About getting 500+ rates, in my experience, it is bubbles.

You’re in bubble A, totally by coincidence, where you and other contractors are doing say 300 a day rates. Hard to change because that’s going to be the expectancy within that bubble. Higher rates will stand out and descisionmakers will think lower is normal.

Bubble B happens to have 800 a day, work will be equal, not harder, not easier, just in this bubble, it’s that rate.. same psychology for outliers applies.

Started in 400 a day bubbles, currently working in 900 a day bubble, worked for a couple of years in 1800 a day bubble..

Psychology of normal expectancy bubbles all the way down..