A lot of artist help has to do with technique, but what about self worth, the sense that your art is worth making – not to mention selling – in the first place? Surprisingly, the best source of this most valuable form of artist help that I’ve found comes not from the art community but from a nuclear power plant repair specialist.

Artist help to know your worth.

This following story is a metaphor to describe the importance of understanding the value of your work as an artist.

Let me begin with a story about a nuclear plant.

This nuclear plant had begun to malfunction, and the malfunction was costing upwards of $200,000 a day. The manager of the plant tried everything he could to fix the problem but it appeared unfixable, and they needed to hire a specialist.

The specialist arrived early the next day and looked around and checked all of the meters and the equipment associated with the possible fault, and after about an hour or so he went up to one of the meters, put a sticker on it, and with a big black permanent marker drew a large “X” on it.

He then turned to the manager of the plant and said, “This is your problem. Replace this meter and anything that is associated with this meter and your problem will be fixed and the plant will run as normal.” Then he left.

The manager of the plant was highly sceptical, however he went ahead and replaced all of these components and the meter, and as soon as this was done the plant started to run to its full capacity.

After a week or so the specialist sent in a bill for $20,000. The manager was shocked and said to himself: “He was only here for one hour and he’s charging us $20,000?” He wrote back to the specialist asking for an itemized receipt. A few days later the itemized receipt was returned with the items listed:

Number one: Placed “x” on meter = $1.00.

Number two: Knowing where to place the “x” = $19,999.

This story is a metaphor to describe the importance of understanding the value of your work. I encourage artists not to undervalue themselves, not to be crammed down by an unscrupulous merchant or collector who wants to get the best deal and who banks on the artist’s lack of self worth. It is important to reasonably consider the price the market is willing to pay for your work without selling yourself short.

Remember the factory metaphor when you price your work, as well as when you make it. Let the story of the nuclear plant give you the required strength to stand up against any detractors who imply that your work is worth less than its value. Remember that it is you who is placing the “X”, and you know precisely where it goes.

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