The
Podcast

Podcast Episode 95: Stop Being a Slave to Your Hourly Rate

We’re going to go back in time to my 20 year-old self.

I was looking to get into sales, finance or even medical school and one of my professors gave me some advice that’s stuck with me.

She asked me, “What’s the maximum earning potential in each of these career fields?”

I was caught off guard as I had never thought about having maximum potential.

I always thought the sky was the limit because I was gifted with ideas, thoughts and plans!

She continued to then explain that each of those career fields probably has a maximum threshold on what you’re going to be able to earn.

I really sat down and took a hard look at what I really wanted. I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed. I want to be able to set my own limits. And they’re not going to be dictated by an employer or career-field.

I want to reach MY maximum potential not what my career sets for me or what a job dictates.

This mindset is very much why I started my first company a year later.

So my first business was in front end web design for some huge projects like Mass.gov, which was this huge $88 million web portal.

As I was negotiating our rates to be subcontracted for this project, I had to decide what our max hourly rate would be. I realized how grateful I was that I was building a team right away. It wasn’t just for me, it was for my team.

That maximum earning potential that may have been at $100 got multiplied by 4 or 5 times because of my team. It made for a very powerful place.

I got a glimpse at maximum earning potential inside a service-based business didn’t have to be solely dictated by an hourly rate.

It was a total reframe and I really want you to experience it as well.

Listen into Episode 095 and you’ll learn:

  • How and when I knew it was a time to reframe my way of charging for my services
  • Why setting a standard hourly rate is limiting your earning potential
  • Why your average client monthly value is THE single most important number in your business
  • Why customer commitment matters!
  • How I learned to “hire right”
  • What is the attitude of your business?
  • Why I look at the sale process as an education process

LINKS:

Text INTERVIEW QUESTIONS to 44222

www.lisekuecker.com/interviewquestions

Join my Ready Aim Empire tribe to find incredible insights from other entrepreneurs and share your own takeaways!

With grit + gratitude,

Xo Lisé

Recommended Episodes

  • The Anatomy of a High-Performing Studio Team

    Your studio's brand isn't your name, logo or aesthetics—it's your people. That means if your team isn't performing at its highest level, neither is your business. To fix what’s wrong, Alina Cooper and Matt Hanton break down Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team in Episode 731: The Anatomy of a High-Performing Studio Team. You…

    Listen Now

  • When to Rebrand or Pivot Your Studio

    If your studio starts to feel out of sync with your market, members or your vision, something’s gotta change. Otherwise, you're leaving revenue, retention and growth on the table. Get a candid, been-there roadmap from Heather Garrick and Caroline Plambeck in Episode 730: When to Rebrand or Pivot Your Studio—and find out if it's time…

    Listen Now

  • Live from The HFA Show 2026: Lise Kuecker and Ashley Vasquez

    Boutique fitness is going global, but it’s not just a growth play. International expansion is a full-scale operational, cultural and strategic transformation with real opportunities and risks. Get the inside track from someone who's actually built it at scale in Episode 729: Live from The HFA Show 2026: Lise Kuecker and Ashley Vasquez, VP of…

    Listen Now

  • When to Open a Second Fitness Studio Location

    Just because your first studio is crushing it doesn’t mean it’s time to open a second studio. Successful growth only happens when your foundation is truly ready. Industry veterans Alina Cooper and Lisa Taylor outline exactly what you need to assess before making a move in Episode 728: When to Open a Second Fitness Studio…

    Listen Now