> What the client’s money really buys, though, is that delightful feeling of making the thing somebody else’s problem. You know, we’ve turned it all over to a t

> What the client’s money really buys, though, is that delightful feeling of making the thing somebody else’s problem. You know, we’ve turned it all over to a top-tier expert, and now we just don’t have to think about it anymore. The more that person charges, the more reassured the client feels. The way it was phrased to me was "they're paying for your confidence". Confidence that you can just come in and get the job done without too much trouble for them. That was pretty much the best advice I got as a consultant. His advice about doubling what you think your rate should be is also good, and when my company started doing that, we didn't lose clients, instead we moved up-market and actually ended up working with better clients on much more interesting projects. I think both nuggets of wisdom are of a piece: act like you're an expert that is paid commensurate with your success rate. Of course, you have to back it up, but isn't that an implementation detail?