The Most Expensive Screenshot I've Ever Seen

Years ago, during a compensation conversation, I was shown a salary guide to help explain why my pay was where it was.

Seems reasonable, right?

Well, I recently discovered that the "salary guide" was actually a screenshot of a much older and outdated salary guide. About 4 years older than when it had been shown to me. (!)

The difference between that benchmark and the current recommendation for my role? 

About $25,000 per year.

My first thought was, How could I have been so blind?
My second thought was, Well... I trusted the person showing it to me.
THE LESSON LEARNED: VERIFY THE DATA!

Most creatives spend years learning design, strategy, and presentation skills. Almost nobody teaches us how to evaluate compensation data.

So if you're discussing salary:
• Ask where the data came from.
• Ask when it was published.
• Compare multiple sources.
• Know your market value.

If nothing else, my misfortune is your gain.

Your career is too important to price using outdated information.

Looking back, some of the most valuable lessons of my career came from experiences I wouldn't have chosen, but wouldn't trade.