Comment by tptacek
4 years ago
If I had cryptography work, I would! My strategy is to go way out of my way to make sure I don't have cryptography work to bid out. :)
The fact that you're not booked wall-to-wall while underbidding the market for the expertise you're selling to this extent should be a lesson to everyone about price competition.
You're happy! I'm not criticizing you. I'm literally just saying that your rate is a steal. It is way, way under the market. People should take you up on it.
Reading between the lines here too, but worth emphasizing "anything which particularly piques my interest" & "would also be spending some of my time making sure I had a full pipeline of gigs lined up."
Correct me if I'm wrong Colin, but I'm assuming some of the discount between max_rate and your rate is the value you see in not having to spend time on boring projects and hustling a constant stream of gigs. Aka discount for quality of life and work.
Colin and I have both spent a very long time doing this kind of work. I promise, I'm factoring in the hustle premium when I say that he's significantly under-bidding the market.
Curious question re: your personal experience, is there a relationship (direct or inverse) between max_rate and interesting work? Or are they independent?
At your level, and with your specific focus, I've no idea what the market looks like. I.e. Big Boring Corp pays best? Cutting edge startup? Or effectively random?
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