The Meaning of Money

At some point in our lives we start to understand the value of money. Soon after that we recognize that our time is worth money. Reflecting on these two things, we may realize just how valuable we are.

I was just talking on the phone to Yv and I listening to her talk about how she has all this work this weekend because she had been out on a big project from Wednesday through Friday (day and night). When I asked if she was taking Monday and Tuesday off she explained how there was another project that she needed to finish for Tuesday. It didn’t even cross her mind that she deserved better…or at least additional compensation.

A similar thing happened to me. I got a call on Friday at 4:50 asking me to provide a solution to a problem I had not created. Even though I had another deadline I complied. Then he asked me to help on another project and I asked him when he’d like to schedule it. He said “before Monday.” I didn’t want to work during the weekend but I agreed to 5:30 on Sunday. At 5:30 on Sunday he asked me to reschedule. Sense a pattern?

All of this was because my client, for some reason, assumed that his time was more important than mine. That’s ridiculous.

I’m a big fan of making my clients happy and being flexible. However, just because I work in IT doesn’t make my skills of any less value. Even if I were a cashier or a paper copier I would expect people to recognize that they’re no better than I. It’s that understanding that people just don’t get.

It is somewhat difficult for me to accept that some of my friends make $6.50/hour and others over $400/hour. But what’s worse is that the person who makes $400/hour may round up in increments of every six minutes and his similarly intelligent counterpart may round down to the nearest half hour. Skills, degrees, and supply/demand should factor into one’s salary, but respect and quality of work are the only things that should have anything to do with rounding.

Sometimes I wish that quality of work should determine people’s salaries, but I know that that there are other factors at play. Still, if you’re in a position to either give or receive money, try to recognize the message behind that money. Think about what your time means and don’t let people take advantage of you. Even more, respect that other people’s time is just as valuable.