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Marisa Guthrie's avatar

This is just SO good George. I used to run a health charity where we used sliding scales and saw it roundly abused, so we struggled. As you rightly say, there are many ways to build accessibility into our business models. I don't believe that PWYC and sliding scales are the way to do it. Thanks for this.

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George Kao's avatar

Thanks for sharing your experience! 🙏🏼

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Raka Tavasmi's avatar

While I mostly agree with this, I also think our job as service providers is not only to make people comfortable, it can be to challenge too, on various levels. Giving on sliding scale or donation makes us stretch our hearts, really consider our resources and the needs of those we wish to support. This can be a good thing too, even if it is uncomfortable. But it has to be bought into as a concept first and this I think happens only in certain group cultures. I once had a senior teacher offer to pay for me to go on a retreat she was teaching at! In the end I didn't need that but I was blown away by her generosity and what she modelled for me. Generosity is part of that community culture, not just about money. However I agree most people are not looking to challenge their own views on giving and receiving, so it is easier and more comfortable to have fixed prices and offers at different prices as you describe.

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George Kao's avatar

Thanks for your nuanced comment! I agree -- certain community cultures are much more open to practicing the considerations that go into sliding scale / PWYC.

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Megan deBoer's avatar

I really appreciate all the points you've raised, ones I speak to often with the heart-centered business owners I support! Thank you for this piece.

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PJ Alexander's avatar

You summed up a lot of the aspects here George, thank you. Good reference for any of my people who ask about PWYC. I feel that PWYC can be used effectively if you have a deep understanding of what is required, a strong business model, and know how to 'sell' it properly, with self-respect and without scarcity. But the number of folks with that skill set is close to none--you and your audience probably already know the few in N. America who do it successfully. And/or, PWYC requires a culture that is skillful with acknowledging and investing in good value--which I think is not present in the deep scarcity wounding of general N. American culture, and plays on both entrepreneur and client, in sometimes shadowy ways.

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George Kao's avatar

very well said! 🙏🏼

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Rose O's avatar

Thanks, George for a clear and calm point of view on what can be a sticky topic.

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Ellie Nova's avatar

Thank you, this is so helpful

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