Web Design, a Measurable Career
Seth Godin has a neat, yet threatening, post entitled Everyone gets paid on commission. It’s not that he’s threatening me or anyone else, instead it really gets to the meat of why I’m paid for what I do.
Basically, when all (or most) of my work is in digital form, it’s success rate can be measured — all the time! How scary is that.
I guess I now feel a little bit like my wife who is a teacher. She is constantly evaluated by her students’ grades. Shouldn’t I, as a designer, be evaluated by how many click-thrus my emails generate?
In fact, in a digital world where everything can be measured, we all work on commission. And why not? If you do great work and it works, you should get rewarded. And if you don’t, it’s hard to see why a rational organization would keep you on.
Makes me wonder if I do great work… and if my employer is a “rational organization.” (p.s. Yes, I think I do good work, and yes, I think my employer is rational)
Give your two cents