Joe DownsCEO & Co-Founder, Belrose Storage Group. Founder, Storage Moguls.

Its not what you think😂

16 Sept 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:19

In this light‑hearted YouTube episode, host Joe Downs introduces an informal analogy he dubs the “parable of the prostitute, the thief, and the farmer.” He uses the example of a prostitute who sells time by the hour to illustrate how many professionals—consultants, freelancers, and others—sell their presence rather than concrete outcomes. Joe argues that when payment stops the moment the service provider stops showing up, the product being sold is merely time. He provocatively asks his co‑host Kristen if she’s ever been a “prostitute” under this definition, leading to a candid admission that everyone has, at some point, sold time in this way. The conversation is playful, candid, and uses humor to set up a broader critique of hourly billing versus value‑based pricing, though the episode excerpt stops before deeper exploration of alternatives.

Chapters

Here, right, Kristen? Have you ever heard of the parable of the prostitute, the thief, and the farmer?
Nope, but I am not sure I like where this is going, and I saw the title on this episode, so I am curious what you're going to share with me.
Yeah, well, it's not actually a parable, it just sounds better that way.
But you're making— you're making stuff up. Great.
Here's what I mean by it. So the prostitute sells their time By the hour. You would agree with that? Um, doesn't matter what they charge. You could charge $500 an hour and have a fancy title— consultant, for instance. Um, but if the money stops the second you stop showing up, that's what you're selling. Agreed?
Mm-hmm.
So, Kristen, have you ever been a prostitute?
I, I knew I wouldn't like where this was going, Joe, but I guess—
You can answer that question anyway.
I guess by your definition.
Well, we all have.
I can't believe I'm going to admit this on camera, but yes, yes, I for sure have been. And we all have.
We all have, right?
But Joe, I think I, I think I charged a decent rate though. Did you? Because I know you've been one too.