I have an Etsy shop with jewelry, etc (I know, soooo original) and I undervalue my pieces aaaaalllllll the time. Especially in that arena, the competition can get to you.

It wasn’t until recently, when I started tutoring a couple grade school students over the summer, that I realized how much I’m worth – and how much I’m NOT worth. It took delivering a different service to see what I’m good at and what I suck at, and that, combined with this post, speaks volumes: CHARGE MORE FOR WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT… and maybe step away from what you suck at.

Thanks, Johnny, for this catalyst. I’m about to get paid more now, for stuff I’m good at and enjoy doing. :) Le woot.

I don’t understand the “thief” attitude that people sometimes have. You’re not robbing anyone. Even if you totally suck and are not worth it, can people decide not to hire you?

The fucking martyr mentality out there.

Further to my last comment: I had taken music lessons since I was six years old. I went through four years of college to earn a Bachelor of Music Education degree. I had not only invested DECADES of my time, but 10′s of thousands of dollars on instruments and books, for myself personally as well as for my business which I ran for 37 years.

I kick myself today because I really undervalued myself, considering all the blood, sweat and tears I had poured into my chosen profession.

But then to have some freakin’ DING DONG tell me to rot in hell… the world can seem like a crazy place sometimes!

One of the very first questions she asked me was about my fees. When I disclosed what I charged, I heard a shriek on the other end of the phone, quickly followed by a click.

The next day I got one of the most condemning emails I have ever received.

“I thought you were a GOOD teacher. GOOD teachers CARE about their students. You are a charlatan… a thief. All you care about is the MONEY. May you rot in hell!”

I did a little digging and found out that this lady was indeed doing ‘charity work’ in her neighborhood. “Whatever the students could pay, that’s all she would accept.”

Well, it wasn’t long before all the rats, cockroaches and other ‘freebie’ seekers came out of the woodwork. This lady had a full schedule of students paying anywhere from $5-$10 per month! And I imagine she DID have a few freeloaders as she turned nobody away who ‘really wanted to learn’. (At the time, I was charging $80 per month for four 30 minute sessions).

I know exactly the type of students she attracted. I used to get calls from them all the time, too. In addition to my ‘exorbitant’ fees, I also told these blood suckers that they needed to invest in a PROPER piano so they can practice (cheapest starting at $2,000). Most of them thought they could get by on the $30 toy they bought at Walmart! They were also serious when they told me they wanted to learn their favorite song (usually some Beethoven Sonata) by next week. I told them, “You’re not looking for a teacher… you’re looking for a goddam magician! GOODBYE!”

Boggles the mind.

Your article is dead-on Johnny. While my blog is more ‘family style’, I LOVE the way you tell it like it is! You and Naomi are among my favorite reads. Rock on, Dude!