Hello Reader,

We're very excited to collaborate with one of the most thoughtful creative business owners in our network—Michael Ivan Schwartz of Loud Communications—in this next round of Coworking with Creatives.

He is a regular contributor to CwC already, and his 20+ years of experience show in the value he's added to many of our conversations.

In this guest blog, he opens with a story from an old Taxi episode—where one character is handed a blank check and has to decide:

What number is fair? What number tells the truth?

(It's a scene worth the watching for peak comedy writing and acting if you've never seen it.)

Louie's tension (Danny Devito)—between guessing and honoring real value—is the same tension we live with every time we send an estimate.

Michael's not intent to find a “perfect formula,” but to ask better questions that help provide clarity for the process:

• How do you gauge your client’s budget (range)? (...just ask?)
• What are all the ways you can show your value?
• Should I aim low or high?

It’s wise. It’s generous. And it’s the open-ended but helpful insight Michael is bringing to our Finance Pro-Session this Monday at 10 AM ET.​

Keep going,
Scott

P.S. Skimming quickly? Read the latest blog or join our next session below.

What is Coworking with Creatives?

These 90-minute online sessions are an opportunity to gather with other artists and creatives and grow successful businesses together.