The Value of Work
Ever heard of the saying “You get what you pay for”? It’s normally uttered by those who feel it necessary to advise other people who’ve chosen cheaper alternatives to a brand name and have been burned by inferior service or product.
I think the concept of getting what you pay for translates well to the business place, particularly since a contract relationship or other employer-employee relationship introduces a level of accountability; “I’ll pay you this much, I expect these results.” or “If you want me to produce these results, you need to pay me this much.”
It doesn’t negate competitive negotiation, but it does convey either that you’re not willing to accept substandard work and are willing to pay for the quality you expect, or that you’re confident in the quality of your work and believe you can charge a premium for it.
It’s why BMW successfully sell their cars at a higher price than their competitors. It’s why Oracle successfully charges a high licensing price for their database software. It’s why Blizzard Entertainment successfully charges a monthly subscription to play World of Warcraft. It’s why Apple successfully sells their devices at a higher price than their competitors. It’s why Starbucks successfully charges $4 for a grande.
Do you stand by your work? How do you value it? Does the quality of your work rise above your competitors and command a worthy premium? Really what it boils down to is this: Cheap work is never good, and good work is never cheap.
