“My people can’t afford me.”
A member of my Playful Solo community said that to me, her voice full of truth and tension.
She meant it. You could feel it in her voice—the heart, the fire, the lived experience.
I knew that moment well.
When I first started my coaching business, I told myself: Immigrant women won’t pay premium rates. They can’t afford it. I need to make it accessible.
It felt noble. Generous. Practical.
But underneath it? Fear.
Fear of rejection. Fear of not being liked. Fear of becoming “too much” in the eyes of people I deeply wanted to serve.
Until one day, my coach asked me:
“Do you want to keep immigrant women poor?”
That one hit me in the gut.
Because the truth is—when we shrink our prices out of fear, we reinforce the very scarcity we say we want to disrupt.
If I believe my work can help immigrant women lead boldly, build wealth, and trust themselves…
then I need to model what that looks like.
That means trusting my own value.
Charging with integrity.
Making powerful invitations—not apologies.
It doesn’t mean I abandon generosity. I have sliding-scale options, pro bono gifts, and a deep commitment to serve whoever show up in front of me.
But I no longer lead with guilt.
Because if I want immigrant women to take up space, rest without shame, and build values-aligned businesses…
I have to go first.
The most powerful thing you can do for your people isn’t to make yourself smaller—it’s to model what’s possible.
Let them see you trust yourself.
Let them feel what it’s like to be in the presence of someone who knows her worth.
That’s how we create the future we’re here for.
One bold choice at a time.
Loving you,
Wen