Comments on: When you say let me pick your brain, they hear let me pick your wallet – the plight of the talented http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/ New Media Lab- Austin Business Class Social Media Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:58:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Sheila Scarborough http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/#comment-3288 Sheila Scarborough Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:05:33 +0000 http://nmlab.com/?p=2033#comment-3288 I've found our <a href="http://wiki.workatjelly.com/JellyInRoundRock" rel="nofollow">Jelly Coworking Round Rock</a> to be a good setting for "brain-picking." I'm there on most Fridays so I tell prospective pickers, "Hey, happy to talk to you; meet me here on Fridays and buy me all the coffee & lunches you want." One guy took me up on it, and we had a very nice meeting. Others? Crickets....which is fine. Saves me time and annoyance. All this led to my SXSWi panel proposal, <a href="http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/3153" rel="nofollow">Drawing the Line Between Free and Paid."</a> Your thoughts there are most welcome, and thanks also for this post. I’ve found our Jelly Coworking Round Rock to be a good setting for “brain-picking.” I’m there on most Fridays so I tell prospective pickers, “Hey, happy to talk to you; meet me here on Fridays and buy me all the coffee & lunches you want.”

One guy took me up on it, and we had a very nice meeting. Others? Crickets….which is fine. Saves me time and annoyance.

All this led to my SXSWi panel proposal, Drawing the Line Between Free and Paid.” Your thoughts there are most welcome, and thanks also for this post.

]]> By: Michael Hanley http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/#comment-3273 Michael Hanley Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:46:07 +0000 http://nmlab.com/?p=2033#comment-3273 I enjoyed this article. As a Non-Profit executive for the Boy Scouts, I have used the "Pick your Brain" method time and time again to recruit volunteers for projects. It got to where no one would have coffee with me, or when someone else set up the meeting and I walked in, a look of abject terror came across the prospects face. I then began to have coffee or lunch with people for no other reason than to really have coffee or lunch or to inform them as to the results of their efforts which helped a great deal. Then, as an Auctioneer specializing in Charity Benefits I found myself on the other side. People would ask ME to coffee or lunch, quiz me on my ideas for the right way to organize and conduct there Benefit Gala, thank my sincerely, and go find a Board member to conduct their Auction for free. ( Leaving Thousands on the table I might add). Or they would spend the meal trying to prevail upon me to work for them for free because it's "For the Children". The Tips make great sense. Be up front. Go ahead and say: "We don't ever pay anyone for this service and we need free help beacause we are a great cause." I may not be able to help you but I can point you to someone who can. Thanks for writing this!! I enjoyed this article. As a Non-Profit executive for the Boy Scouts, I have used the “Pick your Brain” method time and time again to recruit volunteers for projects. It got to where no one would have coffee with me, or when someone else set up the meeting and I walked in, a look of abject terror came across the prospects face.
I then began to have coffee or lunch with people for no other reason than to really have coffee or lunch or to inform them as to the results of their efforts which helped a great deal.

Then, as an Auctioneer specializing in Charity Benefits I found myself on the other side. People would ask ME to coffee or lunch, quiz me on my ideas for the right way to organize and conduct there Benefit Gala, thank my sincerely, and go find a Board member to conduct their Auction for free. ( Leaving Thousands on the table I might add). Or they would spend the meal trying to prevail upon me to work for them for free because it’s “For the Children”.
The Tips make great sense. Be up front. Go ahead and say:
“We don’t ever pay anyone for this service and we need free help beacause we are a great cause.”
I may not be able to help you but I can point you to someone who can.

Thanks for writing this!!

]]> By: steven noreyko http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/#comment-3252 steven noreyko Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:34:37 +0000 http://nmlab.com/?p=2033#comment-3252 Great tips... but can we please remove the word "Freelancer" from the current lexicon? Freelancer includes the word "free" and I've got a huge problem with that. I'm an "Independent Business Owner" thank you very much! "Freelance" has the implication that you're a fly-by-night operator or doing it part-time. It does not connote the individual is actually a business professional. So yes - great tips. I wish people would be this considerate when they call me for a commercial photography quote. Often I get calls where they don't have any idea what they actually want/need from the job. Great tips… but can we please remove the word “Freelancer” from the current lexicon?

Freelancer includes the word “free” and I’ve got a huge problem with that. I’m an “Independent Business Owner” thank you very much!

“Freelance” has the implication that you’re a fly-by-night operator or doing it part-time. It does not connote the individual is actually a business professional.

So yes – great tips. I wish people would be this considerate when they call me for a commercial photography quote. Often I get calls where they don’t have any idea what they actually want/need from the job.

]]> By: Vicki Flaugher http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/#comment-3250 Vicki Flaugher Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:59:08 +0000 http://nmlab.com/?p=2033#comment-3250 I see your point but I sort of disagree. For me, I have a standing offer to exchange an hour of my time for lunch. It has gotten me thousands of dollars of business, amazing referrals/testimonials, and raving fans. But, to your point, I don't do proposals. Any specific needs beyond getting to know each other is on a hire basis. I leave them with one big a-ha that makes them want more and then that's it. I ask more questions than I answer and it allows me to decide if they are a good client for me. I can see how it won't work for everyone and if you aren't able to walk away from a client who you've met with but actually isn't a good fit, it's not a good idea. Thanks for your input. Vicki Flaugher I see your point but I sort of disagree. For me, I have a standing offer to exchange an hour of my time for lunch. It has gotten me thousands of dollars of business, amazing referrals/testimonials, and raving fans. But, to your point, I don’t do proposals. Any specific needs beyond getting to know each other is on a hire basis. I leave them with one big a-ha that makes them want more and then that’s it. I ask more questions than I answer and it allows me to decide if they are a good client for me. I can see how it won’t work for everyone and if you aren’t able to walk away from a client who you’ve met with but actually isn’t a good fit, it’s not a good idea. Thanks for your input.

Vicki Flaugher

]]> By: Andrea Schulle http://nmlab.com/social-media/when-you-say-let-me-pick-your-brain-they-hear-let-me-pick-your-wallet-the-plight-of-the-talented/#comment-3249 Andrea Schulle Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:16:36 +0000 http://nmlab.com/?p=2033#comment-3249 Benn - thank you for writing this! As a freelancer myself, I am running into this more and more. And while I would like to help everybody, I still need to feed the fam and keep the kids clothed. Oh and simple things like running water and electricity too :) The tips you offer at the bottom of the article are priceless! I would also add that before you even consider contacting or working with a freelancer, you truly understand what this means. Know that a freelancer will work their butt off for you, but you are not their only client (hopefully!). And we may not work on your time clock either. Mine often reads 11 pm to midnight when I am working. Set deadlines. Benn – thank you for writing this! As a freelancer myself, I am running into this more and more. And while I would like to help everybody, I still need to feed the fam and keep the kids clothed. Oh and simple things like running water and electricity too :)

The tips you offer at the bottom of the article are priceless! I would also add that before you even consider contacting or working with a freelancer, you truly understand what this means. Know that a freelancer will work their butt off for you, but you are not their only client (hopefully!). And we may not work on your time clock either. Mine often reads 11 pm to midnight when I am working. Set deadlines.

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