The Salary You Accept = The Standards You Set

Let’s cut the fluff: your salary isn’t just a number. It’s a reflection of what you believe you’re worth - and what you’re willing to tolerate.

Every time you accept less than you deserve, you’re not just settling for a pay. You’re broadcasting to the world (and yourself): “This is my standard. This is how much I think I’m worth.”

Painful? Yes. Necessary to hear? Absolutely. Because here’s the truth: money talks - but so do your boundaries.

So if you’re tired of living pay-to-pay, resenting your boss, or constantly feeling undervalued, the problem isn’t just your employer. It’s your standards. And until you raise them, your salary won’t either.

Salary = Self-Worth (Savage But True)

You don’t get paid by accident. You get paid based on what you ask for, what you negotiate, and what you accept.

• Low standards = low salary.

“I’ll take whatever they give me, I just need the job.” Boom - you’ve set the bar. (It’s that easy, yes!)

• High standards = higher salary.

“This is the value I bring, and here’s what I charge.” Boom - you’ve drawn the line. (I know - it’s that easy!)

The corporate world is brutal but predictable: it will always pay you the minimum it can get away with - unless you demand more.

Why You Keep Underselling Yourself?

Let’s get brutally honest. Why do you keep saying yes to jobs, salaries, and promotions that make your soul shrivel?

1. Fear Rejection

You’d rather accept crumbs than risk being told no.

2. Imposter Syndrome

You secretly think you’re not good enough, so you undersell.

3. “Grateful to Be Here” Energy

You confuse gratitude with self-abandonment. Gratitude doesn’t mean settling.

4. Society’s Lies

Especially if you’re a woman - you’ve been conditioned to be “nice,” not to negotiate.

5. Lack of Boundaries

You let employers stretch your hours, expand your job role, and still underpay you.

Translation: it’s not just “bad luck.” It’s a pattern of undervaluing yourself - and your wage matches.

Standards and Boundaries in Career (AKA Stop Being Corporate Roadkill)

Remember:

• Standards = what you expect (fair pay, respect, balance).

• Boundaries = what you enforce (not taking underpaid offers, not working 60 hours for a 40-hour salary).

If you don’t raise your standards and protect them with boundaries, you’ll keep:

• Being overworked and underpaid.

• Saying yes to “exposure” instead of actual money.

• Letting promotions pass you by.

• Watching less qualified colleagues get ahead because they asked.

The Dirty Truth About Negotiation (And Why You’re Avoiding It)

Negotiation is uncomfortable - but you know what’s worse? Spending the next 3 years making less than your coworker because you were too scared to ask.

Here’s the tea:

• Employers expect you to negotiate.

• The first offer is almost always the lowest they think you’ll accept.

• If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Period.

Every time you avoid negotiation, you reinforce a dangerous standard: “I’m fine with less.”

The Salary Mindset Glow-Up

Here’s how to stop settling and start setting standards that actually pay:

1. Audit Your Value

Write down:

• Your skills.

• Your measurable achievements.

• The unique results you bring.

This is your “value stack.” If you can’t see your worth, no employer will either.

2. Research Market Rates

Stop guessing. Use Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed. Know the industry average - and add 10–20%.

3. Rewrite Your Money Story

If your inner script says “I’m just lucky to have a job,” flip it. Try:

• “My skills are rare and valuable.”

• “I create results that deserve premium pay.”

4. Practice Negotiation Like a Script

Negotiation isn’t winging it - it’s rehearsed confidence. Script your ask, role-play it, and stop apologising for existing.

5. Hold the Boundary

If they lowball you? Say: “That doesn’t meet my expectations, but thank you.” If you fold at the first pushback, your boundaries aren’t real.

Career Red Flags (And Why You Keep Ignoring Them)

Signs your standards are too low at work:

• You dread asking for time off.

• You do the job of 3 people for 1 salary.

• “Promotion” means more work, same pay.

• You say yes to everything out of fear.

• You’re praised for “dedication” while being exploited.

Let’s be clear: loyalty is great. But loyalty without boundaries? That’s exploitation!

Salary Standards in Action

• The Undervalued Employee

“I didn’t ask for more because I didn’t want to seem greedy.” - She stayed 5 years at the same salary. When she finally left? She got a 40% raise elsewhere.

• The Negotiator

“I know my worth.” - She countered with research + receipts. She landed the job at £15K more than the original offer.

• The Boundary Queen

Said no to unpaid overtime, set limits, and stopped answering emails at midnight. Result? More respect, more recognition, and eventually, a higher-paying role.

Spiritual Twist: Money is Energy

Let’s zoom out. Money isn’t just numbers - it’s energy. When you say yes to underpayment, you’re telling the Universe: “I’ll take scraps.”

When you raise your standards, set boundaries, and embody abundance, the Universe mirrors it back. That’s manifestation in career form.

Stop praying for financial abundance while accepting salaries that scream scarcity. Your payslip reflects your vibration.

Mic Drop: Stop Calling Low Pay “Experience”

Here’s your tough-love reality check:

Every lowball salary you accept today becomes the baseline for your future. Every time you say Yes to less, you’re setting a precedent - for yourself, your career, and the market.

The salary you accept is the standard you set. So ask yourself:

👉 Are you setting the standard of “barely scraping by”?

👉 Or the standard of “I am valuable, and I refuse to accept less”?

Because one will keep you stuck. The other will change your whole damn career.

Ready to Raise Your Career Standards?

If you’re done being underpaid, undervalued, and overworked - it’s time for your career glow-up.

🔥 I help professionals break free from scarcity mindsets, set real boundaries at work, and negotiate salaries that reflect their true worth.

👉 Book your career coaching session today and let’s rewrite your money story, upgrade your confidence, and raise your standards - so your next payslip matches your power.

Because babe, your salary isn’t just a number. It’s your standard. And it’s time to raise it.