Hacker News Reader

Comment by EddieDante | Hacker News Reader

> Like I don't wanna reject them, but if I can somewhow ask them to pay that would be great.

Never ask for pay. Demand it, and refuse to work until you've been paid. There are four words you need to learn to speak without fear, and shout if necessary. Anybody who has seen GoodFellas knows what they are. The four magic words are...

FUCK YOU. PAY ME.

Clip from GoodFellas: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGAmPRxV48>

Also, you need to watch Mark Monteiro's lecture, "Fuck You, Pay me" at <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVkLVRt6c1U>.

My employers can always rely on me. But they gotta come up with my money every week.

Payroll company fucked up? FUCK YOU. PAY ME.

The client didn't pay you? FUCK YOU. PAY ME.

It's an emergency and you want me to work late? FUCK YOU. PAY ME TIME AND A HALF FOR OVERTIME.

View on HN

I'd be more diplomatic about it than that, but yeah, same idea.

Yee obviously I can't say Fk you pay me right?? Still watching the vid now :))

I've said it and got paid. Experience will tell you when the right time is. Try it on a $30 mistake? Fail. Client needs it fixed yesterday so you're billing $50k...great success.

Yikes! True - it depends on timing :) I did have some urgent stuff - I'm so dumb to not charge :( Oh well

The other lesson is, when you say the number, and they immediately say "yes" - your number was too low. Experience is the best teacher but the most expensive lesson

Oh yep ur right! Higher it is :))

I think it’s more about knowing how to value your time.

The first step to valuing your work time is to value your free time. “I value the free time I spend with myself, my friends, and my family so for you, person I don’t know and owe nothing to, to ask me to do something that requires expertise and isn’t necessarily pleasant, you will need to give me a good incentive.”

Hmmm maybe I should directly ask them "how would this benefit me?"

No no you are an example of someone who didn’t know when to walk. Fuck you pay me means you made the mistake of selecting the wrong customer.

Oh first comment thanks!!!!!!! :))) Super duper appreciate it :)) YYeee I'm watching the 2nd video now :)

The "FUCK YOU" part you don't need. The "PAY ME" part is great advice.

Right - work on the wording, but absolutely keep the sentiment. You are clearly valuable to the people using your skills for their own profit. You deserve compensation and respect for the time and effort you put in. Regardless of how well intentioned they seem, be incredibly insistent on payment for your work. Ideally, negotiate pay before any work is done. If they resist this, you need to walk away.

Ye I agree on walking away - I'm gonna try doing this to future people. If I find they just want stuff for free, I'll just try cut to the chase.

The concept of "fuck you" is important here, even if the specific words are not.

I did subcontracting work, several thousand dollars worth, for a friend of a friend. I sent the bill as our contract stated and.. crickets. Bill wasn't a surprise, I send weekly estimates.

I wait 30 days before I start in with the threats of penalties and late fees. Eventually I get back a sob story that the directs father had passed unexpectedly.

Now, I'm sorry his father passed. However, he collected the money in full from the client.. so it wasn't like that was the issue. I came back with a sincere note telling him I'd be happy to give him 60 day extension, no fees or anything, so he could mourn and all.

He sent me to his lawyer.

Of course signed contract, with weekly estimates, bill of work, etc. His lawyer offered, in 60 seconds of picking up the phone to "settle" for the original billed amount with no fee.

"Fuck you, pay me" is good advice to repeat to yourself in your head.

Oh my contracts - I definitely need to have contracts ready.

Plus I need to add penalties, late fees yikes.

Sorry to hear about your situation though - hmm the director's father passing sounds uhhh suspicious.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com