“Know your worth.”

I’m not sure that worth, though, is what summayall think it is.  Am not convinced it’s the same thing as compensation and not convinced that compensation is the same thing as money, or any tangible thing at all.

I write; I make stuff; I help other people with written texts not just as my job but because it’s my talent and I like to see people succeed.  If a decent editing job can get that done, I’m good for it.

I make all manner of things; I help people make things, make things for them; help them develop their ability to make things and I rarely earn tangible artifacts, the least of which is money, for any of it.

So it could be argued that I don’t know my “worth;” the value of my time or talents.   The thing is: I do.  And a lot of people who are willing to share their time and talents without tangibles do too.

The implication is that the only way one’s value can be measured is in tangibles.  Why that’s very western/capitalist of you.  It may be the teacher in me that believes my purpose is reinforced by my reach.

Look, I like a decent honorarium just like the next person.  But if my value is wrapped up in that I feel like I’m missing the point and worse probably shortening my reach (and even worse: shortening it where it may be most critical).

What do y’all think?  I just saw one of the many memes that remind artists that they don’t have to work for free.  Maybe not.  But accusing them of not knowing their worth if they choose to?  Ummm, I don’t know about that.