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So How Long Are Serious Entrepreneurs Expected To Work For Free?

So How Long Are Serious Entrepreneurs Expected To Work For Free?

So here’s a quick question for you? Do you currently work for free? No that’s not a trick question. Or how about this one;  do you feel that it’s appropriate that really serious entrepreneurs should (or can be expected) to work for free? (Not indefinitely mind you!)

Alright; under any circumstances at all! Would you ever work for free? Not to worry; nobodies asking you to rush into charity work of some kind.  Just trying to gauge just “how” motivated and marketing savvy that you currently are. That’s all.

Would you take the time to painstaking research and  write a book (your labor of love if you will) and allow a more savvy JV (joint venture partner)  (who could potentially open some major doors for you down the road!)pocket 100% of the royalties of the book! Remember that question,  (and your answer to it) because just a little further ahead, you’re going to be exposed to a really cool (hypothetical) marketing possibility. (So please stay tuned for that.)

 

Here’s a quick question for you: (if like me) you’re a paid consultant of some kind; would you seriously consider conducting 145 free (one hour to ninety minute) one on one power consultations, (to the best of your ability) with your ideal customer or clients? (That right!)

And I mean really give it your best, but not receive a dime for your very best efforts! (Think about that for a second!)

BTW, did you know the boxing legend Walker smith Jr. (aka) Sugar ray Robinson (the original sugar man himself), he had 85 career amateur fights! That means he wasn’t paid a penny! Or what about his latter name sake Ray Charles Leonard (aka) Sugar Ray Leonard.

Did you know that boxing great and current hall of famer Sugar Ray Leonard  actually fought 145 times as an amateur, before turning pro? And earning his first penny as a professional! Yep, it’s true!

I share those stats with you so that you might realize (and appreciate) that there is absolutely nothing wrong with you (first) seriously honing your craft! Before you get all stressed out over where the money is!

So How Long Would Any Serious Entrepreneurs Be Expected To Work For Free?

Now just like hall of fame boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard (and the late great) Sugar Ray Robinson, it really does make sense to hone your skills first, and then after you’ve mastered the basics, you can look forward to earning some serious cash.

Take this really cool hypothetical marketing example. Suppose you had a real passion for herbs and the potential  -proven-(alternative) medicinal value they could provide by systematically adding them to your diet. So you spend three painstaking years (tirelessly) researching and re-verifying your facts (spending) what little discretionary money you have in the process!

And after finally writing and re-writing and viciously editing your manual script, (and getting it as tight as you possibly can)you submit it all over the place trying desperately  to get a book deal!

But no major publishers and or independent publishers (that usually seek out these type of obscure projects out) want any parts of your labor of love masterpiece! So you try unsuccessfully to go the “self published” route! But once again, you literally can’t give your book away!

But then just as your’re about to permanently throw the towel and be done with book publishing altogether! (Wouldn’t you know it!) A book agent for a major publisher stumbles across a copy of your book at (of all places) a yard sale!

Because you hand 5,000 copies printed, but you just didn’t sell enough to cover printing anymore! But as fate would have it! This book agent just happens to be personal friends with Oprah’s magazine editor!

Say what? That’s correct, and since she thinks the information in your book is so cutting edge! She not only tells, but shows Oprah’s magazine publisher your book as well! And that of course leads to your book being shown directly to lady “O” herself!

And the short of it is, Oprah flips for your cutting edge info and immediately arranges for you to make three separate appearances on her OWN network television program.(And she of course immediately adds your book to her new top ten “must read” books list!)

And of course your three appearances on her show, literally has her audience  eating up your information as well!Then shortly there after your TV appearances, Oprah’s main publishing company drops a major bombshell! Oprah’s book publisher contact will gladly publish your book and provide first class promotion and book you on several major national TV shows, like Dr. Oz and the “View”  “The Talk” and CNN etc!

And Oprah will also personally see to it that you also appear on several major national radio programs as well! But here’s the catch! Since in a reality it’s Oprah’s mega star power and her worldwide celebrity that’s really fueling your books eventual explosion to New York times best seller status!

Therefore Oprah’s people all but demand 100% of your books eventual royalties! Say what? After all they counter; without her star power behind you, nobody would have ever even heard of you on a national and or International level! Nor would they have ever bought your book!

You Can See How A Short Term Setback Can Potentially Be A Long Term Gain Can’t You!

But Oprah herself tries to console you by pointing out, you’ll be a future bankable author and then you can have 100% of the royalties on all of your subsequent books going forward!

Entrepreneur, it’s definitely gut check time! Because remember way back in the very first paragraph, you were asked if you would initially give 100%! And whether or not you’d work initially for free! Just like boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard & -the late great-Sugar Ray Robinson did!

Remember all those pay less amateur fights they had, while honing their craft! So bite the bullet here already! Just be sure that you include a page in your book that directs your readers to your WordPress blog and have them opt in (power list building 101) to get your free special report (and or DVD) entitled: “Eleven little known alternative herbs and spices the medical community would rather you not know about!”

And from that list you sell your $24.95 double DVD set! And from an even more responsive-smaller- list you promote your two hour webinar and the recordings for just $97 dollars! And ultimately you sell your offline three day weekend power retreat events, which now include your now famous “total herbal cleanse” and detoxification mini round table workshops etc!

And they only cost $697 each or $975.80 for any two people over 18 to attend! So that’s basically three simple ways of monetizing your free gift to the Oprah! Yea, initially she makes out on the front end of your sales funnel! Yea, so!

But like she said, she’ll make you a future mega bankable internationally known author/star! You’ll gain both national and international notoriety! But it will also make it 1,000% easier to build a massive opt in list! Bingo!

So given that author’s choice, can you see how and why it really makes economic sense for certain entrepreneurs (to at least) temporarily work for free? Hope so! Any questions?

Please list at least two simple spin off concepts (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!

As always, if you got any value out of this post, please Digg or tweet this. Thanks!

And be sure you grab your explosive free 22 step small business marketing idea kit series, because it will help you increase your profits by at least 25% in the next 90 days or less.

And help you master your effective communication in marketing skills.(No matter what your particular niche market is.)
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12 Responses to So How Long Are Serious Entrepreneurs Expected To Work For Free?
  1. Hi Mark

    Great post that generated lots of valid and helpful points of view.

    I have a friend who just can’t understand how U can “work unpaid” in the hope of generating a future income. But that’s what differentiates us entrepreneurs from people how want a job – and no disrespect to the latter. It’s potentially a far more risky situation to put all your future eggs in someone else’s basket!

    I guess any kind of marketing is unpaid work, because you can’t guarantee it will generate any income!

    Joy
    Joy Healey recently posted…Review of Copy and Profit BlueprintMy Profile

    • Excellent point!
      But as you well know and totally appreciate! We definitely make strategic use of the
      power marketing word free!

      And that’s where all the difference lies! People that are risk averse will simply never totally understand
      where we’re coming from!

      Thanks for sharing your keen insights Joy! And for your continuous support! I definitely
      appreciate both!

  2. Under your hypothetical, I definitely would work for free. And in fact, I am a personal injury attorney, so a lot of my work is for free—at least temporarily. I give free consultations all the time, and even when I take a case, I don’t get paid unless I win, so I’m constantly having to bet on myself.

    Great post!
    Zach recently posted…Did You Know You Get Paid Time Off to Vote? Now You Have No Excuse.My Profile

    • That’s awesome Zach!

      So at least both you and your client know and understand that whenever you take a case,
      you feel awfully confident that you can win!

      Now just for the record, before I go off half cocked and repeat what you’re sharing here without truly understanding
      what’s beneath it.

      Are you saying that whenever your firm takes on a case, unless you win, your client is not responsible for
      any of your ongoing expenses?

      Or are they responsible for a minimum payment of some kind, that at least covers your research and any paralegals research etc.

      Thanks for helping me out here Zach! I really appreciate it and thanks for validating this particular concept.

      That definitely means a lot!

  3. Mark,
    I should come to your page Oct. 30 before adding the post on fb hahah:-) I am happy that you agree to chat with me (we will make it this week, I will let you know as soon as I finish the task to syndicate for our great group.

    Well… your article could not come in front of me at a better time.. since I am in a huge transition and coaching is what I decided to stick in..

    I have done much of this so called “coaching” I do not call it coaching, I call serving within me.. the reason why is because deep down in me I just love to serve others as best as I possibly can..

    I love to thank you for taking time to share all this wonderful info to serve others who will be lucky to be exposed. Great, great, great info for all of us to pay attention.

    THANKS so much again..

    _nickc
    nick catricala recently posted…Cocoa nibs are – “Healthy and Dangerous”My Profile

    • You are so welcome Nic!

      And thank you for that sensational compliment! You’re way too kind my friend!

      And I’m not sure if I can be of any help but I’m more than happy to try and do!

      If your heart is truly into serving (coaching), then you’ve definitely made the right choice!

      Hopefully you have gained enough value out of this post, that you can see at least a few ways yo profit from it,
      one way or another!

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for your continuous support! I definitely appreciate both!

  4. Hi Mark,

    I think you have just covered what many new business owners struggle with when they are establishing their brand. I have done several free cooking classes with a large JV partner and they have helped me to sell my consultation services and cookbook at these classes and find a new group of loyal customers that I would never have had access to if I didn’t agree to do a free class. I do believe under the right circumstances you can work for free but you do need to make sure you are receiving some benefits from doing so that will help you grow your business. Thanks for this insightful post!
    Shelley Alexander recently posted…Gluten-Free Chocolate Pumpkin Pecan BrowniesMy Profile

    • Excellent points Shelby!

      Although I must say even without knowing what you actually cook and or what type of free
      class(es) that you offered, it seems lie allowing a potential customer to sample really good tasting
      food is simply a no brainer!

      The same with really good tasting baking goods! someone samples your
      chocolate chip cookies or banna bread etc.

      What better way to convey the excellence of your products than to let your potential
      customers have a sample or two!LOL!

      And I think it’s great that you used the term JV, because far too many small business
      owners think that term only applies to other types of small business owners and service providers.

      Your use of the strategy clearly proves it does not! Thanks so much for sharing your extremely valuable
      real world insights!

      Hopefully, your successful use of the JV strategy, will encourage other small business owners to look for ways to profit
      from it as well.Thanks!

  5. Hi Mark,

    No, I never work for free. Well, I will often speak for free provided I am allowed to give a pitch at the end.

    When I first started my business, people would tell would tell me that they couldn’t afford to work with me and I would start feeling sorry for them. My desire to help this person would increase so I would discount my prices and often work for free.

    I am now quite good at asking a few questions of those people who tell me that they cannot it. Many people who couldn’t afford it” now say yes to me, even though I now charge quite a bit more for my services. I do give a lot but not to people who ‘cannot afford me’.

    I paid thousands of dollars for my knowledge/skills so I do not devalue myself 🙂
    Rachel Lavern recently posted…Stronger in the Broken PlacesMy Profile

    • Speaking for free is definitely a great marketing strategy!

      Provided you’re in front of the right target audience! But I’m definitely with you, when it comes to
      simply making free a long term benefit!

      And from the sounds of it, you’ve definitely developed an effective process that separates
      the time wasting tire kickers from those actually capable of helping you pay the bills!

      So bravo to you! Thanks for sharing your real world experiences and for your continuous support!

      Both are greatly appreciated!

  6. WELL… Every time I mention to my parents or my boyfriend that I just had a very powerful coaching call with yet another client for the incredible sum of FREE they always ask “another free one?!!!” now I know where to send them (to this blog post).

    I like to think as honing my skill, yes, and as getting my name out there–I know I am a good coach, I may not be the best at signing up clients that pay YET (working on it), but I know that the work I am doing is good and to me, for now, is enough. I know I will be signing on premium clients in no time.
    victoria m. recently posted…10 Things you can do NOW to Improve your LifeMy Profile

    • Awesome Victoria!

      And good for you! And thank you for that incredibly powerful and encouraging compliment!

      I truly appreciate it!

      And I’ll bet dime to donuts based on what you’re sharing, you are probably being way too modest and
      down playing both your value to the market place and you current skill level!

      In which case (going forward!) here’s a simple marketing strategy that I want you to inexpensively start testing
      with your next few freebie coaching/consulting sessions!

      Let’s say you charge $200 dollars a session (or X), the actual amount is irrelevant, try and catch the overall concept.

      That means that your free 30 minute (introductory, “let’s see if we’re a fit session” is worth $100 dollar or X!)

      Now, start or keep aggressively marketing your free 30 minute introductory sessions that are valued at X!

      And always give them a perceived value! Because if you don’t value them nobody else will either!

      But, going forward, when you reach the end of your 30 minute session, and as your starting to wrap your session up, ask them what (not if!)
      specific value that they gained. In other words, ask them for at least two major positive takeaways they feel they gained!

      Then after they tell you, say if you’ll either send me a video and or written or audio testimonial of what you just said.
      Within the next seven days or less!

      (Of course you’ll accept them whenever, but you don’t want to give them an excuse to procrastinate!)

      You automatically get another free one hour or 30 minute complimentary session valued at X! Just depending on which method of testimonial that
      they supply you with!

      You’d prefer an on camera video testimonial first, and that qualifies them for another free hour valued at X! Or an audio testimonial qualifies them
      for a free 45 minute session. And a written testimonial, qualifies them for a free half hour session valued at X!

      Honestly, for now, you really don’t care which method they choose! You just want to start building cred by securing testimonials!

      Then as you start to gather more testimonials, you’ll also start to develop way more confidence to finally step out and start getting paid what you deserve!

      Because I can tell you’ve got a heart of gold and you really care about your clientele! And that’s the key!

      Test this strategy out and if you ever need any more proven marketing ideas, we can get on skype and
      or the phone if your located inside the US and brainstorm! I’d be more than glad to help!

      Because, all I expect is a nice video, audio and or written testimonial at some point! LOL!

      Take care Victoria! And get started claiming your greatness!


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