Dec
9
The Working Hard Myth
December 9, 2009 | 1 Comment
There is a mis-conception that hard work will equal higher pay. I do believe that hard work is a necessary condition for higher pay, but it is not a sufficient condition. Otherwise, miners and loggers would get better pay. (Although they do get better pay than a McDonalds employee).
The key is _value_. Of particular importance is how much money a company can make or save out of one’s work. And how it compares with the amount of money that can be made or saved by someone else who might be willing to work for less (maybe on a less expensive geography, or someone that just got out of college).
Once we can clearly document and articulate our value we can compare it to what we are being paid. And if there is an inconsistency, we feel more secure in going to a different organization and asking for a job that pays better. If we are able to clearly articulate the value, we will be paid accordingly.
Our value, however, is constantly being attacked by many factors. Sometimes kids coming out of college just know the same or equal – we become obsolete. Sometimes someone provides the same value in a different geography. Sometimes our skills compete with the skills of a machine (I am great at making software that makes people less necessary). And every day we do not do something to increase our value, we see it diminished.
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