Do you find yourself
constantly seduced or blackmailed into giving free advisory services or
consultation to family and friends and sometimes friends of friends?
I have a number of doctors
and lawyers who are close friends of mine. Many struggle with this one thing.
They have a reprehensible fear of charging family and friends for personal
services.
Young consultants just
starting out, coaches of every shade and type whether its fitness, lifestyle,
fashion, money, youth, marketing and even finance coaches; as do so many other
service-professionals in many industries who also suffer this affliction
needlessly.
Listen up, please if there’s
any lingering remnant of moral repugnance stopping you from asking for payment
for services rendered I implore you to expunge it from your soul.
May these pathogens die by
fire!!! Recieve brain I pray.
Listen my good friend! People
value more of what they can pay for! Call it equal to the effect of a powerful
placebo, the expensive type.
Even the subtlest self-hatred
or lack of worthiness of your profession is enough to make you disadvantaged in
any sales-conversation or what had the potential of becoming one…. but no.
Instead subconsciously, you had to sabotage yourself and entirely discount the
power of framing the mindset of your friend-turned-client-in-need into fully
appreciating the subtle power of equivalent payment for services rendered.
Yes, give a generous
discount, if you must, but please demand a fee in cash or equivalent kindness.
Just ask yourself, who is to
say whether or not it is okay to charge for your personal services. And if you
feel its okay to use your talent for charity, please feel free to. But I dare
say that an accumulation of concerted efforts of your several years of
experience and knowledge acquired through hard-work, study and talents is
definitely worth charging a decent amount for.
Come on, they (your friends)
pay their mechanic to take a look at their car engine, they also pay their
barber, the street hawker who sells them vegetable and the butcher who supplies
meat and all the others get paid.
Why not you?
If you keep thinking your
talent or skill is free and so why charge a fee. You’ll nearly always provide
less than your best. Not to mention soon go broke and embarrass your family and
friends.
Is that fair?
Is that fair?
Most malaria patients
appreciate their doctors service in the middle of the night. By the time the
danger has passed and they’re back on their feet, the hospital bill looks
ludicrously expensive.
It’s the law of diminishing
appreciation.
Show some respect for what
you do straight up. And others will too respect your hustle.
What’s more? You will then
speak about your chosen profession with even more confidence and pride. And
those kind of emotions are infectious and cause even more sales, bookings and
referrals, thereby creating a virtuous cycle.
It’s okay to be charitable but make sure it’s for the less fortunate and not some friend looking to take advantage of free labour.
No….not good….not good my friend….give discount instead. Be cheap labour not FREE labour.
It’s okay to be charitable but make sure it’s for the less fortunate and not some friend looking to take advantage of free labour.
No….not good….not good my friend….give discount instead. Be cheap labour not FREE labour.
Do us all a favour my friend.
Respect your hustle. Plus we (needy clients) may also need the additional
placebo effect or mental edge to fully believe in the efficacy of your services
and fully appreciate the advice far better than we would were it given free
like beer parlour gossip.
We all value the 100 U.S
dollar more than our 1,000 Naira simply because we place more value on it. Its
our own perception.
How much value do you place
on your personal service?
