I’m Kayla. I run a tiny design studio from my kitchen table. Coffee rings on my mouse pad. Sticky notes everywhere. Last year, I gave Objectivist philosophy a real shot. Not in theory—like, in my day-to-day life.
If you’d like to compare notes with someone else who ran the same year-long experiment, here’s another candid field report on Objectivism in practice over at Full Context.
If you’re new to it, Objectivism (Ayn Rand’s thing) says this: use reason, seek your own good, trade value for value, and respect rights. No guilt trips. No force. Be proud of your work. Sounds clean and sharp, right? It felt that way to me too.
For context beyond Rand’s novels, I found the archives at Full Context invaluable for tracing how these ideas grew and collided with real history.
But life isn’t clean. It’s messy. So here’s what happened when I used it for real.
Why I Tried It, and Where It Hit First
I first read The Fountainhead in college. I read Atlas Shrugged during a slow winter, the year my studio almost folded. The ideas hit me hard. I was tired of “Can you do this for exposure?” I wanted clear lines. Real trades. Honest prices.
If you’re curious how those big novels inspire active projects, take a peek at one designer’s take after entering the annual Rand essay contest (read her reflection).
So I tested it.
- I raised rates by 18%.
- I said no to unpaid “friend favors.”
- I kept a simple sheet in Google Sheets to track hours and value.
- I stopped saying, “Sorry,” for things that weren’t my fault.
You know what? I felt less tired. My work got better. And my clients who stayed… they respected the work.
The Bakery Story (Work Test No. 1)
A local bakery asked for a cute rebrand. They wanted a “friend price.” I love their scones. I wanted to say yes. But I also needed to pay rent.
So I used the Objectivist idea of a fair trade. I sent my real quote. Short and clear. No fluff. They said no.
It stung for a week. Then a tech founder needed packaging and paid my full rate, plus a rush fee. That job led to three more. The bakery still smiles at me when I buy bread. We’re fine. But I learned: clear prices draw clear people.
(If you want more on day-to-day business decisions through an Objectivist lens, try this hands-on lifestyle review: Objectivist Living—My Honest Hands-On Review.)
A Weird Thing: It Made Me Kinder. Sort Of.
This sounds odd. Objectivism gets called cold. But when I chose to help someone, I helped because I wanted to. Not from guilt. That felt warm.
For a deeper dive into the moral side, including when “kindness” clashes with principle, here’s another first-person account: I Tried Living as a Moral Objectivist—Here’s My Honest Review.
My neighbor needed help moving a couch up old stairs. Saturday. I had laundry and a fussy kid. I helped anyway, because I like her and I use her porch swing. It was a trade in spirit—friendship for muscle. No score sheet. Just honest choice. And that mattered to me.
Family, Giving, and That “You Don’t Care” Talk
My mom loves charity drives. She asked me to sponsor a run. It felt guilt-based, not value-based. I said no. She frowned and said I was being selfish.
That hurt. We talked. I told her I’d rather give where I see growth. I picked a local coding camp for teens and donated design time for their posters. I also taught a library class on Canva basics for small shops because design lowers barriers. She still did the run. I cheered. Later we baked cookies together. We were okay.
Parents wrestling with how Objectivism fits home life might enjoy this related story: I Tried a Theory of Objectivist Parenting—Here’s My Real-Life Take.
Here’s my rule now: I give by choice, to things I believe build skill or joy. I skip guilt asks. It keeps peace in my head.
Relationships Got Clearer (And a Bit Sharper)
Objectivism says don’t live for others, and don’t ask them to live for you. That’s not easy. But we tried something at home.
- My partner gets one long bike ride on Sunday.
- I get two “deep work” nights a week. No chores. Headphones on.
- We trade time, not grudges.
We still fight sometimes. Life happens. But the deals are clear, and it helps. Also, love isn’t a ledger—so we leave space for surprise kindness. That’s my add-on, not Rand’s.
Singles looking at romance through this lens can check out a spicy field report: Objectivist Dating—My First-Person Take with Real-Feeling Examples.
Beyond essays and theory, sometimes you just want a practical tool that helps you apply “value for value” in your love life. For anyone curious about a more direct, no-strings approach to meeting partners, swing by PlanCul—the platform’s straightforward profiles and clear expectations keep everyone on the same page from the first chat.
And if you’re located in California’s High Desert and prefer a face-to-face arrangement that still honors crystal-clear terms, consider browsing AdultLook Apple Valley—its detailed listings and upfront pricing let you vet potential connections ahead of time so every meetup begins with the mutual understanding that Objectivists prize.
Art, Taste, and That “Hero” Thing
Objectivism loves strong lines and big heroes. I toured a modern building museum on a rainy day and felt lit up. Bold work can lift your spine, you know?
But I also like a lumpy quilt from a church sale. It’s not grand. It’s warm. Objectivist art ideas felt too narrow for me. I keep the pride in craft, though. That part sings.
(For a view of how Objectivists hash out culture and metrics, see this sociology-minded essay: Counting What We Can Count—My Take on the Objectivist Approach in Sociology.)
A Coffee Shop Lesson on Rights
Tiny story: a coffee shop near me posted clear rules—one drink per hour if you use a table. Some folks grumbled. I liked it. It’s their place. They set terms. I paid for two hours and wrote in peace. I left a thank-you note with the barista. Clear rules help everyone.
Where It Broke (At Least for Me)
I’ll be real. Sometimes Objectivism felt like a hard edge on soft things.
- The PTA asked for cupcakes. No trade there. Just community glue. I brought store-bought ones and felt fine, but a little stiff.
- A friend lost her job. She didn’t need “rational trade.” She needed soup and a long sit. So I shut up and showed up. No theory. Just care.
I guess my version has more grace. I keep the backbone. I add a blanket.
If you’re weighing the pros and cons, you might appreciate this month-long media binge recap: I Spent a Month Reading Objectivist Blogs—Here’s What Stuck.
Tools I Used While Trying It
- Google Sheets to track time and value.
- Notion for goals and a “yes/no” script for tricky asks.
- Stripe for clean payments.
- A small “Wins” board on my fridge. Pride matters. Seeing it matters more.
Curious what formal organizations can add? One writer mapped it out over twelve months: [I Spent a Year Trying Objectivist Organizations—Here’s What Actually Helped](https://www