My morning was bad.
It started when I missed my alarm. Then two.
Then a glorious ๐ tummy ache hit and I was stuck for 20 min while frantically watching the clock pass by cos I was gonna be late for my meeting but couldn't rush my, er, shit.
Then I rushed out and realised I forgot to wear my earrings. THIS GETS ME SO ANNOYED because I hate leaving the house without any earrings! My obsession with them is damn unhealthy I know but it's one of the little things that make me happy ๐ฃ
Then I checked my emails and Facebook only to see some readers comments about the Cashback app. Maybe it's me or maybe it's them, but the tone came off as so entitled that I was like, wtf don't you understand I did it for FREE, don't even earn a single cent out of this, don't even collect ANY of your personal data, invested my own time and precious savings into it…and you're asking me for more?
I appreciate feedback to improve the app any day (esp if it's within my budget) but you do not get to demand that some stranger on the Internet makes a better app when she doesn't even earn a cent from it.
I'm just one person. I'm not superwoman and neither am I Batman (superhero who funds his work for society with his riches).
I juggle two jobs – my office work on weekdays and tuition on weekends. Three if you count the blog, because people always underestimate the amount of time it takes to liaise with clients.
Last week alone I received TEN requests for sponsored posts / collaboration. Some asked for more information, others were just not a right fit for the blog so even though I would stand to gain cash + a free product worth 3 digits (and one I would wear, just not very often), it just isn't the right fit.
I think people greatly underestimate the amount of time and effort it takes to handle that.
Gah, "influencer". Some days I identify with it, other days I don't because of the industry flak. But anyway, one recent incident happened which really took the cake, and I'll openly share today because I know for sure I NEVER wanna work with these guys again.
Brand U
Colleague A emails me to ask if I'm keen to collaborate on my blog about their services. Doesn't bother to use my name (hello, if you even go to my blog, it's blatantly written there that I'm Dawn, and you can find it even in my sign off!). I reply saying sure, tell me what you have in mind. No reply.
3 days later, colleague B emails me to ask if I'm keen to collaborate. Again, another person doesn't bother to use my name. I reply saying I'm open, and that her colleague emailed me previously where I replied the same.
๐ฅ Again, no reply. Is it just me or is that incredibly rude?!? ๐ฅ
Fast forward a week later. Colleague A emails to say they're having an event in a few hours and asks me and my followers to join.
๐ฅ HELLO?!? People have their own lives and schedules okay. You think so last minute people will show up? Even if it's for PM Lee I doubt most people will just drop their stuff and go puhlease. ๐ฅ
Anyway I didn't reply the email because I was at another work event then. Plus I mostly reply client emails only when I'm back home, which is after 11pm every day.
Two hours later, colleague B sends a "reminder" email that hey, their event is starting soon, for those of you who haven't yet done the shout-out don't forget to do so!
*rolls eyes until the back of my head* I was STILL at my work event, so I didn't reply.
A few hours later (after their event ended I suppose), colleague B emailed me AGAIN to CHASE FOR THE POST with the folllowing:
"On behalf of my colleague, A, I would like to follow up on the submission of articles"
"Kindly refer to the DEADLINE (WTF) and the terms highlighted below"
"by DD MM YYYY and time"
"for our review"
๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฑ WOW SERIOUSLY?!? DO I OWE YOU AN ARTICLE?!? DID I EVEN AGREE?!?
Firstly, I don't know who you're dealing with and maybe you've a whole bunch of other influencers or bloggers or YouTubers who are willing to churn out articles for you because hey, they don't juggle a full-time job and other commitments. But I'm not one of them.
(this all happened in the midst of #saveDayre btw. Which do you think will be my priority?)
Secondly, you don't just walk up to people (without bothering to even address them by their proper name until they tell you so) and ask for a "collaboration" without giving any details, much less pulling this sort of tricks on us.
Thirdly, you must not have bothered to check out SG Budget Babe's background because SHE DOES NOT DO SPONSORED POSTS unless it fits her readers, and is one she'll share about anyway, sponsored or non-sponsored.
Fourth, you do NOT DEMAND for a post, much less set a deadline. Are you paying me? Did you give me a deadline upfront? I repeat, NO ONE gets to demand SGBB to post something within HOURS especially if nothing about it was communicated prior.
I take pride in my work and I don't just write articles because you're offering me "token rewards". I don't even want them. They're not even tokens I would personally buy or use.
The whole point is, you do NOT get to demand things from anyone, influencer or not.
I think I've been wayyyyyy too tolerant in replying every single email, especially from such (potential?) clients.
If you wanna work with me but can't even be bothered to spend 2 seconds to find my name and address me accordingly, I WILL IGNORE YOUR EMAIL.
(Unless, you pay me a lot of money la then maybe I'll think twice lol.)
I write because it's my passion and hobby and dream. I write for myself and my readers. I don't write because I need your money. I don't write to sell company products or services.
If you wanna work with me and not pay me for my time, I may consider it but at least be freaking professional and APPRECIATIVE can? (I can earn money from trading the crypto markets easily whenever I'm free, and if you're taking away my time from that while not giving me anything in return, why should I bother unless I really like your brand / product / service for the blog?)
If you wanna work with me and you pay me money, then I may suck it up and just deal with all your unprofessionalism, rudeness and entitled messages. But carry on being rude and I'll think twice whether this is even worth my time and energy and emotional mental health.
I've FIRED my tuition students for not doing their homework, making too much excuses and not taking my lessons seriously. Even though their parents pay me. You think I care?
I know my worth and that my work genuinely helps every student who goes through me to improve. And as it is, I already have to reject students because I only have 24 hours a day and cannot help / teach everyone. If you don't value my time, then I don't care for that money either. There'll be some other student who will be appreciative, and even if they pay me less I might just take it.
In the same vein, I don't care for your money.
I'm not a social media influencer. I don't write on my blog to make money. I can choose not to write anymore and still earn a living because I have a corporate job.
I reject plenty of sponsored requests and collaborations every week because I DON'T NEED AND DON'T CARE FOR THAT MONEY.
What I care about are things that add value to the blog and its readers. Savings, investments, insurance, and anything else that offers compelling value for money compared to other options available.
You do not get to change any of that, money or not.
And most importantly, you do NOT get to DEMAND that.
—————
And it's not just me, it's every one of us.
If someone treats you for less than what you're worth, DON'T LET THEM.
I repeat,
If someone treats you for less than what you're worth, DON'T LET THEM.
It could be an abusive boyfriend or husband, or maybe even a cheating one.
It could be a horrible HR or recruiter who's making your life difficult, or offering you a job with even lower pay vs what you can earn elsewhere.
(I don't measure the attractiveness of a job by its pay, but also the employer branding, boss and culture. But that's a story for another day.)
It could be a cheapskate friend who's trying to save money by ordering the cheapest item on the menu, and then eating off your plate. Or who keeps asking u for a ride home cos "shun bian mah! You got car leh!" and never offers to pay for your petrol or even treats you to drinks to say thank you. Or takes your cab home but doesn't split the fare.
(I encourage saving money but sponging off others is NOT the way)
It could be a colleague who always eats your snacks, or asks you to help take her shifts, but never does anything in return for you.
(I'm not saying we should expect anything when you give or do something for someone, but if people keep taking and never giving then THEY'RE JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU.)
It could be a classmate who's always photocopying your notes but refuses to share her own notes with you when you ask for them.
It could be a girlfriend where the girl keep expecting you to buy branded stuff and flowers for them all the time just because they chose to be with you. Especially if you're not in a financial position to do so comfortably.
But whoever it is,
If people treat you for less than what you're worth, WALK AWAY.
I left my first job for that very reason. I was doing so well and so much for the company that their competitors had heard of me, and even offered me a role with them at a pay raise, but my employer was
1) cheating me of my pay, including my CPF
2) refused to promote me even though I did so well and it was IN THE FREAKING EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
3) refused to give me a pay raise
And so I left. And it was the best decision I ever made, because now I'm flying so much higher.
ALWAYS know your worth even when people refuse to acknowledge it. And walk away, because
You'll find the ones who do value what you're worth.
———————————
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OMG GUYS OWNDAYS HAVING DAMN GOOD PROMO! HEAD OVER TO MY INSTAGRAM FOR DETAILS!!!
#notsponsored
I'm no chio Instagram influencer and I really hate taking selfies (unless it's with people) but I made an exception today because IT GOT ME A FREE PAIR OF SUNGLASSES!!!!
๐
I was buying lunch at Somerset 313 when I saw Owndays being FLOODED with people, so being the natural KPO Singaporean that I am, I went to see what was going on. Is it sale???
NO IT WAS EVEN BETTER.
You can get FREE SUNGLASSES / SPECTACLES simply by using your Instagram!!!!!
Every follower = $0.05 off
Every like on your photo = $0.50
The cheapest item I found in Owndays were the $78 sunglasses, so that's either 1560 followers, or 156 likes.
I see people creating anonymous Instagram accounts ON THE SPOT and camping for likes!!!! It was crazy! Anon accounts with like, 1 follower and 1 post also can get 200+ likes?!?!
I'm not anon but I didn't even hit that much ๐
At first I thought it was based on number of followers only leh!!! And I was willing to pay $8+ for a pair of branded sunglasses cos cheap mah.
End up I had about 70 likes WITHIN TEN MINUTES by the time I went to the counter, so I could actually get a $100 pair without paying anything.
BUT I FELT BAD LAH like exploiting the promo so I stuck to my original choice of a $78 pair which I really like!!!!! Take pic show y'all once I get off work!
So head over to my instagram to read about the Owndays promo + use the hashtags there + follow their IG
TO GET A FREE PAIR OF ๐!!!!!
I must disclaimer hor that Owndays did NOT approach me nor did they ask me to share about their promo. But I did get a freebie out of sharing, which you can get too! See I even teach y'all the hack to get free if you don't have enough followers (use the hashtag, camp on the likes page, ask people to exchange likes with you!)
Was contemplating whether I should have waited longer for more likes, then go back in the evening to redeem a free pair of specs with my degree, but decided that I really don't need one. My current pair of specs are still working perfectly fine!!!
But I do need a new pair of sunglasses cos my cheapo $8 pair from BKK broke.
THANK YOU OWNDAYS!!!
Go go go!!!!
Here's my pair! Chio or not haha ๐
