This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
7.25/hr versus $400/hr
Teaching music lessons at the age of 14 paid a minimum of $40/hour. Working with my dad for wealthy clients paid us anywhere from $100 to $400/hour; this changed my mentality about money and time.
Working in retail and fast food was always guaranteed hours, but I couldn’t stay for long because the experience wasn’t worth my time long-term; it was in the short-term because now I have an appreciation for the type of work, but I couldn’t be comfortable earning that rate for 480 minutes or eight hours a day.
Why earn $290 a week (pre-taxes) at 7.25/hr when you can earn $16,000 a week at 400/hr? I mean, this kind of math forces you to shift your mentality.
Working in retail and fast food taught me one thing: You will continue to work jobs that match what you genuinely desire to be paid. It was easy for me to leave those jobs because the pay was unreasonable. But for others, they stay for years on end without much of an increase in compensation. Getting a steady paycheck is comfortable; it can also be a trap.
Genuine desire is always backed with action. Most of our desires are superficial; we want them to happen but aren’t willing to back up the desires with fervent effort.
What’s Your Situation?
What are you earning now? Are you comfortable with this rate, or would you prefer to earn more? Do you feel you’re working more than you should for what you’re getting paid?
Time is money. The more we earn in less time, the less we will have to work. The less you work, the more options you have to explore, learn, grow, and invest in relationships and other ventures worth your time.
We often live as if we have unlimited time. False. We’re all on a ticking time clock, and we don’t know when our clock will stop.
If you’re happy earning your current wages, excellent. But if not, it’s time to ponder what you could do to increase your hourly rate. It’s easier than you think – especially in the creator’s market we live in today.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.