Here’s a little tip, a very practical one that can help you start to uplevel your life.

It has to do with asking for recommendations for professional services or solutions that are really quite important, even if they’re very much everyday kinds of things.

This came to mind to me recently, as I was on ‘the Facebook’ and saw a friend asking for a recommendation for a plumber. They added that qualifier at the end of the request for recommendations that people only share options that were very affordable and “didn’t cost an arm and a leg.”

I used to ask that same thing if I needed an electrician or a plumber, or if I was looking for a web developer—whatever I needed. I would often add at the end something about the cost needing to be contained. After nearly 11 years (at the time that I’m recording this) in business for myself, I can tell you, I have long stopped prioritizing the inclusion of the cost qualifier when I’m looking for recommendations. And I thought I’d share with you a few reasons why I stopped doing that. Because it reflects a significant mindset shift that epitomizes growth in my own life, I hope it might do the same for you.

So—here are a few reasons to nix the mention of cost when you’re seeking recommendations for professional services. By the way, I’m not talking boxes of tissues or cardigan sweaters from your online store; by all means, get your coupons and discount codes and rock that out. I’m talking about stuff that is of more significance. So, here we go.

The mention of cost is unnecessary.
First of all, the mention of cost is unnecessary. It’s pretty darn safe to assume that the people in your life, friends or colleagues, would recommend providers or solutions that they themselves know to be within a reasonable cost range. It’s just unnecessary language to add into the conversation.

Cost is a meaningless qualifier, as tolerance varies for everyone.
Secondly, it’s actually a very meaningless qualifier because somebody else’s too expensive might be right within your budget and would reflect the right service that you need in the moment.

Focus on cost reflects lack of understanding of value.
Here’s where it gets into mindset shift, y’all. Asking about cost may indicate that you do not fully value or have yet to understand the value of whatever help you’re looking for. This may reflect that need to dig a little deeper to understand what the investment is, not just the ‘discount decision’ in the moment.

It limits the range of quality options for comparison.
And it potentially, essentially limits the quality of the recommendations you may receive, as well as your ability to then compare prices and offerings across a wider range of the products or services from providers across the board.

It may indicate you have discomfort in how you price your goods and services.
But here’s a big one. It’s very interesting. Sometimes when I observe someone starting an all call post for these recommendations, with that emphasis on “cheap,” I start to interpret that that might be a little teensy indicator that the person making the request may not themselves be comfortable in how he or she prices the services or goods they sell.

I say that because that used to be the case for myself

Let’s face it. Would any of us want to be recommended for the work we do or the goods or services we offer primarily because we’re the cheap or even the super affordable one?

I am a business owner and, for the kind of work that I provide for clients, I always customize my quotes. Absolutely, I work within a set range; my fee is pretty much predictable—yet every customer, every client is unique, and every situation and project is unique. So I customize my quotes because of that. After nearly 11 years of doing that, I respectfully never state a known cost when recommending a service provider to a friend or a colleague. I make recommendations solely based on quality and value. I respect that the service provider I’m suggesting may have altered their pricing structure since they worked with me. And I want my friends or colleagues to be able to make their own intelligent decisions about what investment is right for them.

This may seem like a really small thing, but it can be such a powerful indicator of a potential scarcity mindset that’s holding you back in other areas.

Apply the simple practice of removing the filter of cost when seeking the best alternatives for what you need. It can actually be a step in the direction of welcoming abundance.

Food for thought…
Thanks for being here, guys!

oxo,
Irene