Knowing Your Worth

Worth: A fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged. 

In the blogging world, a person’s worth can vary around many different factors. Their social presence, their personality, their location, their age, their gender, the list goes on and on. Knowing your worth is not something that comes easily to anyone. Personally, I know that up until recently, I didn’t know my true worth, in the blogging world and my personal life. Some of my revelations came from reading the book The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving A F**k. A bit of an eyeopener, really, but that book prompted me to look into my own worth and see just how important my life and feelings truly are.

I’m going to write this post in relation to 2 aspects of my life: my blog and my personal life. Starting with the blog, since it’s the more obvious of the 2. Knowing my worth when it comes to my blog means knowing how much my time and efforts are worth. Gone are the days where I would gladly take a sponsored post with no compensation outside of the product. I’ve been doing this for over 3 years now (I know, look how time flew!).

Recently, I’ve had to stand up for myself and my content. I can’t just accept nothing because my time is worth everything. Now, I have an image and reputation to maintain at this point, so just posting willy nilly doesn’t get me anywhere. I don’t want to look like a sell out and I know what I love and what I don’t. Don’t expect to see teeth whitening and detox teas because I don’t believe in them. If I don’t believe in it, it won’t go up on the blog.

ASOS Matador Hat || Forever 21 White Lace Crop || Zara Printed Pinafore || Joie Lace Up Heels  

In addition to staying true to myself, I’ve learned that I have to stick up for my efforts. When someone asks if I can post about a product, but with no compensation, I kindly reply back that at the moment, I have to decline unless there is some form of monetary compensation. Yeah, I sound stuck up and petty, but at the same time, I know what my time is worth. People don’t realize how much money, time, and effort goes into making The Hat Logic what it is today.

I don’t lose sleep for anything. If I can’t pay my bills from doing a job I love, then I can’t possibly do the job forever. no, this blog isn’t a hobby, it’s a job. A one I have a passion for, but a job. Don’t get it twisted. Knowing my worth means that I get to participate in collaborations with brands who actually want to work with me and ones who I will work with, due to the mutual respect that we have for our respective professions.

Now on to my personal life….well that’s a bit tougher. I’ve never been good with people. Nope, never. No idea why, but it’s just a fact of my life. Knowing my worth when it comes to people is not a concept that comes easily to me because of that. So oftentimes, I’ll settle for people who want to use me or want to be around me as long as I have something to offer.

Knowing your worth when it comes to friends and family is hard. These are the people whose opinions have shaped your life. The people you listen to when you have a bad day when you have a new business idea that you want to test out. Or just to get an opinion on that new lace dress that you want to see. These people have more control over life than anyone realizes. So knowing your worth is an important part to decide what you want from life.

At 19, I’ve been through many friend groups. Now even in my second year of school, I’m in the middle of another transition. I’m learning that I have to stand on my own. Even if it means that I spend my weekends by myself. I want people to be around me not for my car, my money, my clothes, my influence, whatever else they may want, but for me and my personality. I don’t have time to worry myself into anxiety attacks over people who don’t truly want to be my friend. I’m completing a double major at university, writing a blog, beginning a Her Campus chapter, and running the Atlanta chapter of BBU.

I’m a very very busy person. I have to spend my time wisely or I will never get things done. I’m still coming to terms with who I am and what my worth is. At 19, I’ve not experienced much yet. I do know that I need to spend my time on things and people that are worth it and make me happy. Rather than anything that makes me depressed, sad, or anxious. Knowing my worth when it comes to people is the first step that I’m taking to make me a happier person overall. Although there will be consequences and changes in my life, I think they will make me happier overall.

Knowing your worth doesn’t mean that you have to be a horrible person who goes around throwing your nose up at anyone who doesn’t want to pay you or wants to be your friend. It means that you have to spend your time on the people and things that make you happiest. Being happy isn’t something that you settle for, so don’t settle for anything that doesn’t make you happy. You’ll end up poorly in the long run. So do what’s best for you right now and it’s never too late.

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