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When I meet someone in a profession different from mine (tech consultant who used to be very hands on), I don't immediately ask for a freebie within their field.
For example, when I meet:
So why is it that when someone (especially neighbors) learn your have technical skills, the first thing they say is "oh, you'll have to take a look at my computer"? (or something pretty close to that). But they are quite serious. Seems that the technical skill set does not get the same courtesy or professional respect as other fields.
I now just refer to my profession as a consultant an leave it at that. Unfortunately, some folks (back to the neighbors), never seem to forget the one computer fix you did for them as a polite favor and now assume it's an open door for any issue.
I've done favors in the past, as they are usually relatively simple fixes. Simple, however, does not necessarliy (or usually) mean fast and many folks just don't understand that and instead think you issued a command or installed a pieceive of software by clicking "setup" and all is good. After all, time is money.
A recent lesson has forced me to change my approach to a win-win. I never liked the thought of charging friends or neighbors for technical help. But the number of request has grown along the the proliferation of technical devices we can't seem to live without. Most of the time it's a "thank you, what would we do without your help?" and a few others have been "you'll have to come over for dinner as a thank you". Dinner? Really? Do you actually have any idea what even a discount retailer (think white shirt, black pants and a black tie) would charge you for the simpliest of fixes?
My final straw on "favors" was what I thought would be an exchange of skills. A repeat (trying to be polite) neighbor needed help. I needed something fixed as well and his wife had the skills fix an item I was looking to have some work done on. So I suggested we trade. Win-win. Or so I thought. A month after fixing his latest computer issue, I went over today to request the return of my items I needed worked on as I had decided to have a third party do the work for a fee. The one-sidedness should not have surprised me, but I was hoping for some upside finally. Wishful thinking.
I now have a go forward solution for any technical requests. If I had to visit a doctor, lawyer or mechanic and could save 50% of whatever my cost would ultimately be, I'd be a happy camper. As such, I will now tell anyone seeking my technical help that not only can I help them, but I can save them 50%. I'll have them call a retailer with a squad of technical folks and have them ask for an estimate on the work. I'll do the work for 50% of whatever the estimate is. Whatever that number is, it will be 100% more than what I currently earn and everyone wins. My time isn't spent in vain or taken advantage of and my neighbor doesn't pay full price. The freebies and favors door is now closed.
For example, when I meet:
- a doctor, I don't ask for a free exam/visit/medical advice
- a lawyer, I don't ask for free legal advice
- a mechanic, I don't ask for my car to be fixed for free
So why is it that when someone (especially neighbors) learn your have technical skills, the first thing they say is "oh, you'll have to take a look at my computer"? (or something pretty close to that). But they are quite serious. Seems that the technical skill set does not get the same courtesy or professional respect as other fields.
I now just refer to my profession as a consultant an leave it at that. Unfortunately, some folks (back to the neighbors), never seem to forget the one computer fix you did for them as a polite favor and now assume it's an open door for any issue.
I've done favors in the past, as they are usually relatively simple fixes. Simple, however, does not necessarliy (or usually) mean fast and many folks just don't understand that and instead think you issued a command or installed a pieceive of software by clicking "setup" and all is good. After all, time is money.
A recent lesson has forced me to change my approach to a win-win. I never liked the thought of charging friends or neighbors for technical help. But the number of request has grown along the the proliferation of technical devices we can't seem to live without. Most of the time it's a "thank you, what would we do without your help?" and a few others have been "you'll have to come over for dinner as a thank you". Dinner? Really? Do you actually have any idea what even a discount retailer (think white shirt, black pants and a black tie) would charge you for the simpliest of fixes?
My final straw on "favors" was what I thought would be an exchange of skills. A repeat (trying to be polite) neighbor needed help. I needed something fixed as well and his wife had the skills fix an item I was looking to have some work done on. So I suggested we trade. Win-win. Or so I thought. A month after fixing his latest computer issue, I went over today to request the return of my items I needed worked on as I had decided to have a third party do the work for a fee. The one-sidedness should not have surprised me, but I was hoping for some upside finally. Wishful thinking.
I now have a go forward solution for any technical requests. If I had to visit a doctor, lawyer or mechanic and could save 50% of whatever my cost would ultimately be, I'd be a happy camper. As such, I will now tell anyone seeking my technical help that not only can I help them, but I can save them 50%. I'll have them call a retailer with a squad of technical folks and have them ask for an estimate on the work. I'll do the work for 50% of whatever the estimate is. Whatever that number is, it will be 100% more than what I currently earn and everyone wins. My time isn't spent in vain or taken advantage of and my neighbor doesn't pay full price. The freebies and favors door is now closed.
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