Why i do tHings differentLy
A almost ten years ago I left my job at the local health department due to chronic illness. I fully expected to take six months or so off and then get back to it. But here I am, more than a few years later, and my body still dramatically limits what I’m able to do.
During these same years, our nation and our planet endured much tumult. I started volunteering with local politicial campaigns (this is a brief detour to encourage you to get involved in your community: local politics is full of caring, engaged community members who would love your support, and as a bonus you can feel good knowing that you’re playing a small part in strengthening our democracy and being an engaged, active citizen within your community - a win/win!) and I deepened my understanding of the various systems of oppression that impact all of us living in the United States. I learned about diet culture and anti-fat bias. I learned about ableism. I did a lot of work within myself to reckon with all of it.
Which brings me to what I believe to be one of the biggest challenges that most of us living in the US must contend with - capitalism. It’s an economic system that benefits a very few at the expense of the very many. With chronic illness forcing me out of the traditional workforce and into starting my own business, I have a unique opportunity to use what I’ve learned to approach things a bit differently, especially with regards to money.
Financial accessibility and JuNipERus
Informed by my upbringing - a small-town, Midwestern girl from modest means - and learning over the years, I am working to make Juniperus an anti-capitalist business. I believe that capitalism as it is currently practiced in the United States only serves to further amplify the gap between the have and the have-nots, and that it actively harms people.
I believe that everyone deserves access to the support and benefits offered through coaching and not only for those who are fortunate to have an abundance of disposable income. Offering my services on a sliding scale along with no-cost monthly payment plans are two concrete steps I can take to make my services more financially accessible. I also love trading services, so if you have a skill or a service to swap, let’s talk!
a sLiding scalE and payment plans
While many coaches charge very high rates and expect payment in full prior to the first session, I offer all of my coaching services on a sliding scale, with no-cost monthly payment plans if desired. Which of the three tiers that a client chooses within the sliding scale is completely up to them. Clients can pay in full if they desire, or take advantage of two or three month payment plans. I don’t offer my coaching services for free because I believe that it is important for clients to have a financial investment in their own growth and development, and it is important to me that I am compensated for my work. That said, I am committed to not furthering the capitalist ideal of more, more, more in my own business.
Many of us were brought up with a lot of shame around money, or grew up in families where it wasn’t discussed at all. I want to practice breaking down some of these barriers in my business, by talking openly and honestly with clients about where they best fit within the sliding scale and if they prefer to pay in full or utilize a payment plan. I challenge clients not to explain their reasons if they need the lower-resourced rate (notably, it seems to be the only rate people feel compelled to justify). I fully trust my clients. Also, clients can move around the scale package-to-package if needed.
Lastly, this is a learning process. As I deepen my understanding of how I can do business differently, I will adjust my approach accordingly. Thank you for joining me as I work towards a more ethical, less extractive, and less harmful way of doing business.
