I worked for a summer at a pool plastering company in Los Angeles. While the work was mindless and painful (LA can be hot!), there were actually a few importan

I worked for a summer at a pool plastering company in Los Angeles. While the work was mindless and painful (LA can be hot!), there were actually a few important things I learned. We often finished pools in Beverly Hills. One job we did was a "grout demo". The deck of their pool was tiled rock and they just didn't like the grout. It "wasn't sparkly enough" apparently. We didn't want to do such a pointless job that would take so much time. So the owner of the company bid on the job. He gave them a figure that was so ridiculously high that he wouldn't mind doing something that pointless. They agreed (crazy people live in Beverly Hills). Moral of the Story: Find your price. Figure out how much they would have to pay you to get you to do the same thing you've always done, regardless of how much value you feel that adds to the company. If they balk at that price, fine. You wouldn't want to work for less than that anyway. If they take it... good, you are valued.