Set an Absurdly High Hourly Rate to Guard Your Time

James was juggling three jobs while mentoring passers-by for free on weekends. His phone buzzed nonstop—people asked for quick favors that sucked his evenings dry. One night, his spouse left the dishes in the sink and he realized he valued his own time so little he was the cheapest person in the house.

He decided then to set an aspirational rate of $2,000 an hour, even though he earned much less. He posted it as a mental boundary: no request under that rate. When a neighbor asked for free design help, James said he’d send his assistant for $50. When a colleague pinged for a quick review, James offered a paid consultation slot instead.

At first it felt absurd. He questioned, I might be overcharging, but he stuck to it. Within weeks, low-value requests dried up. He reclaimed his evenings and spent time on high-impact work that truly earned his rate—branding workshops, keynote talks, and product strategy sessions.

Behavioral science calls this “anchoring.” Setting a high anchor recalibrates both your own self-worth and how others value your time. By enforcing that anchor, you protect your attention, avoid busywork, and invest your hours where they matter most.

First, list three past wins where your work clearly earned or saved a large sum quickly. Next, choose a round, high number—5× your current rate—as your personal hourly anchor. Finally, decline or outsource any task that falls below that rate, freeing up your schedule for higher-value work. Try this boundary tomorrow.