Serious question, does taking a pay cut for better feedback actually pay off?

I was making $45 an hour doing logo work for a agency in Austin, but the feedback was always vague like 'make it pop.' I switched to a smaller client paying $30 an hour who gave me super specific notes like 'move the call-to-action button 12 pixels left.' Been 3 months now, and my work is way cleaner. Is it smarter to chase the money or the critique that makes you better? Anyone else change up their rates for better mentorship?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenny_carr5212d ago

The pay cut is basically you investing in yourself and it sounds like it's already paying dividends way bigger than that $15 difference. You wouldn't stay at a gym with a bad trainer just because it was cheap, right?

kellygarcia11d ago

Girl YES this is SO true. I took a $12k pay cut three years ago to move from a boring corporate marketing job to a smaller agency that did work I actually cared about. For the first 6 months I was STRESSED about money, constantly checking my bank account. But by year two I had gotten TWO promotions because the owner saw I was actually passionate. That $12k loss? I made it back plus way more in raises and bonuses within 18 months. Plus I wake up not dreading my day which honestly is priceless.