Get Paid What You’re Worth: The Truth About Equal Pay and the Power of the Ask
Mar 25, 2025
Today is Equal Pay Day, and while the calendar is supposed to symbolize how far into the year women must work to match what men earned the year before, the truth behind the statistic is more frustrating than symbolic:
👎 Women in the U.S. working full-time still earn only 83 cents for every man’s dollar. As evidence that this is not an employer driven phenomenon, this trend continues even into the entrepreneurial sphere. A woman business owner earns just 80 cents for every dollar a man earns.
🌎 Globally, the gender pay gap won’t close for another 134 years at the current rate (World Economic Forum).
😳 And here’s the kicker: More than half of women around the world have NEVER asked for a raise.
But when they do? Three in four get it. That’s right—if you ask, you’re likely to receive.
So what’s stopping us?
The Real Barrier: Permission
Most of us weren’t raised to talk about money, let alone ask for more. Many women in the flooring industry—and across all industries—are walking around with subconscious conditioning that makes us feel like asking for what we’re worth is selfish, aggressive, or greedy.
But that’s a lie.
Money is not a reward for being "good."
Money is a tool of empowerment.
And getting paid what you’re worth starts with knowing what that number is and giving yourself permission to ask for it.
💥 Know Your Number
Whether you’re on payroll or writing your own checks as an entrepreneur, you must know what you need to earn and what your expertise is worth.
“Financial clarity is the beginning of all wealth. You can’t scale what you don’t measure. You can’t charge what you can’t name.”
If you haven’t done this yet, start with these three questions:
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What’s the minimum I want to cover my desired lifestyle?
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What’s my desired income that would allow freedom, investment, and peace of mind?
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What are my services/products actually worth based on the transformation they deliver—not just the time they take? Ask yourself, "What do I love about what I do?" or "What excites me about the work I do," focusing on these questions can help you define your value.
(Spoiler alert: You’re probably undercharging.)
💬 Ask Like a Leader
When I gave a seminar on this topic, I broke it down into this core truth:
You are always training people how to treat you. That includes how to pay you.
Whether you’re asking your boss for a raise or quoting your next flooring job, your tone, body language, and energy teach others what you believe you’re worth.
From that presentation:
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Confidence transfers as belief. If you don’t believe in your value, no one else will.
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Pricing isn’t just numbers. It’s a reflection of your self-worth, your positioning, and your boundaries.
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Your quote (or your desired salary) is a brand statement. Are you communicating value, or apologizing for it?
🔥 Want More? Ask For It.
This Equal Pay Day, let this be your reminder:
Financial wellness is top-tier self-care.
You get to decide how much your time is worth. And it’s not about greed. It’s about power, purpose, and building a life that supports your dreams, your family, and your future.
So ask for the raise.
Raise your prices.
Send the invoice.
Follow up on the invoice.
Change the rate on your booking link.
Negotiate your offer.
Say the number that feels just a little scary.
If three out of four women who ask get a raise, what are you waiting for?
🎙 Coming Soon?
I’m still getting messages from women who saw my TISE talk on this topic, and I’m seriously thinking of turning it into an eBook or podcast episode. Let me know if that would support you—because I want to see more women in our industry living well, earning well, and owning their value every step of the way.
Getting banked is self-care.
Asking is your power move.
And being paid your worth is the floor, not the ceiling.
💜,
Michelle | Women of the Flooring Business
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