Posted By: HD_Wildlife
Charging for your time - 02/26/14 04:46 PM
Just a quick anecdote. When we first started our company coming from an agency position where I provided technical advice and help without needing to ask for money, one of the first problems I had was believing in my value (though I knew I had value).
I still give away more of my time than I'd care to admit, or that my wife would care for, but I've gotten far better at not feeling any remorse when putting a bid together for what is needed to do the job and earn a living.
Though I've gotten better, I realized the other day that I need maybe to take a page from the world of attorneys and medical professionals.
We recently consulted an attorney for some patent expertise and ended up putting them on retainer (not something I ever expected to be doing in life).
Up to the point where we put them on retainer they would answer my emails and questions freely with a sentence or two.
After the retainer was in place I realized last week when a bill came that every question I ask via email, results in a billing for the response of .20 or more hours at their hourly rate even if the response is one sentence (literally).
So thought I'd post this just to say, it took me two years of startup to realize, that the norm in society is to charge for your time and if you know what you are doing, you shouldn't devalue that time.
***
I will never bill someone for the kind of things a lawyer can (or is required to as they'd say), but I do realize in order to thrive and succeed you can't let free or cheap be your monicker.
Best,
Justin
I still give away more of my time than I'd care to admit, or that my wife would care for, but I've gotten far better at not feeling any remorse when putting a bid together for what is needed to do the job and earn a living.
Though I've gotten better, I realized the other day that I need maybe to take a page from the world of attorneys and medical professionals.
We recently consulted an attorney for some patent expertise and ended up putting them on retainer (not something I ever expected to be doing in life).
Up to the point where we put them on retainer they would answer my emails and questions freely with a sentence or two.
After the retainer was in place I realized last week when a bill came that every question I ask via email, results in a billing for the response of .20 or more hours at their hourly rate even if the response is one sentence (literally).
So thought I'd post this just to say, it took me two years of startup to realize, that the norm in society is to charge for your time and if you know what you are doing, you shouldn't devalue that time.
***
I will never bill someone for the kind of things a lawyer can (or is required to as they'd say), but I do realize in order to thrive and succeed you can't let free or cheap be your monicker.
Best,
Justin