Do you ever "sell yourself short"?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (228447)
Walnut Creek, California
February 22, 2021 12:20pm CST
"Selling yourself short" is a term that refers to not taking enough credit, or not charging enough, for the things you do. At least that's how I interpret it. I suppose it could also mean excessive (sincere) modesty. Is there a similar term in your native language?
I've been selling myself short a bit at my friend's preschool. Not only do I not know what days I'm working, but I've been writing her flyers, statements of purpose and schedules (at home) for much less than I would usually charge for such a thing.
I guess it's because I want to be as helpful as I can as she gets her small business off the ground. Do you ever "sell yourself short"?
24 people like this
21 responses
@DaddyEvil (152839)
• United States
22 Feb 21
Yes, all the time... I just edited a manuscript for a friend. Normally, I charge a flat rate for that but this is her first book so she really doesn't have the money but she really needed help... Her spelling is atrocious and she uses run-on sentences that drive me crazy... I did it for her for free. *sigh*
6 people like this
@DaddyEvil (152839)
• United States
22 Feb 21
@TheHorse Why do you regret it, pony?
3 people like this
@TheHorse (228447)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Feb 21
@DaddyEvil Because I assumed she'd help me in a similar situation in the future. She did not.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (78774)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Feb 21
I think I've been accused of that. Mostly because I refused to go to college after I graduated high school. There was nothing I was really interested in at the time, and after seeing a lot of people I know attend college, burn themselves out only to not use the degree they went to school for.... or get paid next to nothing for.... I am not really in a hurgy to go back to school now.
So, maybe I am or maybe I'm being pratical.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (78774)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 Feb 21
@TheHorse I wish I could agree. By the time I reached high school, I was ready to quit. I also wasn't going to let people bully me into doing something, just because that's what they wanted for me. If I'm going to spend money to go to school, it had better be because I want to.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (228447)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Feb 21
@kaylachan That makes sense. I wasn't forced, though I was "strongly encouraged." I just remember learning some cool things. To this day I have parts of some poems memorized, Piaget's developmental stages memorized, etc., and I can compute the depth of a vertical mine shaft based on how long it takes for a rock I drop to hit the bottom. Random stuff, admittedly, but cool.
And I can write Haiku!
does college matter?
I know idiots who went
and smarties who dint.
Heh.
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (27392)
• Singapore
23 Feb 21
I think I have done it all my life!
I was asked to help out at a lady's business venture and it turned out a nightmare.
I had to do all jobs which others didn't want to touch with a barge pole while my initial task was only accounting and finance. And my pay was negligible too.
It was tough to find a replacement but I managed after two years. What a relief in the end!
2 people like this
, especially in my younger days of freelancing. It got me the job, but well, it certainly took more time and effort than I thought it would 
.
@mythociate (21429)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Feb 21
I thought "short-selling" was a trick they use on Wall Street to make money off of stocks that fall in value 
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (45294)
• Wapello, Iowa
22 Feb 21
I had to take a Vow Of Poverty to get this stupid job so I guess you could say I do sell myself for free.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (45294)
• Wapello, Iowa
22 Feb 21
@TheHorse I've always wondered why those two things (Helping people and making money) were mutually exclusive. It feels like a flaw or a lack of planning on someone's part or something.
@RasmaSandra (86782)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Feb 21
You need to be more assertive in this matter. Since I am always looking high and low to make money with my writing I attempt to praise myself to the heavens.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (86782)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Feb 21
@TheHorse that's the idea 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (228447)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Feb 21
@RasmaSandra I will work on it.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (194040)
• United States
23 Feb 21
I've always done extra with every job I've ever had; but it usually led to a promotion; so that was OK. I've tried to always believe "that I'm worth it" even though I have a bit of an inferiority complex.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
23 Feb 21
Sell yourself short is an interesting term.
When a person says it to another person they are encouraging them to be brave and let the world know they are good.
when its a stock sold short, you are betting on failure.
interesting - one hand driving success the other hand profit from failure.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (228447)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Feb 21
@DocAndersen Heh. I'm always glad to make someone chuckle. But actually, in the stock market, don't you BUY a short if you're expecting that stock to go down?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
23 Feb 21
@TheHorse i have no idea, just made me chuckle this morning when I read your post!
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (118996)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Feb 21
You are doing a very nice thing to help her. Hopefully she appreciates it.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (47181)
• Staten Island, New York
22 Feb 21
I am not sure but I've probably done that in the past.
1 person likes this
@almostoveryou (4863)
• Philippines
23 Feb 21
That's so kind of you. I may have done the same thing before when I was still doing corporate work.
1 person likes this
