I think it's clear to all of us that my main job is not to create add-ons and styles for XenForo, but that's where I need to start today's article. Yesterday, my colleagues and my boss had a briefing (something like a meeting). There were several important topics to discuss, but the most important one was the question of whether we value our time and work.
Our boss expressed something that everyone should realize - nowadays it is imperative to be more responsible towards ourselves, to respect ourselves and value the time we spend on anything, as well as the work we do. If we allow even one person to belittle our work and time, then everyone else will start to do so. As a result, we will never be able to achieve real success.
This situation made me think, because at one point I realized that I myself had allowed my work to belittled. In this case, it was about [XenBg] Portal - the add-on that I created. I don't believe the guys did it intentionally, they just wanted to help, but without realizing that they were actually minimizing the value of my work. So, I decided to share how I came to this conclusion and why it's important not to let this happen.
The problem with undervaluing work often starts with ourselves. If we don't set boundaries ourselves and show that we value our work, we can't expect others to do the same. When someone asks for something for free or for a symbolic price, they may not be doing it with bad intentions, but if we accept this as normal, then the problem becomes systemic. At some point, it turns out that we want to be respected, but we have allowed others to perceive our work as something unimportant.
In my case, I didn't have the money to buy a ready-made add-on that would turn the forum into a portal, so I decided to make my own. I worked long, studied, tested, changed, improved. In the end, I created something that, for me, is better than the paid alternatives. And here comes the important moment – when you build something yourself from scratch, you realize why it is expensive. You understand how much effort was put into it, how much time it took, how many mistakes had to be fixed.
This is the same in any field. If someone offers a service or product and it seems expensive to you – think about what is behind it. Maybe the price includes years of work, trials, mistakes, sleepless nights. It is easy to say “This is too expensive”, but if we try to do the same thing ourselves, we will understand why it costs so much. And then we will begin to value not only our own work, but also that of others.
There is another aspect – if you make something yourself, this does not mean that you should give it away for free or belittle its value. Many people have the misconception that if a product or service was created without investing money, then it must be free. But the real value is not in the money, but in the knowledge, time and skills that were invested. This should be respected.
That's why it's important not to let others belittle our work. When you do something with professionalism and dedication, set clear boundaries. Don't be afraid to say "No" to people who want to get something for nothing. Don't compromise yourself just to please someone. If you don't respect your work, no one else will do it for you.
Of course, there has to be a balance. It's not about being arrogant or refusing every request for help. The important thing is to know when it's worth giving of ourselves for free and when we need to stand up for the value of our work. If you've done something and someone appreciates it, they should be willing to give something in return - be it money, recognition, or respect.
Ultimately, it all comes down to self-respect. If we learn to value our work, we will receive more respect from others. We will attract clients and like-minded people who understand the value of what we do. And we will build an environment where work is valued, not something that is taken for granted.
So, the next time someone tries to belittle your work – think carefully. Do you allow this to happen, or will you stand up for the value of your work? I chose the latter.
Our boss expressed something that everyone should realize - nowadays it is imperative to be more responsible towards ourselves, to respect ourselves and value the time we spend on anything, as well as the work we do. If we allow even one person to belittle our work and time, then everyone else will start to do so. As a result, we will never be able to achieve real success.
This situation made me think, because at one point I realized that I myself had allowed my work to belittled. In this case, it was about [XenBg] Portal - the add-on that I created. I don't believe the guys did it intentionally, they just wanted to help, but without realizing that they were actually minimizing the value of my work. So, I decided to share how I came to this conclusion and why it's important not to let this happen.
The problem with undervaluing work often starts with ourselves. If we don't set boundaries ourselves and show that we value our work, we can't expect others to do the same. When someone asks for something for free or for a symbolic price, they may not be doing it with bad intentions, but if we accept this as normal, then the problem becomes systemic. At some point, it turns out that we want to be respected, but we have allowed others to perceive our work as something unimportant.
In my case, I didn't have the money to buy a ready-made add-on that would turn the forum into a portal, so I decided to make my own. I worked long, studied, tested, changed, improved. In the end, I created something that, for me, is better than the paid alternatives. And here comes the important moment – when you build something yourself from scratch, you realize why it is expensive. You understand how much effort was put into it, how much time it took, how many mistakes had to be fixed.
This is the same in any field. If someone offers a service or product and it seems expensive to you – think about what is behind it. Maybe the price includes years of work, trials, mistakes, sleepless nights. It is easy to say “This is too expensive”, but if we try to do the same thing ourselves, we will understand why it costs so much. And then we will begin to value not only our own work, but also that of others.
There is another aspect – if you make something yourself, this does not mean that you should give it away for free or belittle its value. Many people have the misconception that if a product or service was created without investing money, then it must be free. But the real value is not in the money, but in the knowledge, time and skills that were invested. This should be respected.
That's why it's important not to let others belittle our work. When you do something with professionalism and dedication, set clear boundaries. Don't be afraid to say "No" to people who want to get something for nothing. Don't compromise yourself just to please someone. If you don't respect your work, no one else will do it for you.
Of course, there has to be a balance. It's not about being arrogant or refusing every request for help. The important thing is to know when it's worth giving of ourselves for free and when we need to stand up for the value of our work. If you've done something and someone appreciates it, they should be willing to give something in return - be it money, recognition, or respect.
Ultimately, it all comes down to self-respect. If we learn to value our work, we will receive more respect from others. We will attract clients and like-minded people who understand the value of what we do. And we will build an environment where work is valued, not something that is taken for granted.
So, the next time someone tries to belittle your work – think carefully. Do you allow this to happen, or will you stand up for the value of your work? I chose the latter.
