Why Some People Earn More, The Supply and Demand Rule That Changed My Life

In 2019, I was just a person who worked as a retailer. At that time, I always wondered why some people make more money than others. After going through some videos on YouTube, I learned one powerful insight:

"People who make more money are doing things fewer people are willing to do."

As a Business Degree graduate, I believe this point is valid. I still remember back in college, learning about Supply and Demand. It's quite simple to understand when we look at it from this perspective, the more people working in certain jobs, the lesser the payment tends to be.

Look at it this way, say you have a business and you allocate $1,000 for "The Easiest" work that many people can do, and you allocate the same amount for "The a Bit Harder" work that not many can do. For the easiest work, there will be 100 candidates applying for that position, obviously because it's easier to do. Therefore, the supply exceeds the demand.

Meanwhile, "The a Bit Harder" work might only attract 10 applicants because it requires more skilled workers. Therefore, the supply is less than the demand.

So how do we determine which work will be paid more? I believe when more people apply for a position, the business has the upper hand due to the abundance of applicants. This leads to negotiation power shifting to the business. That $1,000 might need to be split between two people, resulting in $500 per person.

Conversely, when fewer people apply for a job, businesses don't have much choice other than to pick the best out of the limited pool. If the business is experiencing increased revenue, they might even increase the allocated budget up to $2,000. This validates my perspective on "People who make more money are doing things fewer people are willing to do."

The Turning Point

I remember the exact moment this concept clicked for me. It was a rainy Tuesday evening after a particularly grueling 12-hour shift at the retail store. My feet ached, my manager had been especially demanding that day, and my paycheck, which I'd just received, seemed to mock me with its meager sum.

Sitting at my tiny kitchen table, scrolling through job listings that all seemed identical to what I already had, I felt trapped in an endless cycle. That's when a recommended video appeared on my YouTube feed "How I Doubled My Income in 6 Months."

Initially skeptical, I clicked anyway. What caught my attention was how he emphasized that most people weren't willing to put in the effort to learn these technical skills, creating a perfect supply-demand imbalance.

Taking the Leap

The next day, I created a learning schedule for myself. Every morning before my retail shift, I woke up earlier than usual and dedicated two hours to tutorials. Weekends became my intensive learning periods. Was it easy? Absolutely not. There were countless moments when I questioned whether I was wasting my time, especially when facing complex concepts that seemed impenetrable.

My friends couldn't understand why I was "working so hard" when I could be relaxing. Family members suggested I look for a better-paying retail position instead. But something inside me knew this path, difficult as it was, held the key to breaking the cycle.

The Webflow Discovery

Six months into my learning journey, I discovered Webflow. While I had been struggling with traditional coding, Webflow's visual approach to web development felt like finding a bridge between my creative instincts and the technical skills I was developing.

I learned to understand how to build proper structures of UI/UX that developers love, which gave me control over how my designs could save developer time. Less developer time means less cost to businesses. This realization made me valuable to them.

The platform's comprehensive educational resources, Webflow University became my new classroom. The beauty of it was that while many were willing to learn basic web skills, far fewer were mastering the specific capabilities that Webflow offered. I had found my "thing that fewer people were willing to do."

Some might think I am just suggesting using a tool (Webflow). The truth is, I might not be here building websites for reputable brand without the knowledge I've gain from Webflow University

The Transformation

In 2021, I dedicated myself fully to learning from Webflow University. The results were beyond anything I could have imagined, I've made 8 times more salary than I did in retail.

But the transformation wasn't just financial. I went from being a passive participant in my career to actively shaping it. From following others' instructions to creating solutions that clients didn't even know they needed. From dreading Monday mornings to eagerly tackling new projects.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Sometimes I look back at that sunny evening at mamak food stall and smile at how a simple economic principle, supply and demand, changed the trajectory of my life. The journey wasn't easy. There were countless late nights, frustrating learning curves, and moments of self-doubt.

But for anyone reading this who might be standing at a similar crossroad, I encourage you to ask yourself, What valuable skills are most people unwilling to learn? What digital tools (like Webflow) offer that perfect intersection of high demand and low supply of skilled practitioners?

Your answer might be different from mine. Perhaps it's data analytics, AI prompt engineering, or specialized digital marketing. Whatever it is, remember that the path to extraordinary results rarely feels comfortable at first.

As for me, I continue to deepen my Webflow expertise, knowing that as the platform evolves, so too must my skills. The principle that changed my life continues to guide me, seek out the valuable work that others are unwilling to do.