Podcast 47: Value in work

I was recently approached about doing music edits for a bodybuilding show, which in the past is something i’ve done to help out a few friends here and there. For posing routines, you typically have only 60 seconds to show off in the evening show when it’s just you on stage and I’d match the music accordingly to what was provided. The edits that were done wouldn’t generate any editing awards and when recently asked if I’d do it as a favor but unfortunately my schedule is quite hectic and couldn’t do it.

Following up, they asked if I knew anyone but coulnd’t think of anyone outside of Fiverr services. We chatted a again later and asked how the search was and they were complaining about the cost. This had me thinking, what’s the thought process of the end receiver for the services rendered by any professional?

I asked what was the editing cost quote that was recieved, which was $100. Not cheap, but in my thoughts reasonable. When editing music in the past, it would take 2-3 hours (i’m sure quicker by a professional) and if you factor in the cost of $100 that breaks down to $33.33 per hour for services that the individual either didn’t want to do or couldn’t. The plumber I recently hired did things I simply couldn’t do and in the end, worth the money that was spent for the bathroom construction. The time spent learning a process could be uncountable hours to years of perfecting a craft that others haven’t spent time - so what’s the reasonable cost of job? In the end, the value is your desire to have a project completed and whether you want to have to learn the process or if the time saved is also in your value wheel.

Circling back, two weeks had passed and the individual is still looking for the value they’re willing to pay. What’s the tipping point between hours searched and figuring out the value of the time saved for something? Not an easy question to answer but always something to think about.