10 Self-Worth Quotes to Help You Negotiate at Work

A strong woman is one that displays self-confidence, self-worth, happiness, and kindness. She knows that kindness is part of her competitive advantage as it makes her great at developing and sustaining relationships. Happiness isn’t something that women always feel, but knowing that we’re doing a job that aligns with our strengths helps. We need to band together and support each other as career-driven women.

According to a recent survey of millennial women conducted by Levo, more than 60% felt uncomfortable negotiating a salary, 58% were afraid of losing their job or offer, and 51% didn’t know that they should be negotiating. It seems we have a lot of work to do around educating and empowering women with self-worth and confidence. As women, our salary expectations are between 3% and 32% less than men for the same jobs. Knowing precisely what kind of compensation to ask for is crucial.

The employment process is essentially a transaction between a job seeker (seller) and buyer (employer or entrepreneur). It's sales. When I cover salary negotiations with clients, I incorporate coaching on mindset, confidence, and self-worth because statistics like the ones above bother me. It’s not just that, though. I want people to be finically rewarded in the best way, so they have resources to create a secure legacy.  

Need some more encouragement? Here are 10 self-worth quotes to motivate and empower you at work.

1. “When your self-worth goes up, your net worth goes up with it.”—Mark Victor Hansen

2. “Your most important sale is to sell yourself to yourself.”—Maxwell Maltz

3. “If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone, you have already forgotten your value.”—Anonymous

4. "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."—Helen Keller

5. “To double your net worth, double your self-worth because you will never exceed the height of your self-image.”—Robin Sharma

6. “Know your worth, then add tax.”—Rebel Circus

7. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”—Eleanor Roosevelt

The last three quotes are particularly inspiring.

Occupational segregation is one reason men make more than women. Things aren’t due to education though as women earn higher grades. Girls are encouraged to pursue “soft” professions such as education and human resources and boys are steered toward math or science fields. Michelle graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988. Her quote reminds me that being in a male-dominated industry facing gender discrimination can help develop confidence.

9. "Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong."—Peter T. McIntyre

I was speaking with a 23-year-old who had an interview with a Fortune 100 company and mentioned that she should negotiate her salary. She was confused because the job offered more than her current salary. After chatting a bit more, she said she was afraid to negotiate because of her age. Sad, right? This is why even college graduates need to learn how to negotiate their salary. Your salary in previous jobs can lock you into a permanently lower pay since future employers often base their salary offers on what you previously earned. Fortunately, this young lady gained the confidence she needed to ask for what she deserved.

Money isn’t everything, and this statement by the great Maya Angelou echoes that. When all is said and done, money doesn’t buy joy, peace, contentment, love, and the deep-seated emotions that cause us to thrive in every aspect of our life.