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The short answer is...
There aren't enough hours in the day... sorry!
The long answer is...
No time:
People have problems, they want free advice, they keep asking me if I can help them for free.
They ask for my help many times a week,
but with over 1,000,000 hits on robdavispe.com alone,
I just don't have enough time to help them with my free advice.
My time:
During the day I work.
After 5 p.m. I also work on improving and maintaining my web sites.
After 5 p.m. I also work on answering recruiter emails and phone calls.
So what is it in all of that,
that would make people think my time, my most valuable asset, is free
and they can pick my brain for free?
Free advice:
I believe one problem is too much free advice.
Too many engineers and webmasters offer too much free advice.
That may sound funny coming from me, since I've got web sites
with free answers and free articles aimed at both engineers and recruiters.
Another problem with giving free advice is that people come to de-value it,
and they also expect additional free advice.
The needed compromise:
I can give people information for free, but in a limited way.
For example, I can direct people to my free resources pages on my websites.
Alternatively, I can agree to a brief, no-cost consultation,
just to find out what a potential client might need,
whether I can help them, and whether I want to work with them.
If both they and I want to proceed to the next step,
then it is time for paid work —
even if that turns out to be a one time only paid consultation.
Why?
Because I need to to eliminate the tire-kickers who don't really value my advice,
or who aren't in a position to pay for my services.
I also need to send a signal to everyone else that my answers, experience
and knowledge are valuable.
If I allow them to think that I won't bill them for my advice,
then it is the same thing as saying,
"Sure, you can pick my brain for free”, or worse,
"My advice isn't valuable enough to require a fee."
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