Episode 131

The True Costs of Discounts In Business

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This is a topic I’ve been holding close for a while. It’s personal. It’s practical. And for me, it’s deeply values-driven. There’s a reason you’ll never see me running Black Friday deals, slashing prices, or jumping into auctions, and it has nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with integrity.

I want to explore why I choose not to discount, what I’ve learned from past experiences, and how this decision is grounded in care, respect, and a deeper connection to the people I work with.

EPISODE 131: Listen using the player below, or click the links to your fave platform to subscribe and listen over there:

The Real Cost of Discounting

There was a time when I didn’t fully trust myself or my business. I’d see others running big sales or offering half-price packages, and I’d follow suit, even when it didn’t feel right.

But it always left me with a nagging feeling. And when I started to listen to that feeling, I realised something important: discounting often disconnects me from the value of what I offer. It shifts the energy. It changes the dynamic.

And more importantly, it risks creating mistrust.

I’ve bought things myself, only to see them go on sale a few days later. The disappointment that followed was real. It made me feel unseen, like I was just a transaction. And if I felt that way, I knew my own clients could too. That’s not the experience I want to create.

Auctions and Undercharging Don’t Build Connection

I’ve participated in auctions before. I offered my full service at a heavily reduced rate. And even though the person received everything I promised, the energy wasn’t the same.

When someone buys your work at a deeply discounted price, the connection can be different. It’s not always about money, it’s about energetic exchange. When it feels off, the whole experience shifts. And I’ve learned that no “visibility boost” or momentary exposure is worth that disconnect.

So I made the decision. No more auctions. No more deep discounts. No more doing things that don’t align, just because they’re popular or expected.

Pricing with Integrity

That doesn’t mean my prices never change. If I’m creating something new, like a course, I may offer it at a lower introductory price. That’s not discounting. That’s evolution. That’s honouring the natural growth of an offer as it develops and expands.

But I will never claim a course is “worth $500” and sell it for $27 just for the hype. That’s not only misleading, it’s illegal in Australia if you haven’t actually sold it at the higher price before.

Integrity matters to me. And that means being honest, consistent, and respectful, not just with pricing, but with every part of how I run my business.

Your Clients Are Not Transactions

This is the heart of it. The reason I take time before launching a group program. The reason I consider every email, every offer, every decision so carefully. Because the people who choose to work with me are not numbers. They’re not clicks or conversions. They are individuals. And I want each one to feel seen, valued, and honoured.

Whether someone joins through a free opt-in or signs up for a full program, they matter. Every single person in my field is special. That’s not lip service, it’s how I run everything. I think about their experience. I think about their energy. And I build with that in mind.

So no, I won’t offer a big discount two days after someone purchases. I won’t throw in extra bonuses last-minute without acknowledging the people who already bought. That’s not who I am.

The Ripple of Integrity

These decisions aren’t about being rigid. They’re about being real. And they invite you to pause and ask: what do you want your business to feel like? What values do you want to stand by?

If discounting feels aligned for you, that’s okay. But be mindful. Because what you do now shapes the trust you build long-term.

There’s a ripple effect when you lead from integrity. Clients feel safer. Relationships deepen. And you start attracting people who value you not just for what you do, but for how you do it.

Final Reflections

You get to decide how your business runs. There’s no one-size-fits-all. But for me, connection, care, and consistency come before tactics and trends.

And the more I honour that, the more aligned my business feels. The more empowered my clients become. And the more sustainable everything becomes, because it’s grounded in something real.

Here for the links that may have been referenced in the show or is complementary to this episode.

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