You Don’t Owe Anyone a Sale
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🎤 TED Talk Tuesday: You Don’t Owe Anyone a Sale
Let me say it louder for the people in the back…
And maybe even louder for the ones camped out in your DMs every holiday weekend:
You. Don’t. Owe. Anyone. A. Discount.
Not for Mother's Day.
Not because it’s Tuesday.
Not because “another shop is doing 50% off.”
Not because “times are hard” (yep, same here).
And definitely not because “I’d buy it if it was cheaper.”
Let’s translate that last one, shall we?
“I’d buy it if it was cheaper” =
“I don’t value your time, your skill, or the fact that this is your actual business—not a garage sale.”
And guess what?
That is not your problem.
That is not your cue to lower your prices.
That is not your sign to second-guess yourself or start wondering if you’re “charging too much.”
No ma’am. Not today. Not ever.
Because here’s the truth they don’t like to hear:
Your price isn’t random.
Your price reflects:
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The time it took you to create the product.
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The hours you spent learning how to do what you do.
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The expensive software, fonts, and hardware you invested in (even if you don’t remember buying half of them at 3 a.m. during a “creative emergency”).
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The late nights. The mental energy. The failed versions. The start-overs. The mockup folder labeled “eh maybe later.”
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Your experience—yes, even the years you spent not charging enough because you were still learning your worth.
That price?
It’s math. It’s labor. It’s boundaries.
It’s not a suggestion.
Let’s talk about the pressure to run sales “just because.”
Small biz owners get hit with it constantly:
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“Do you have a discount code?”
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“Is there a bundle deal?”
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“Will this be on sale for Black Friday? Labor Day? Arbor Day?”
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“Can I get a friends-and-family discount?” (From a second cousin you haven’t seen since 1998.)
It’s exhausting. It’s invasive. And it chips away at your confidence if you’re not careful.
But here’s the reality:
Sales are a strategy. Not an obligation.
They are tools you get to use when it aligns with your business goals—not when someone’s guilt-tripping you in the comments section.
If you want to run a sale because you’re clearing space, celebrating an anniversary, or just feeling generous—go for it. Power move.
But never, ever feel like you have to run a sale just to please people who wouldn’t pay full price anyway.
Because they’re not your people.
The right customers? They get it.
They see the value.
They appreciate the art, the effort, the energy.
They support your prices without a coupon code.
And when you price your work with confidence, you attract more of them.
More customers who say:
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“This is so worth it.”
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“I love what you do.”
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“Take my money.”
And isn’t that who you’re really here for?
So repeat after me:
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I am not a clearance bin.
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I am not a coupon machine.
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I am not here to compete with fast fashion or trend-chasing resellers.
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I am an artist. A business. A brand.
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My prices are fair. My time is valuable. And my work? It’s worth every penny.
If someone wants what you offer, they'll either pay the price or wait until you choose to offer a deal.
They don’t get to dictate your pricing.
They don’t get to guilt you into discounts.
And they sure as hell don’t get to tell you what your worth is.
You’re not running a charity.
You’re running a business.
So stand tall.
Charge what you charge.
And let the discount hunters hunt somewhere else.
TL;DR:
You don’t owe anyone a sale. Not in your inbox. Not in your comments. Not even in your thoughts.
Offer discounts when it feels right for you.
But never lower your worth to meet someone else’s expectations.
Because you’re not just selling a file—you’re selling your time, talent, and energy.
And that’s priceless.