How much bullshit can you drop?
Have you come across this type of vendor trying to sell you something that’s dressed quite nicely and redefined under a “new category”? When something is already known by you, you have a stand on it, and still they’re trying to convince you to buy? And, if you’re curious enough —or just want to poke around— you follow along and wanna see how much bullshit they’re trying to feed you? That’s the thing about pitching, presenting and convincing. It’s not about them (your customers), but about you…
Legally required
You’re not legally required to say yes to every prospect. You’re not legally required to give a quote. Not even to build a proposal. Definitely not, to play in their terms. So, when you see red flags, saying “No” won’t put you in a bad spot. Spend the best of your time in the customers you want to help and that 1) want help, 2) can afford you.
Work for free?
Do you ask for free work, samples to your suppliers/vendors/sub-contractors? Actually, do you expect them to do work for free before you engage with them? If you do, what are the reasons for it? If you don’t, what are the reasons for it? Quite curious to hear what you have to say. 🙂
“Showing up is the secret”
This is the thing that inspired the question on the “Work for free” email. “Showing up is the secret” But is it?
You just gotta trust
Pre-S. You know what? You’re fucking amazing. It’s so awesome to have people around that value others and their work. 🙂 There were a bunch of replies on the last emails about “Work for Free” and “Showing up is the secret”. Most of them were taking into account that work goes both ways: give and get. Not only money, but trust. Here’s the thing There’s more and more of businesses, “thought-leadershitheads”, recruiters, and more, that will abuse their position. The only thing you will always…
Don’t be that client.
The amazing thing about reading a post on free work? You also being triggered by it and coming with great replies and perspectives on the subject. (Thank you tons!) This one post shared in a previous email is the thing that triggered me to think about what’s wrong here: Some of the replies [edited for clarity; shared with permission) “Asking 1200 people to invest time in something you know will only go to one person is questionable, perhaps unethical.” — Wes Wheless, The Lightbulb. “… there…
Getting some profit
650 in revenue with 200 in costs. It can be a good deal. If you think of covering your costs and get some profit. But here’s the thing. This is self-centered. It’s all about the seller. All about your costs. About your profit. It doesn’t take into account your customer. To what they value. To what they can find fair. Now move this same behavior to an expertise business. It doesn’t cost you anything: Thinking Coming up with new approaches Seeing things differently, Knowing how to do something…
Kryptonite
“What’s your weakness?” is a must question when interviewing for roles. It’s stupid. Just picture this. Superman is applying for a role at the Justice League. He gets the question: “So… What’s your weakness?” He knows. You know. I know. They know. It’s kryptonite. And what are they going to ask? “How can you improve your weakness against it?” What’s he going to do? “Well, when I see it, I’ll run away…?” See the ridiculousness of the question? (: Now, we’re not from Krypton. We’re humans….
Your own prison
A prison where you’re trapped —of your own making. That’s how Blair Enns describes pricing and the feeling of stagnation you might have —how you “can’t” raise your prices just like that. [You can also listen to it here] And he’s right. Traditional pricing (and how most of us have been taught on it) has to do with how we charge, based on what it costs us, and the extra (margins/profits) we’re supposed to make. This margin of what we’re supposed to make usually gets to be based on: what the…
As a buyer
In response to the 650 question on if Billy’s deal was good or bad, friend of the list and great illustrator and designer Rad came back with one question that was HUGE (edited slightly for conciseness, shared with permission). “The customer got a heck of a deal from Billy because they’re sure to make a killing with the enhancements because it’s already 16,000 to get the instrument but only less than 10% to get the upgrade.Billy could have charged more. (I think)What am i missing?” Here’s a…
