I have a problem which can either be external (real) or internal (mindset): the fear of the anti-customer. And I don't know which it is or how I can overcome it. Basically I've had a semi-entrepreneurial endeavor between 2015 and 2020 as a Youtuber in Germany (almost 100K subs). Before that I was afraid of the anti-customer. And after that I'm even more afraid now.
What is the anti-customer? They are cheap and greedy. They always argue and want to set YOUR price. If you sell a custom T-Shirt for $35 they argue that you're a bad person because they can get a T-Shirt for $15 at C&A. They are vitriolic and if you piss them off they will make it their personal agenda to destroy your business and if they or someone succeeds in doing so they will happily dance on your grave.
Seems like an exaggeration? More like an accumulation. I've had so many bad experiences like this in Germany it really made me cautious. I was talking to my wife if it's just me - she's not so much involved in my work so she has a fresh perspective. But she also confirmed that in Germany she sees so many people who are money-pinching Scrooges trying to suck value out of everyone - getting something out of nothing without even really appreciating the value.
Freelancers and small business owners who offer high price products have it especially hard because they're often seen as the devil. Only big corporations and the state seem to still be able to extract large amounts from people without them mounting the barricades. Ok, and the car, the smartphone and the house may cost a little more. But that's all!
But my problem goes into the psychological. As MJ writes in his books and as I already firmly believed: You have to (1) solve big problems for (2) enough people and (3) be handsomely rewarded for it. There are enough big problems left. But are there enough people here to handsomely reward me for it if they hate "handsomely rewarding" anyone for anything? With MJs "cancer corollary" example in his books. If the cure for German Scrooge's cancer would cost $10.000 then he would pay grinding his teeth and after that he would make sure that the inventor of the cure would go out of business for his audacity to charge $10.000 for what SHOULD COST $100!
Basically I've lost faith in humanity or more specifically faith in the market. Why would I solve big problems if people still would demand the solution for free. "You've build the machine already. It works. So why would you charge more than your energy, resources and labor costs?"
My questions:
1. Do you have similar experiences in your country?
2. If so how do you deal with it?
3. How can I find a market that I can believe in? - People who are not assholes who appreciate my contribution and who are willing to pay what it's worth?
4. And how do I avoid / prevent then anti-customer from finding and destroying my business?
My deepest thank you to everyone who took the time to read this and even more if you respond!
What is the anti-customer? They are cheap and greedy. They always argue and want to set YOUR price. If you sell a custom T-Shirt for $35 they argue that you're a bad person because they can get a T-Shirt for $15 at C&A. They are vitriolic and if you piss them off they will make it their personal agenda to destroy your business and if they or someone succeeds in doing so they will happily dance on your grave.
Seems like an exaggeration? More like an accumulation. I've had so many bad experiences like this in Germany it really made me cautious. I was talking to my wife if it's just me - she's not so much involved in my work so she has a fresh perspective. But she also confirmed that in Germany she sees so many people who are money-pinching Scrooges trying to suck value out of everyone - getting something out of nothing without even really appreciating the value.
Freelancers and small business owners who offer high price products have it especially hard because they're often seen as the devil. Only big corporations and the state seem to still be able to extract large amounts from people without them mounting the barricades. Ok, and the car, the smartphone and the house may cost a little more. But that's all!
But my problem goes into the psychological. As MJ writes in his books and as I already firmly believed: You have to (1) solve big problems for (2) enough people and (3) be handsomely rewarded for it. There are enough big problems left. But are there enough people here to handsomely reward me for it if they hate "handsomely rewarding" anyone for anything? With MJs "cancer corollary" example in his books. If the cure for German Scrooge's cancer would cost $10.000 then he would pay grinding his teeth and after that he would make sure that the inventor of the cure would go out of business for his audacity to charge $10.000 for what SHOULD COST $100!
Basically I've lost faith in humanity or more specifically faith in the market. Why would I solve big problems if people still would demand the solution for free. "You've build the machine already. It works. So why would you charge more than your energy, resources and labor costs?"
My questions:
1. Do you have similar experiences in your country?
2. If so how do you deal with it?
3. How can I find a market that I can believe in? - People who are not assholes who appreciate my contribution and who are willing to pay what it's worth?
4. And how do I avoid / prevent then anti-customer from finding and destroying my business?
My deepest thank you to everyone who took the time to read this and even more if you respond!
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