Being helpful is for charities

Simply being helpful can burn your business. 

Instead, be purposeful and add value where it's appreciated.

Helpful is for charities, but purposeful is for businesses. 

When starting out, you may think you can help everyone.

Small business owners. The local tea shop. Your cousin who just got their real estate license.

You want to help! You want the experience!

So you create websites and business plans, and serve as their CMO. 

You do it all pro-bono because you can’t dream of them paying you out of pocket. 

They need that money to feed their family!

But all pro bono ends up being a big nono for your own business. 

Your paying clients suffer.

You lose revenue.

You realize that you’ve sacrificed your own business to be helpful to others. 

Yet neither of you is better off.

Next time you promise to be more purposeful.

To help those who appreciate your skills and are willing to compensate you at market value. 

Instead of teaching a beginner client to fish, you need to find and catch the fish for the clients who can afford to pay you. 

If you value charity, then help those who are starting their business fish for themselves.

Point them towards beginner courses or resources instead of doing the work for them.

Then get to work adding value to those who appreciate your skills. 

This alignment is key to running a for-profit business.

Remember, being helpful isn't enough. 

Be purposeful for long-term business success.