Time to stop the old paradigm of “I work for food.” For some reason the grocery stores here no longer accept shells and beads for trade, they prefer green bills. Again, thank you for creating the space to explore this topic. Many Blessings to you and your family this year.

One thing this entire issue has made me realize is that I have been the “picker” too often. I need to change how I approach people when I ask them for help. At the very least, I need to make sure that I show them how much I respect their time and their knowledge – then find out how I can help them in return, when possible.

I have yet to see any value. I totally didn’t benefit and yet I wasted my time on a few lengthy conversations and then a Skype call where I did add a ton of value (in fact, it was a call with one other “social media rockstar” and I dominated the call… he was smart to have been quiet!)

Honestly, I never told him how I feel but maybe I should share this comment. I’ve been bothered by it for awhile now.

Great post! I came across it when researching a “polite” way to tell someone “no” who contacted me to ask for a 90 minute training session…for free, because it would be a good “investment” for me! Huh? Providing my work free for them is a good investment? The organization charges hundreds of dollars for its consulting and they had the nerve to expect that I’d work with them for free. No promise of any future work, no explanation of the “investment,” no nothing.

I do, on occasion, discount or even waive my fees – for a nonprofit organization and only when they’ve asked about my fee rather than assuming I’ll do it for free because they are a nonprofit. This is the only exception I make. For-profits – friends or not – have to pay! And, sometimes I charge my friends a “stupid tax” to make up for the pain working with them may cause!

It happens in religious communities too.

That’s the problem — perceptions. There’s a ton of work that goes into this! It’s not as easy for us as it may seem!