The $20K Wake-Up Call: The Real Cost of Doing It All Alone
I was working on a long-term contract alongside another consultant—brilliant, mission-driven, and deeply committed to her work.
Part of my role was tracking finances and making sure the organization’s operations stayed on track. One day, I noticed something that didn’t sit right: my colleague hadn’t billed for her work in months. She hadn’t gotten paid.
At first, I gently reminded her.
Then I reminded her again.
And again.
Still—no invoice.
No payment.
No compensation for months of labor.
Eventually, I took the initiative. I drafted the invoice myself and sent it to her.
The amount?
$20,000.
She was stunned. That money had been sitting there, unclaimed—because she simply didn’t have the capacity to stop and submit the invoice.
This Happens More Than You Think
Here’s the thing: this wasn’t about disorganization.
It wasn’t laziness or a lack of professionalism.
It was a result of something I see over and over again with the clients I support:
You’re amazing at your craft.
You are a visionary, a facilitator, a coach, a creative, a healer.
But when you’re doing all of it—serving clients, maintaining the mission, holding relationships, and also trying to send the invoice—you hit a wall.
And that wall has a cost.
Sometimes, that cost looks like burnout.
Sometimes, it looks like resentment.
And sometimes, it’s literally $20,000 sitting unpaid in someone’s inbox.
The Admin Work Is the Work
If you’re a values-aligned leader of the global majority, chances are you’ve been taught to push through.
To figure it out.
To not ask for help unless you really can’t manage.
But the truth is—operations and administrative systems aren’t “extra.”
They’re essential.
They are the scaffolding that lets your brilliance take shape without falling apart behind the scenes.
At Galvan Consulting, we don’t believe in shame-based support.
We believe in stepping in—gently, clearly, and with deep respect for what you're carrying.
Sometimes that looks like reminding you to invoice.
Other times, it’s creating systems that make sure you never forget again.
You Deserve Support That Pays for Itself
Let’s name the irony:
So many leaders can fundraise for multi-year programs…
…while forgetting to get paid for their own labor.
Why? Because the admin side gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
Because it’s easier to give than to receive.
Because the systems we’ve inherited weren’t built for our rhythms.
That’s why we do what we do.
At Galvan Consulting, our role is to help you:
Reclaim your time
Stop leaving money on the table
And build administrative systems that protect your energy, not drain it
We don’t just help you delegate—we help you lead with clarity, grounded in values like care, justice, and sustainability.
Let This Be Your Reminder
If you’ve been putting off the invoice…
If your systems are duct-taped together…
If your brilliance is getting buried under busyness…
Let’s fix it.
Not because you need to “get it together”—but because you deserve to be held.
Because you deserve to be paid.
Because your leadership is too important to be derailed by unclaimed labor.
We’re here to build the support you’ve always needed, but didn’t think was possible.
And yes—sometimes that support starts with a $20K invoice draft.