ColinAke.com…until I write a book.

Let me start off by saying I have respect for those who have gone before me, but I am sick and tired of people using tradition as a crutch for a lack of being able to compete.

There are so many professionals in any walk of life who hate the young’uns who are undercutting them.  They lash out with things like “don’t do stuff for free, you’ll ruin all of us,” and start ripping on anyone who is doing comparable work at a cheaper price.

You know what?  If you can’t compete, you won’t survive.  We shouldn’t encourage those who can’t compete to continue to exist.  All we get is whining and complaining about the young whippersnappers who are stealing business.  Quite frankly - if you can’t differentiate your product successfully to your client from the cheaper competition, then you’re worthless.  Or worth less.  Definitely the latter, probably the former.  You’re definitely worth less than you think you are, and you’re likely worthless as a businessman.

Whether you’re a writer, a photographer, an artist, a cook, or a consultant, if you can’t differentiate, you won’t survive.  And I’m sick of hearing “you shouldn’t charge less than me - I’m better at this than you are.”  If you can’t compete at my profit margin, and you can’t convince potential clients that you’re worth the additional price, then your prices are straight up too high.  It’s economics.  The free market.

Here’s a quote from an actor/writer in a rant video:

“I get so angry about this, because you’re undercut by all the amateurs.  It’s the amateurs that make it tough for all the professionals.”

What it comes down to is - if you can’t differentiate your product to the client enough that they’re willing to pay the big dollars, you’re going to have to charge less.  Times change.  Things will not stay the same, and if you cannot adapt to the new business environment, you will die.  You’re facing the same problem steel companies in America are facing - and if you can’t handle it, you’re a worse businessman than you’d like to believe.

Buck up and start adapting.  And never get comfortable in your surroundings.  Always adapt.  Always change.  Always build flexibility into your business plan.

That goes for us young bucks who want to start companies or make money for ourselves.  Don’t get too compfortable, the world we live in could be rocked at any moment.

Take care,

Colin