Is Pro-Bono A Good Strategy? Consider This Before Committing.

I know what you're thinking: you want to be able to come to the rescue with last-minute requests.  Nothing puts us in a better light with people than taking on a favor at no expense to the requester.

It's human nature to want to be liked by people and seen as adaptable.  All things being equal, we tend to do business with people we like and respect.

There's nothing wrong with an occasional one or two pro bono projects.  These favors open our horizons into new and exciting territory.

But that's the thing: these favors must have a purpose and be a small part of our activities.

It’s common for skilled professionals to do things for free far too often.  Aspiring software engineers, videographers, digital marketers, writers, and musicians are common victims of the perpetual pro bono game.

They accept request after request while believing one will break them through the threshold to finally turn on cruise control as the money rolls in.  It's disheartening to watch them continue down this path until they realize very late in the game that there is no hidden treasure to doing it for free long-term.

They might make a little money here and there, but forget why they entered that profession.  Something triggers them to reflect on their experiences, only to realize they've created a self-damning reputation as being the free guy.  Then, an emotional torrent rolls in and overcomes them.

Creative happiness becomes stained with bitter resentment as a night-and-day switch is triggered within their attitudes.  They become so scorned and resentful from being taken advantage of that they fanatically commit to dying with their dreams inside them rather than offer another freebie.

Now, these burn-out creatives have aged into a position where they need to work for money by considering the long-term implications of their decisions.  Meanwhile, a new legion of younger people has slowly arisen, desiring to be discovered.  Their youthfulness and pure creativity destroy our relevance.

The aged creative who was taken advantage of feels like a used-up rag doll with nothing but blood, sweat, and tears to show for it.

Considerations Before Committing To Any Favor

When we're new to an industry, we're invigorated with fresh energy that became bottled from our schooling.  As we turn our tassels from one side to another, we strongly believe our ideas will finally manifest as we enter the marketplace.

Unlike our seasoned counterparts, we do not have to unlearn obsolete techniques and knowledge that prevent seasoned professionals from adapting.  The caveat is that we do not know the true value of our services, which leads to these seasoned counterparts taking advantage of our creativity and performance.

Out of desperation, we do anything to get our names out there. We want to be known as the professionals who get it done. It's as if there are dues to pay to become known.

These dues are an illusion in the game.

As a hyperactive creative in his thirties, I'm here to tell you that you have more options and choices than you think. We have more access to information than ever before. More opportunities exist than we can count, but we must find them.

Don't get me wrong—there are times when doing things pro bono is necessary and rewarding. Volunteering at one-time events to help others or taking on a project that allows us more creative freedom is certainly rewarding.

However, I've learned that some askers will take advantage of you repeatedly.  Ultimately, it's up to you to put your foot down and tell them that they’ve drained their bank account.

If there is one thing to remember, it's this:

Free doesn’t pay the bills. Free doesn’t stop debt collectors.  Free doesn’t fix credit scores or stop evictions. Ultimately, free doesn’t lead to freedom.

With these important truths in mind, here are some questions that I wish I had considered before committing to doing countless pro bono projects back in the day:

Will This Enhance Your Portfolio or Reputation?

You should never feel bad about turning a favor into an asset you can leverage later.

When taking on favors, it's wise to consider the value of the favor.  Whether it allows you to create a tangible product, add to your arsenal of stories, or earn brownie points in leaders' eyes, it's important to consider how the favor can serve you later.

The favor should challenge you to try something new, but it should not be so overwhelming that it takes up time that could be used to do paid projects.

What Is The Fair Market Value of This Favor?

Your favors have value. In business, we quantify the value of our services, whether they are at Fair Market Value (FMV) or not.

We should do the same for our favors. The best way to do this is to summarize a list of favors we've done for people. From there, we can Google or use our favorite GPT to find out the FMV of that favor.

Be careful, though. We don’t want to do favors worth their weight in gold when these services should be compensated, and we don’t want to do a bunch of little favors that an administrative assistant is supposed to be hired to do.

(If you're an AA, I sincerely appreciate all the unseen things you do, no matter where you work!)

My rule of thumb is to do favors above my current market value. This allows me to build my portfolio to higher levels and charge accordingly. However, this is not a hard and fast rule.

Is This Favor A Stone, Pebble, Or Sand In Your Jar?

Many teachers use this analogy, but let's refresh.

In our lives, we should fill our jar with the important stones first, then pebbles, and finally sand. As we shake the jar, everything fills the space and settles naturally.

If we reverse it, we risk not being able to fit everything in.

When it comes to favors, we must consider them in the same context. The person asking may want it to be a stone, but that's not their call. You're in charge, and it's up to you to determine its fit in your jar.

If they want you to make it a stone in your life, invite them to sit down and discuss the price. :-)

What’s Your Hard Limit On Favors?

This is the best guardrail we can put up for ourselves. Unlike the others, it can be a conversation we have with ourselves or with a trusted friend or colleague.

When it comes to favors, establishing a ceiling on the number of favors you can do in a season does two things for us.

First, it gives us a reason to say no when people ask for excessive favors.  This is a great guardrail against someone who may have a reputation for asking for tons of freebies.

Second, we become more conscious of what we say yes to. With a hard cap on the number of favors, we become more selective about doing mutually beneficial favors rather than being likable.

Putting a cap on favors prevents us from being taken advantage of and incentivizes us to stop seeking them out for ourselves. People who are givers will sometimes seek to do favors proactively, but now, they should look more to sell themselves so they can continue doing what they love.

Is The Person Asking Known For Fishing For Favors?

The source of the favor is far more important than the nature of the favor itself.  There is a difference between someone who is in a genuine bind and needs a little push versus someone who believes they are a gift to the world and everyone else must work around them.

If someone has a reputation for asking for freebies, it should be your job to stop them. This is especially true if it's a business owner or entrepreneur—who should be MAKING money—who keeps asking for favors.  They should be paying you for a service they need so they can make more themselves.

Perform Favors Strategically

As we close out, there is one last thing to consider:

Getting better at marketing things we've already done might be better than looking for more opportunities to do favors. Perhaps there's something valuable in our stories we haven't considered, and we should leverage that.

Talking to a trusted counselor is the best way to do this. Whether through a mastermind group or over coffee, having somebody else's perspective can help us craft our message to increase the odds of landing those paid projects we need to sustain ourselves.

With pro bono work, we can now perform these favors more mindfully. Instead of saying yes now, we can consider it and respond thoughtfully later. The right people will respect your need to consider it, especially if the favor requires more effort to achieve fruition.

Never underestimate the value of the favors you do for others. What's one thing you can do to market your favors better to get those paid projects? Leave a comment below.