Working for free…

I”m on board with many of your strategies, including not engaging with people who nickel-and-dime you (answer to person who says: “I could get my cousin Vinny to do it for $50!”? “Then get cousin Vinny.”) and of course having a portfolio of work or case studies that back up your claim to be sliced bread # 2.

Many people, including me, would say that you devalue everyone’s work when you undercut colleagues by working for free. This then becomes the expectation. But even if that doesn’t make you think twice, working for free has an air of desperation.

There are obviously other factors, such as your determination and single-mindedness, that led to your success. Deciding what you want to do and sticking with it for the long haul is not for the faint-hearted, but usually proves my core belief: that most people don’t finish what they start, run out of steam, or, frankly, never start at all. Ideas and aspirations are a dime a dozen.

I say work out your competitive pricing, and if you need occasionally to “buy the business” by reducing your cost, send an invoice showing that you’ve discounted the pricing for this gig.