You pay peanuts....you get monkeys

This is one of my mothers time treasured clichés. Of the 39+ years I’ve been walking the planet, I hear this one the most. There are many others. We’ve all heard them or variations of the “mom cliché-fest bits of random advice.” These little mantras are burned in my brain.

Do you want your face to freeze like that?

Actually, yes I do.

Ok, I really don’t because then it would prove that she was right about the whole face freezing thing and that would be just too much to take.

However, to be fair to mom, I have to say as a start-up entrepreneurial wanna be – the old adage “You pay peanuts, you get monkeys” rings true.

Let’s be clear hear. I am all about the sale. The good deal. The bargain. The excellent find. Nothing makes me happier then scoring some awesome purse, shoes, pants, dress, sweater, t-shirt and getting THE DEAL! I love that. That said. I never, ever, ever, buy something JUST BECAUSE (and I know I’m shouting here) it’s on sale. Well – I’ll never say never because I’m sure when I was younger and much more stupider (yeah, yeah I know bad English) at least in terms of clothes I would have snatched up the $15.99 pair of lime green pumps and “found something to wear with it later.” And then they sat in my closet. Untouched. Unloved. Unworn…until I finally cut my losses and donated them to Goodwill.

I live and die by that book “What not to wear.” Do you have this book? If not – run out to the bookstore (or surf to Amazon.com) and buy it today. Now. Right this minute. It’s the British version so it’s full of haughty humor and really really good fashion stuff. Like how to dress your flaws…and trust me. After children, a handful of abdominal surgeries and an obsession for Oreos there are flaws in need of dressing. It’s the book version of the TV show. I love this book. But I digress.

Back to peanuts and monkeys….

Ok – warning – some shameless self-promotion going on now.

I do this little tye-dye thing, right? And I list myself on etsy which is basically an ebay for homemade arts and crafts. I am constantly amazed that the number, the mass volume of artists, crafters, hobbyists (whatever you want to call us) that put everything on sale. Handmade stuff. Stuff created by sheer inspiration, time, talent, the sweat of their brow and then they discount it 50%? Why? A beautiful handmade bracelet, blanket, hat is not some mass produced trinket at Target (I do love Target by the way). It’s handmade. One of a kind. It’s special. Cue warm and fuzzy Hallmark music.

Another warning….Hopping on soapbox.

Are we afraid our own talents are not worth a fair price? I think my wares are worth a fair price. And by fair I mean enough to cover my costs and a little of my time. Not all of my time because geez-oh-petes time is so valuable how do you assign a dollar amount to that? But fair. Maybe I’ll fail at my tye-dye adventure because I won’t do the “Blowout 50% off sale” but I shouldn’t have to. I am guardedly optimistic in a glass-half-full-rose-colored-glasses kinda way that my work will speak for itself. That I’m nice to deal with. That I am good to my customer and I make quality items. I hope I’m right.

So what does this have to do with peanuts and monkeys? Well nothing, now that I think about it. The whole peanuts monkeys bit has to do with quality. Guess I mixed up my mom cliché slice of life metaphors. But if you pay nothing you get junk. So I guess this adage doesn’t apply unless you’re planning on buying the $4 pre-fab tye-dye at Wal-Mart and then it will bleed and fade and of course mine are better. Cripes. I’m really spiraling outta control on this one.

If you’ve read this far....thanks for hanging in there with me. Hopping off soapbox.