My husband is a musician
and not unfamiliar with the idea of doing something for nothing “to get your
foot in the door”.
But, as he recently pointed
out, you can die from exposure.
(People also get arrested
for it – but that’s a different post!)
So…where’s the line
between wishful thinking and real investment?
How much do you give away
before you hit “diminishing returns” or no return at all?
I would love to hear your
ideas on this. I know many of you are
out on your own, have a significant role in business development, or are part
of service companies.
When is enough too much?
Great point (I loved that book!).
I am a firm believer in exposure as well. I think that (if you’re a consultant for example) it requires some balance or you’ll never eat – since exposure often takes up valuable time – but that (not eating) is an extreme case that can be avoided.
Your point about mavens is well taken – not all exposure is equal.
Ann – as somebody who’s been trying to push his first book for the past 8 months, there is really no such thing as too much exposure. However, one has to approach it intelligently. I’ve been reading Gladwell’s Tipping Point. Tell your husband to get his work into the hands of “mavens” – those are the great ones to “give it away” to. If the mavens like it, he can charge as much as he wants to the others. Carpe Factum!!!