Do you suspect, or maybe even know, that you’re underpaid?

I know that when I found out I was underpaid, I felt angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, and even a bit humiliated. These are all completely normal emotions to experience when we work hard and bring so much value to the companies we work for—and all that effort doesn’t lead to the $$$ or career success we hoped for.

It’s what we do with these normal, very human emotions that determine our level of satisfaction with our tech careers and lives.

If you suspect or know that you’re underpaid, does a part of you feel stuck or powerless to change your situation? If so, you’re not alone.

In order to get unstuck and reclaim your power, it’s pivotal that you discover the choices and decisions you have right now in this moment.

When I uncovered the truth that I was underpaid, I saw three distinct paths forward:

1: I could spend the next couple years of my life beating myself up for being an underpaid woman in tech, somehow believing that it was my fault.

With this option, I saw how my life could look like in a few years time, and it wasn’t pretty! I saw a discouraged, depressed woman who felt powerless to own her career and create the life she wanted. Her relationships with her loved ones were strained because they found it difficult to be around her when she was miserable all the time. Because she didn’t believe she was capable of earning what she’s worth, I saw a woman who was sleep-deprived and sick with stress. I felt sad looking at this option and the future it could create for me.

2: I could spend the next couple years of my life blaming my employer for my being underpaid, believing that it was all their fault.

With this option, I saw how my life could look like in a few years time, and it wasn’t pretty either! I saw an angry, frustrated, resentful woman who had grown bitter because she too felt powerless to own her career or create the life she wanted. Her relationships with her loved ones were strained because they didn’t like being around a person who was angry all the time. Since she blamed her employer for being underpaid, her relationship with her boss was tense and she wondered whether she’d be let go. This woman was also sleep-deprived and sick with stress. I felt nauseated looking at this option!

3: I could accept that while it wasn’t my fault, it IS my responsibility and opportunity to own my outcome.

With this option, I saw a future where I spent the last couple of years stepping up and investing in myself—despite being afraid—so I could learn salary negotiation to earn what I’m worth and advance my tech career. I felt energized, proud, and inspired looking at this option.

I’m proud to say I stepped up, decided to own my outcome, and the result is it changed my life….

Because I decided to own my outcome and invested in learning to negotiate for myself, in less than two years after learning I was underpaid, I tripled my salary! Now I earn an additional six figures year after year after year!

If you suspect that you’re underpaid, or if you know that you are, you, too, have an important decision to make. And it’s a decision only you can make for yourself: you can remain stuck or you can choose to have faith in yourself and own your outcome.

I believe stepping up and owning your outcome is a powerful choice you can make in your life. We don’t have to wait for someone else to change our lives for us. We women in tech can own our own outcomes and get change in our own careers!

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