I Won’t Help You Move, Either.

My Advice to Small Businesspersons and Bootstrappers:

At the risk of sounding worse than the Joker:  I (mostly) agree–don’t give it away if it’s what you do to earn a living.

Okay, straight up–I’m not saying I never do pro bono publico. I’ve done a lot of volunteering and I’m happy to do it. I also have a couple of clients who don’t have a lot of money, but I believe in their potential and want to help.

However, I’d be disingenuous if I told you that (besides the volunteer work) I don’t tire of the persistent entreaties for free or outrageously discounted services from organizations and companies. Especially those that have the means to pay me for my work.

It’s always something.  Rewrite some copy, design an invitation, critique a for-profit website or do free publicity for that annual fundraiser for prickly heat. I could go on, but suffice it to say that some people think that since I own my own company (and their cause is just and “you’re just so good at this!”) surely I would be happy to donate my time for free or for a pittance (that’s called a loss in business-speak).

Now if I do those things in hopes of creating a relationship that will lead to new business, that’s one thing–you pays your money and you takes your chances. But anybody who has walked in my bootstraps knows the difference between a legit opportunity to create a new business relationship and just plain being taken for a sucker.

Hey, to be fair–every one of those examples I gave are my fault because I said “Sure, I’d be happy to help. Who cares if that puts me behind with a paying client?”

But now, I have to say this: I’m flattered to be asked, but no. Can’t do it. I can’t help you move, either.

Doctors who volunteer in inner city clinics or third-world countries two weeks a year deserve our admiration; ditto for lawyers at legal aid or accountants who help out folks for free a little at tax time. Same goes for PR/marketing/advertising people who serve charitable organizations as a board member in charge of publicity. They’re doing their own version of ministering to the needy: putting their modest talents and connections to work pro bono publico–for the public good.

But you can do the public so much good that you go out of business. Then the joke’s on you. (At least at that point you’ll have plenty of time to volunteer.)

My advice is simple: pick one or two causes/organizations per year that you will help pro bono–then set boundaries. Say yes only when it’s feasible. Never, ever get overextended due to your generous heart or the quality of their cause or organization. Trust me, if you do you’ll begin to resent the very people you volunteered to help.

And if somebody who owns a business tries to hire you on the cheaps, playing on some misplaced sense of loyalty or the passing acquaintanceship so easily called “friend” these days, don’t even think about it. Do what Nancy told us to do in the eighties. Just say no. Work for peanuts and you lose money, time and respect–and when you’re bootstrapping a business you can’t afford to lose anything.

If I sound like a Grinch so be it.

Honestly, I believe we should give with a generous, happy heart. That’s easiest and most genuine when you have a roof over your head and you don’t feel like a sucker. No joke.

Thanks to Erika Napoletano, Shelly Kramer and Chris Brogan for inspiring this post.