Everyone wants to get paid
handsomely right? Or don't you?
We all want the social media algorithm to our favour and sales popping in as quick as ever.
Every freelancer wants a gig that truly pays bills and not a gig that sniffs out the life out of them.
Even those who do bets or buy crypto coins wants the chart to come in their favour.
Lol, everyone is praying for the good side of the coin. It isn't greed right to want to be paid well for your effort, right?
A year ago when I thought to get into the freelancing world, I decided to begin my Journey with writing and designing ebooks and as well writing articles for any of these niches ( Automobile, selfimprovement, finance, Marketing and sales and others...)
I didn't have a portfolio but I had a few write-ups which are not professional enough to get me the type of jobs I want. So like many others, I wanted to take jobs, not basically to get paid handsomely, the intention was to write and get paid so I can have a portfolio.
Did you do the same?
Probably you went ahead to build multiple random websites so you can land your first paying job or what you have to do is give out courses for free just to have enough leads to sell to. Or maybe yours is testing the crypto market with your finance, hoping to get it right.
Well, you get the gist right? I'm not limiting the word "underpaid" to just being paid lesser of your worth, it also mean to test run to avoid future losses, to put your funds for a better return without an assurance of getting a gain. Yeah, stuffs like this.
Back to my story...
I got my first gig on upwork and made $50. I helped revamp a 30page content into a good looking ebook with quality designs and proofreading.
Yeah, I did it for $50. A very cheap price for an Australian. I delivered early and got a review from the client.
Same job I notice some take it up for $200, $100 and other price range. Even with that, do you believe some will take it up for as low as $20.
Whose fault is it when a person is paid lesser? I guess the fault still revolves around us and the market.
To proceed with my story, I decided not to visit Upwork again. But I still got myself into writing 120 articles for a cheaper rate in 6months. I felt it was an avenue . When I totaled how much I got paid to write this, it's 125,000 naira, when converted to dollars you can have about $300-$310.
Very pathetic right? Lol, whose fault is it exactly? I guess I was too busy trying to get a job and not minding how much I'm payed.
I quitted !!! Hoping to find better Jobs.
**But sincerely, whose fault is it that I'm underpaid? **
It's my fault. Building up a portfolio doesn't have to go that far. I feel when you have 3 samples and a good pitching sense, you can get a better gig. Or have I thought wrong.
I think it's my fault !!!
Now, I thought to visit Upwork and check for jobs and then I saw ranges like.
$5 for a 1000 word article
$10, $15 and the prices were like that.
The funny part of this is that, sincerely, we have folks like me who did take up the job at that ridiculous price.
Now whose fault is it that I'm underpaid?
I think it doesn't just stay with me alone, it is also the fault of every other person like me who have chosen to bring down the value of the market.
Lol, I decided it won't happen anymore right. I will find gigs that pays well. I write well, why then can't I be paid well?
Now this is the trick...
Being underpaid is a choice !
I found out that I made moves to find a land with milk and honey but it started with me seeing a need to do so.
> It all begins with a choice.
So whatever underpayment we get, is because we accepted it.
I can be wrong, you know? We all are learning but I feel this is it.
We can choose to buy a coin out of our ignorance, it's nobody's fault, you know right? It's a choice you made.
Lost funds to betting, well it's still your choice at some point...
> The thing is, I found out if I want to get my financial game right, I have to start learning to make quality choices.
What do you think? I want to hear from you.