Good morning, As I was getting ready to leave to spend some time with a friend this morning. I decided I would go through this mornings emails so I could get a little bit of work done before she arrived.
I did I came upon this mornings prompts for the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Where I was reminded we have been blogging for 3 weeks and that there is only 11 days left in this challenge.
I am already missing the Ultimate Blog Challenge and all of the new friends I have found. As I sat her this morning reading through the prompts I knew God was at work again.
As this mornings challenge will allow me to blog about something that has been on my heart for a while that I felt needed shared. Only I wasn’t sure if I should write this post or not.
Let me begin by sharing the prompt I was sent:
I have received questions about this post in the past. As well as asked about it in person. As I am asked where I work all the time when I am out with friends or family.and they ask me what I do.
I then tell them I own my own business or company. Then they proceed to ask me what I do. When I tell them I am in Social Media as a Blogger for Dallas/ Fort Worth who review and giveaway products.
Then they ask me how can I do what you do? Or can you teach me what you do? Or how can I get products for free? Or can you get this for me as I have been really wanting to try it out?
I have a question for you if you have a job would you expect me to walk into your company and say can you teach me what you do? As I need a job and would like to make money? Or oh you get a Discount can you purchase this for me? You work in a restaurant can my family have free food?
No, I wouldn’t do this and you shouldn’t expect me to. So Please respect what I do as it is a real job. You have to take classes and there is times you have to go to work outside the house. I have business hours just like everyone else does as well as business expenses.
This is not a fly by night job and it takes time to build your blog and your stats and to get companies to trust you and decide to work with you. I can’t just help you set up a blog and the reviews come pouring in.
If I help you begin your own business you shouldn’t expect me to do it for free as it takes time away from my family and my business. As I have to help you set up the blog and Social Sites you will need.
Then teach you how to use each site. Once this is done we would have to work on a Media Kit and then a Pitch Letter. Then set down and begin to work on items you have in your house for you to review.
Before you ask me if I can help you do what I do Please think about all the time and effort I put into my business and then think about it again and again before you ask me.
Because I have helped people in the past and I don’t mind helping others but when I invest all this time into helping you and you only run your site for a week or a month and then decide it isn’t for you. You have taken away from my family.
This post isn’t directed at anyone but it is the way I have been feeling as I connected with a friend from High School last week and once she found out what I did the first thing she asked me was “you need to teach me what you do so I can stay home.”
Not wow I am so proud of you or you own your own business that is incredible. Or even a congrats you have come so far since the last time we seen each other.
It wasn’t just my friend who has done this but other friends as well as family. Especially my mother in law who thinks I should teach my step daughter and niece what I do.
Who I have volunteered to help in the past but they don’t want to put the effort in it takes to run a blog they just want me to give them and there families the products I receive for reviews. Or to take them to place I get to go to.
Would you walk up to someone in Walmart’s and tell them “you need to teach me what your doing so I can get a job?” I don’t think so so don’t do it to your friends who Blog or are in Direct Sales.
Now, I am so sorry if I sound negative as everyone isn’t like this and are proud of what Charlie, David and I do. But more and more I am running into people who just want me to teach them.
So if that is the case I need to set up classes and charge because again and again I have been told to treat my business like a business and to not work for free.
So yes, even family and friends should be willing to pay me for my time, expertise and services as I am taking away from my family to help you provide for yours.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
Reminds when a friend of a friend called up and asked me to explain to him how to set up his company so there’d be no problems. I said, send me a check and you’ll get your answers. He was insulted. So, I told him I’m sending my kids (there were five at the time) to get some of his ice cream for free. And, I hung up.
I loved this and yes, if he will give you free Ice Cream my family would like to join you as you can never have to much Ice Cream. And my husband loved knowing you hung up on him and has said I need to do the same thing from now on just like I do with Tele Marketers.
You should charge for your experience and expertise. At the same time, I wonder if these people would pay! It might be a great experiment-the next time someone asks, maybe respond “oh yes, I offer a course that would teach you just what you need to know. I charge X and it will take Y amount of time. Maybe they will run. But if there is true interest it may be an opportunity for you.
Good advice and I will try that as we could use the extra money as it would help us to not live from pay check to pay check and struggle all the time. Have a Blessed Saturday.
I do product reviews also and I will give a bit of info but like you, some went to know everything right down to the last detail. That’s how it is in our interior decorating business also. I don’t mind helping people out if they are trying to make their own window treatments, but when they bring in a bag with pattern and fabric and want to cut it out on our work table or want me to alter the pattern, I tell them I will give you a quote on fabricating the treatment for you. Friends and families don’t realize this is our livelihood. Great post!
Yes, it is our livelihood and thank you for saying its a great post as it was hard to write as some of it was for David’s family and I thought he would be upset with me. But after sharing it with him last night he wasn’t and he even said I was right in the way I feel. Which meant the world to me.
Well said, Glenda. People think that we do everything for free! Hello! Because they know you, does not mean
you need to teach them for free!!!!!
I agree with you, I guide & teach people to start a business online. I show them the system for free but if they
join they need to pay like any businesses.
Have a good weekend,
Gaétane
Thank you, this means a lot to me as I know the way I feel isn’t bad or that I am being ungrateful for the things I have. Have a Blessed day and a wonderful Saturday.
We still have 11 days – nothing to start missing just yet! Plus, we will still be around, even though there will not be an official challenge going on until October!
Keep in touch with those people you have met – continue to go to their sites! And, you can still connect with them in the group.
Thanks for being a part of the group!
Yes, I always mark my calendars for October as I try and join in it as well. Although it gets a little hectic for me during that time as I also have the Christmas Gift Guide opening up. As for not missing anyone you are so right as I plan on visiting everyone at least once a week to see what all you are up to. Have a great Saturday.