Success With Jewelry – Episode 151
Laryssa and Liz on Valuing Yourself, Your Time, and Your Craft
Release Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Laryssa Wirstiuk & Liz Kantner
Episode Overview
In this insightful episode, Laryssa and Liz dive deep into the crucial—yet often overlooked—topic of valuing oneself as a jewelry designer and business owner. Drawing from personal experience and industry knowledge, they discuss the internal and external factors that impact confidence, pricing, boundaries, and ultimately, the sustainability of creative businesses. The episode offers actionable strategies and honest reflections to help designers unlearn undervaluing habits, build a resilient mindset, and communicate their true worth in their craft.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Challenge of Pricing and Value Perception
[01:34-04:49]
- Jewelry designers often struggle to price their work confidently, especially as material costs rise.
- It's common for designers to realize they're no longer their own target customer, which complicates seeing the true value in their pieces.
- Liz: "When you get to the point where you're selling something that you couldn't necessarily afford, it's really, really tricky." [02:48]
- Selling high-ticket items requires developing confidence in pricing and learning to frame the conversation around value rather than justifying the cost.
- Laryssa: "There's also an element of just like knowing the value and communicating that in your confidence, in your energy, like in the messaging as well." [04:06]
2. Recognizing Signs of Undervaluing Yourself
[05:35-07:56]
- Underpricing and overworking are key indicators of not valuing yourself or your business enough.
- Emotional signs like burnout, resentment, and frustration toward the business or clients should not be ignored.
- Liz: "If you start to feel resentful of your business or, like, I don't know, you secretly hate your customers...it's this undercurrent of feeling like you are not being compensated accordingly." [06:35]
- Both hosts discuss the challenge of stepping off the "hamster wheel" to reassess pricing, workload, and priorities.
3. Mindset Obstacles: Fear, Imposter Syndrome & Comparison
[08:54-10:19]
- Fear and imposter syndrome often drive underpricing—comparing oneself to other consultants or brands fosters insecurity.
- Liz: "For me, underpricing...comes from fear and imposter syndrome, like, very much so. Seeing these other consultants or thought leaders...you start to question everything that you're doing." [08:54]
- Transparent admission that even experienced marketers like Liz can struggle to market their own businesses due to these mental barriers.
4. Remembering Why You Started and Protecting Your Health
[11:31-12:39]
- The freedom and passion that inspire entrepreneurship can turn into a trap if unhealthy work patterns persist.
- Larissa: "The freedom ends up being like a...prison of our own minds." [11:31]
- Sustainability isn't just about money—it's also about mental and emotional well-being.
5. Your Unique Value: Skill, Creativity, and Story
[13:03-14:25]
- The hosts praise makers for their skill and creativity, reminding listeners that their unique experiences and craftsmanship are irreplaceably valuable.
- Liz: "Just a reminder that your experience, your creativity, your craftsmanship, all of that is so valuable." [13:53]
- Jewelry is inherently emotional and symbolic—its worth is greater than just materials and labor.
6. Practical Confidence-Boosting Strategies
[14:25-15:24]
- Keep a folder of kind words, reviews, and compliments to revisit during tough mindset moments.
- Use visual reminders—such as photos of favorite pieces—to reinforce pride in your work.
- Larissa: "Having a swipe file of nice things. And when you are struggling with mindset, looking at that stuff I think can really help you remind yourself of your value." [14:25]
7. Shifting to a Mindset of Abundance and Differentiation
[15:28-16:48]
- Combat feelings of overwhelm by recognizing the abundance of customers and the uniqueness of your offering.
- Larissa: "There's a customer for you...your job is to attract those people." [15:42]
- Embrace your existing fans and advocate for deeper engagement rather than only chasing new audiences.
8. Taking Action: Pricing, Boundaries, Communication
[17:10-19:49]
- Action steps include reviewing and raising prices to keep up with the market, creating clear boundaries for custom work, and ensuring those boundaries are effectively communicated to clients.
- Liz: "You probably need to raise your prices...Make sure you're able to pay yourself for your custom projects." [17:10]
- Ensure your custom project process is transparent and user-friendly for clients.
- Larissa: "The customer also needs to meet you at your own boundaries and...need to know how you work and you need to be the captain of that ship." [18:06]
9. Final Affirmations and Call to Action
[19:55-20:38]
- Identify one area of your business where you can better honor your value—through clearer boundaries, pricing, or simply reflecting on what makes you unique.
- Liz: "Identify one place in your business where you can start honoring your time and skill more fully...write that down. Or send it to us." [19:55]
- Reinforce your self-value with affirmations and share your wins with the podcast community.
- Larissa: "Create an affirmation or...a statement that really affirms what makes you and your business and your work unique and special." [20:22]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Liz: "When you get to the point where you're selling something that you couldn't necessarily afford, it's really, really tricky." [02:48]
- Laryssa: "Communicating that in your confidence, in your energy, like in the messaging...is the more woo woo part." [04:06]
- Liz: "Underpricing is probably the most obvious and the biggest one...you might not feel like you're underpricing your work, but you're not paying yourself enough." [05:44]
- Larissa: "If you start to feel resentful...just this undercurrent of feeling like you are not being compensated accordingly." [06:35]
- Liz: "For me, underpricing...comes from fear and imposter syndrome." [08:54]
- Larissa: "The freedom ends up being like a...prison of our own minds." [11:31]
- Liz: "Your experience, your creativity, your craftsmanship, all of that is so valuable." [13:53]
- Larissa: "Having a swipe file of nice things...can really help you remind yourself of your value." [14:25]
- Liz: "There is room for everyone...digging into fans of your work, the followers you already have, is a great place to start." [16:48]
- Larissa: "Making sure your custom form is easy to use...is a good time of year to do a tune up on that." [18:06]
- Liz: "Identify one place in your business where you can start honoring your time and skill more fully." [19:55]
- Larissa: "Create an affirmation… that really affirms what makes you and your business and your work unique and special and value driven." [20:22]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Pricing and Value Perception: 01:34–04:49
- Signs of Undervaluing: 05:35–07:56
- Mindset Obstacles: 08:54–10:19
- Freedom and Burnout: 11:31–12:39
- Understanding Unique Value: 13:03–14:25
- Building Confidence: 14:25–15:24
- Mindset of Abundance: 15:28–16:48
- Action Steps: 17:10–19:49
- Final Affirmations: 19:55–20:38
Final Thoughts
This episode is a must-listen for jewelry designers navigating the often complicated landscape of valuing their time, skills, and artistry. The conversation is candid, actionable, and rooted in empathy—perfect for anyone struggling with pricing, boundaries, and self-worth.
Takeaway: Regularly revisit your pricing, set boundaries, honor your experience, and remind yourself (and your clients) why your work is truly valuable.