Don’t Work For Free, Create For Fun
How to learn stuff and get paid for it
Since 2017, I’ve always kept a “side gig” lined up next to the full-time J.O.B.
Usually ongoing projects with recurring revenue, but here or there I stumble into volunteering, sliding scale, and “low margin” opportunities. Reflecting back, those experiences were not only among the most influential, but also the ones I’m most proud of.
Here’s why and when it’s okay to work for free.
You learn about yourself when teaching others
Whoop. Woo.
The text came out of nowhere. My childhood best friend Jon was looking for help with a personal statement for his residency application.
He was studying to be a doctor.
I eagerly accepted even though I was buried underneath piles of work. A few days later, there was a draft waiting for him in his inbox.
He wasn’t shy about being critical. We iterated on a few rounds — and at some point — I had to hit pause. Our friendship was about to be tested. Just kidding.
After reviewing with a few others, we submitted the application. Months later, he confessed that he was fairly certain that no one else read it. But we did. And the process…
