I feel like people are afraid to ask for what they want. Be it some social crutch we use to avoid feeling uncomfortable or because we don’t realize the power behind informing someone you are looking for more than just the norm, the bottom line is we don’t ask for enough.

Freelancers are the biggest victims here.

From what I gather, most just quote a project, do it, and get on with their lives. What ever happened to wanting more? Being thirsty enough to put forth the desire and the effort to tell the client I give a damn is important to me, and here are three reasons why:

1. It sets the tone. When I quote a client for a landing page—I’ll usually say something identical to “$175 at my current rate, plus any bonuses”—I let them know I would like more than I am asking for. It tells them I am ambitious, that my chief concern is generating as high an ROI as possible, and that I’m either good enough or have enough guts to go out on the limb and challenge myself for the sake of providing a great result. To the client, this translates to “I am committed to this project and will make you more money quicker.”
2. It gives me control. When a client knows you are willing to mention earning more than you said a project would cost, it gives them a sense of reinforcement. It lets them realize they chose the right guy for the job. Most clients who ask questions about my mentioning of the bonus are comforted by it because it shows I know what I am doing. It says that rather than being in a  hectic rush to complete all my work, I will scrap a layout I think is awful because I know I can do better, and I will deliver it quickly (but not in a hurry).
3. It makes me happy. I have a huge sense of pride in knowing that a client is going to profit greatly from my work; it’s even provided a few opportunities at join ventures. So if you could increase your revenue by 15% (about how much more I make from bonuses) simply by telling a client ‘I want to do so well you think my time is worth more than you are actually paying‘, why not? As a student responsible for all my bills, this makes life just that much easier.

This idea doesn’t apply to just designers or freelancers. It doesn’t even just apply to business transactions, or any transactions. It can be applied everywhere. It’s powerful because it means you are in tune with yourself and know where you stand and are willing to strive for improvements. I think it’s helped me be an unusually positive person who takes pride in the things I do and the people I associate with.

Do you think my thoughts are accurate? Am I way out of line?