I Have Only One Reason Why You Can’t Pick My Brain For Free

“Can we meet tomorrow at 2pm? I would love to pick your brain over coffee. Tell me, what’s your favorite cafe?”

Have you heard that before? Well, I have and there is only one reason why you cannot pick my brain for free over coffee [anymore].

It’s my brain and it is too expensive.

In my experience in life, business, career and ministry, I have seen that time is money. If you give some people an inch, you better believe that they will take a mile.

It is not a bad experience that propelled this blog post but an ‘aha moment.’ Many people remain broke because out of compassion and even sometimes guilt, they refuse to charge for their services.

I have mentored people who previously found it difficult to charge for their services, especially those who are ministers or bivocational clergy. The common denominator was: “I don’t want people to think I am greedy.”

Reality Check: It takes money to make money and time is money. Starting and building a business or ministry involves money. For example, the church rent or mortgage has to be paid. The light bill has to be paid. You have to take care of your home and family, plan for retirement, etc.

Money is required to do things; so why feel guilty about charging for your services – providing solutions to people who need them [and would pay somewhere else]?

Recently, we hosted an iEmancipateMe Conference in New York and one of the strategies I taught was how to monetize what you know.

I explained in different segments how to make, for example an extra $1,000 every month. I shared the tools and strategies that the audience would need to get moving. I shared that the reason why change has not happened for some people is because the mindset has not shifted.

When you know that your brain is expensive and it took many years to acquire the knowledge and wisdom that you have, you will not hesitate to charge a fee for your services.

Some Things to Think About Before You Let People Pick Your Brain

1. Do you work for free (if you have a job)? Isn’t the employer paying you in exchange for your knowledge and skills? So, why do you find it difficult to charge someone else in exchange for your skills, experience and knowledge?
2. When you go shopping, do you walk out of the store without paying for goods? Sometimes they give out free samples at the store, but that’s what they are: FREE SAMPLES. That means, a mini taste of the real deal.

Putting a price tag to pick your brain is not selfishness or greed but wisdom.

Like the store example, you can give out samples in the form of free 15-minute discovery chats to understand the need and to ensure a good fit for you and the person requesting your service.

Also, you can make room for charity and decide how many per month you will give for free and for how long.

If you continue to always dish out free pick-my-brain sessions, you will either become broke, exhausted because you are pulled in different directions.

Then, what will happen to your fee-paying clients or even stakeholders and the attention you should give them?

Question: Are you still letting people pick your brain for free by asking you to share your knowledge over a cup of coffee over and over again, yet you are struggling financially?

If you really need coffee, buy yourself a cup of coffee or put on your coffee maker and make whoever it is that is requesting your service pay to pick your brain virtually or in-person.

PS. If you are tired of pick-my-brain shenanigans, then shift your knowledge into an automated online course that has answers to those same questions people keep asking you. Click here for the strategy.

Stock photos: Pixabay

Belinda Enoma, LLM

Belinda Enoma is an international speaker, Cyber Privacy and Security Consultant focusing on US-EU laws including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). She is a renowned digital influencer, author, host of iEmancipateMe global conferences, ordained pastor and mentor to women who are life changers.