What will this cost me?

If you were to ask what single lesson I’ve learned over the past 10 years of being in business, I would have to say that it’s the lesson of "You get what you pay for".  Time and time again, I see the wisdom in this lesson, not only from the point of view of the provider but also from the point of view of the purchaser of goods or services.

This point is brilliantly illustrated with the following joke:

Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?"

Adam said he didn’t have anyone to talk to. God said he was going to give him a companion and she would be called "woman."

God said, "This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you’ve had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give love and compassion whenever needed."

Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?"

God said, "An arm and a leg."

Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?"