Hey, Want to Work for Free

Hey, Want to Work for Free People who would consider it a bizarre breach of conduct to expect anyone to give them a haircut or a can of soda at no cost will ask you, with a straight face and a clear conscience, whether you wouldn’t be willing to write an essay or draw an illustration for them for nothing.  They often start by telling you how much they admire your work, although not enough, evidently, to pay one cent for it. This quote comes from Tim Kreiders brilliant NY Times opinion piece, Slaves of the Internet, Unite!   a must-read about how artists, writers and other creatives are being increasingly  pushed to provide their services for free (or insultingly low rates) in the Internet economy. Oh boy, did this piece resonate with me. Ive been in business since 1996 and I  still  grapple with when to do things for free: The stranger who writes, Would you mind taking a quick look at my sons resume? The eager entrepreneur who asks, Could you come speak to our group? Theres no compensation, but you can sell your books. And the website editor who calls and says, Howd you like to write for our website? We cant pay, but we get a lot of hits. Its easy to say just dont do it. But in practice, the question of when, and if, to consider doing work for free is not so simple. Over the years Ive learned to say no with confidence and conviction: I no longer write for sites who dont pay, I charge full rates for my coaching and I get paid to speak. But its taken me a long time much longer than it should have to get to this point. Arguably, there are times when you should consider doing work for free, especially when youre first starting out and building-up your portfolio. At those times, doing a limited period of unpaid work  can be a good way to gain needed experience and skills. If youre a new entrepreneur, writing guest blog posts or teaching free webinars for high-traffic sites can be an excellent way to create interest in your business. And of  course, there are many wonderful non-profits and worthwhile causes with whom we can partner on a volunteer basis, regardless of where we are at in our careers. But once you have established yourself and proven your value, should you continue to do things for free in exchange for exposure? Is it worth the trade-off if you have an opportunity to write for a major website or speak to a big-time organization? Its an interesting question and Im curious to hear your thoughts on the topic. Chime in below and let me know how you feel. And before closing, I wanted to share the script Kreider uses when turning down offers to work for free: Thanks very much for your compliments on my [writing/illustration/whatever thing you do]. I’m flattered by your invitation to [do whatever it is they want you to do for nothing]. But [thing you do] is work, it takes time, it’s how I make my living, and in this economy I can’t afford to do it for free. I’m sorry to decline, but thanks again, sincerely, for your kind words about my work. Brilliant, dont you think? Related articles that you might also enjoy: 5 Ways to Structure a Lifestyle-Friendly Business (so it doesnt take over your life!) Want to Work During Retirement? 9 Books to Read Now 10 Questions to Help You Find Fulfilling Part-Time Retirement Work Options Fun Ways to Mix Work and Travel in Retirement