The Question of Pro Bono

Last week I was twice asked my point of view regarding pro bono work.  I didn’t have to think hard about my answer.  I support it (at least for myself) under two circumstances.

1. I don’t collect any fees for anything I blog about or generally post to the web.  I write to gain exposure.  I view making my writing freely available as the cost of gaining exposure. 
2. I happily devote 10% of my company’s time to assist non-profits (the Starving Artists variety).  I do it because I genuinely like to give something back to the community.  I don’t see it as a cost.

I don’t provide anything for free if the motive of the person - or the entity - requesting it is profit.  That said, I do get requests from the profit seekers.

No one outright asks me to do something free.  Requests are usually put forward as a quid pro quo: you do this for us and you’ll get plenty of great publicity (reach, exposure, etc.) in return.  That statement is typically accompanied by data and charts that not only show how much attention I’ll receive, but seemingly imply that the scales of good fortune at tipped decidedly in my direction.

Hmmm.

So, I had to smile when I read Seth Godin’s 7/30 blog on the subject of the price of exposure.  I share his view.

In reading it, I couldn’t help but laugh heartily when I watched script writer Harlan Ellison’s video that Godin had included.  It’s a riot!  Give it a look.

Each of us is our own clearing house.  We decide what to put in the public domain, and what to put a price tag on.  We draw our own line between what we do for personal gain ( or simply to eat and pay the bills) and what we do to contribute to society (to the degree that it matters).  Think through where that line is for you.