If You're Good At Something Never Do It For Free

I know the Joker is supposed to be the bad guy in The Dark Night and probably serves as some sort of metaphor for the evils of capitalism but he had some goddamn sage advice:

if-you-re-good-at-something-never-do-it-for-free

As I've mentioned previously I hate the "giving culture." Unfortunately most of us have been inflicted with this giving nonsense since our impressionable youths. Teachers harp on students to "share" (usually a euphemism for give away) their toys, pencils, and other earthly possession to any student who asks. In college students are suckered into working for free, often under the guise of an internship, because it will "help them build a resume." Then when you get into the professional world you might be asked to work longer hours for no additional pay and be accused of not "loving your work" if you decline. Fuck. All. Of. That.

Let's consider how you get good at something. Although there are a handful of anomalies that seem naturally gifted at whatever they pursue most of us only become good through seemingly endless practice. Successful authors? Almost all of them have written a lot. Skilled programmer? Almost all of them have years of programming under their belts. Bad ass martial artists? Almost all of them have been practicing their art(s) for years. There's a reason the phrase "Practice makes perfect," is so popular.

Why should you invest years of your life into developing a skill set and not expect some benefits? And why should you tolerate people belittling your investment by demanding you to give your skills away? The idea of investing is to see a return. That's why, if you're good at something, you should never do it for free. You put in the effort where others did not. Likewise, when you want somebody to do something for you then you should recognize their years of effort and not demean them by demanding they do it for free.

Exchange isn't an evil plot for the haves to steal wealth from the have nots. It's a mutual respect and acknowledgement of accomplishments. For example, I respect and acknowledge that a automotive engineer has invested years of their life in developing a skill I haven't so I pay them to build me a vehicle. Likewise, many people seem to respect and acknowledge that I've invested years of my life in developing computer science skills and pay me to utilize them.

If you're good at something you shouldn't feel ashamed or awkward commanding a price for it. And you should feel free to tell anybody who tells you otherwise to go pound sand because there's no reason for you to put up with that kind of insulting bullshit.