[doctorjames]

Perhaps im missing the point, but surely, like in almost all industries service or otherwise, its a case of survival of the fittest?..

Every customer has a budget, and you generally get what you pay for. If 5 different people will do the job for $200, the majority of people will choose the best person for the job for their $200. If you have $500 to spend on the same job then it will be a different 5 people competing?

Either way, the 5 people will be whittled down to 2 or 3 once the work and the money is spread out.

In the UK at the moment there is an oversupply of doctors in training to training posts available. When a similar situation happened to me 3 years ago I needed to separate myself from others and make myself more appealing. There was an alternative of course, to stick my head in the sand and pretend that none of it was happening.

Ultimately im no so******t in this regard. If someone is willing to work harder than you, to put in more hours, and to produce a better product than you for the same money thats tough luck. You either need to put up and show why you are better than the next man/woman or shut up and quit whining. If your not better than the next man then you either need to improve or find another source of income.

I wouldnt dream of becoming a 'professional' photographer, mostly because I love what I do for work at the moment anyway, but also because I would be no good at it. I wouldnt make money and I dont have the flare required to stand out. If I was no good at being a doctor this would be addressed at my yearly appraisal and if I hadnt improved my next year I would be out, with someone more capable than me filling my shoes. In my eyes this is all that having a stressed economy does... clears out the deadwood and no-hopers and makes space for those with new ideas and skills.

Perhaps I have missed the point (again) but those that try to oppose change rarely win.