now everything is clearer and fresher, and my business is where I want it to be!”

Small business owners typically hang out with OTHER small business owners. And my reputation with how they talked about me would sell my services on its own. That’s what lights me up, not how many hours I can bill.

One of the biggest benefits of working with me is that I can be flexible about my retainer or payment structure. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to have bills looming over your shoulder, and still want to build a thriving business you’re proud to brag about. I’m not here to add stress, I’m here to help you grow. And sometimes that means adjusting my role, my hours, or my rate to meet business owners where you are.

So when I start doing less for a business during the week, it’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s proof that the systems and processes I’ve put in place are actually working! The business is running smoother, the chaos has quieted, and my client doesn’t need as much hands-on help anymore.

Some companies even bring me in knowing I’m only temporary. They want the boost, the structure, the clarity, and then they want to take it and run with it on their own. I love that. There’s nothing more satisfying than sending that final email that says “It’s been great working with you. Never hesitate to reach out.” That moment when they’re thriving without me, is the goal.

And that’s how my Streamline Services were born. They’re built around the idea that I come in, clean things up, set you up with efficient systems, and then gradually step back as you take the reins. “Fly away little bird”. If that means my hours go down and my pay follows, I’m more than okay with that. Because it means I’ve done exactly what I set out to do. And then I have space for the next small business in need! I don’t want to be indispensable. I want to be the person who helps you become self-sufficient. And to me, that’s worth more than any paycheck.