Comments on: Worthy Tip: This Job, Not That Job

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:49:34 +0000

According to my awesome regular letter carrier, they aren't supposed to accept tips in the form of cash or gifts worth more than a nominal price. (I think she was hinting that she likes cookies.)

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:15:25 +0000

Exactly, Eileen. I'm the same. I'm not prone to handing out money indiscriminately, especially around the holidays.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:01:12 +0000

Lori, I always tip service people at the time of service, usually 20%. What I object to is having to shell out another chunk of cash on top of that at Christmas time.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 19:48:09 +0000

Paula, I often get the same jaded feeling. Why is everyone there with their hand out at Christmas? The real joy kill was the former mailman, who gave us everyone else's mail quite regularly - suddenly he wanted a tip? I have one - sort your mail better! I've gotten the mail of neighbors, of people in the same town but four miles away, of people who don't LIVE in this town and never have....

Exactly, Wendy! I vote that magazine credits will nearly always look better on a resume than credits from unknown websites.

Joseph, don't quit the day job. LOL Thanks for the laugh. :)

Eileen, same here. Rare is the tipper in our world. But I don't mind giving my hairdresser a tip EVERY time I see her. She makes me look good, and she has four kids.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 18:15:55 +0000

@Paula, re holiday tipping. I write sales materials that help my clients make money – but do I expect a tip from them? Heck no. I figure that I'm rewarded by their repeat business. I feel the same way about people you're "supposed" to tip at the holidays. I give my repeat business to a service provider (massage therapist, hair stylist, etc) month after month. Why isn't that enough? I shouldn't have to give them a holiday tip, too. That being said, I am a bit of a softie, so I try and do a little something for some folks, like the single mom who cuts my hair.

By: Joseph Hayes

Joseph Hayes — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:56:47 +0000

You could say you don't have a prayer with that job. Badum-bum.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:42:53 +0000

If a person took one of those assignments, which one do you think a future higher-paying client is going to be impressed by?

By: Paula

Paula — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:03:21 +0000

Thankfully I never worked for content rates. My first few articles were for a local weekly, and even (20 years ago - yikes!) those paid 10 times what today's content mills do.

What I managed to do was leverage information gleaned while writing for a mediocre business magazine by spinning new ideas for a well-known advertising daily that paid more than twice the price. They happened to assign me to covering the TV Upfronts (I didn't get to go, I actually wrote what I called the Annual Psychic Upfront Review that ran a week or so before Upfronts began), which led to PR contacts at broadcast networks. I took a similar approach and took one tiny element from an Upfront article and pitched it as a short newsy piece for a TV trade I've written for every since, which pays nearly double what the ad mag did.

Of course, the only problem is once you work your way up the food chain you discover that after a certain point most magazines seldom, if ever, raise their pay rates. If they paid $1/word in 1996, they probably still pay $1/word. I mean what are they going to do, go to $1.05? They sure won't jump to $1.25 or $1.50 per word.

I'm feeling jaded. This morning on the radio I heard about CNN's holiday tipping guide and realized if I followed it I'd wind up giving half my income to people who probably already earn more than I do.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:34:55 +0000

I hear a buck gets you a much better chance at some cash, Cathy. 🙂 That's insane – they dangle the carrot of payment, and sadly, some people would jumpt at that offer.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:24:42 +0000

Okay-here we go with that emulating again! :-)

I received a tweet inquiring about my interest in becoming an "expert" for insurance on an "expert network."

What I would do - share my expertise five times/month through answers, briefs or questions. If I demonstrated a high-level of expertise, I would have a chance of being contacted for compensated expert engagements such as webinars, surveys, and panels.

I guess it's the lottery of rewards for my 30+ years in the industry. I imagine my chances are about on the same level with winning the lottery.

How to make it better? Compensation would be a good start -or a paid lottery ticket. :-)