Early in his career, long before anyone bought a painting, Van Gogh wrote to his brother: “If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat, even if people think it is a grass in the beginning.”
I love it. Most of us believe the opposite. I’ll believe I’m good at this when someone promotes me, publishes me, pays me for it. But recognition is slow. Our work was just as good the day before the promotion as the day after.
So don’t wait for the confirmation to act on it. Pitch the thing, quote the proper rate, go for the next role up. If you’re worth it later, you’re probably worth it now.
