I have never been a “I don’t care” person.
Always cared. Been a giver. Even in professional relationships.
Over time, I have gone through terrible experiences too, that have come with valuable life lessons:
1. Don’t offer free consultation/advice.
You might do that out of your nature, but people respect good advice only when they have put money on the table.
2. Don’t sell yourself short.
People are unconsciously taking notes!
3. No pro bono samples (anymore).
If you don’t respect your art and time and years of compounding of experience, no one else will.
4. You can be kind and still not let people walk over you.
Took me years to learn that!!!
5. The most important thing in the world is your time. That is the only thing you have.
When you respect your time, you show people how to treat you. You can do so while being flexible too.
As a professional, when you operate with principles, it may irk some people who were supposed to pay $5K for an arrangement and get services worth $10K.
However, at the same time, it makes you work very well with people who are ready to pay you $20K for a project and do it with utmost respect.
But it begins with you. Always does.
