The thing that always comes to mind is that every time someone asks, "Where do you work?", they're trying to find common ground by asking, "What price is on your head?" Those without a credential have a very low price indeed. A friend said, "You do what you want and sometimes people pay you for it." It was an accurate assessment even if I don't know what I want until someone asks me to do something.
The price bothers me less than the unquestioned competition.