This is a brief addition to the Speaker Academy series, which started here. The series is addressed to patients and advocates who basically know how to give a talk but want to make a business out of it. I’ll try to be clear to all readers, but parts may assume you’ve read earlier entries.
This post is particularly about how to deal with clients who say “We’d be really honored to have you speak for us. For free. We love your work, but it’s worth exactly nothing to us.”
Yesterday’s New York Times Sunday Review had a piece by Tim Kreider that’s so close to what we discussed here that a half dozen people tweeted it at me. :-) It’s about freelancing as a writer or illustrator, but the lessons are identical for patient speakers. In the Times illustration at right, change the language from “artists” etc to “speakers” etc and you’ll recognize it.
Go read the piece. (It’s only 1600 words – 3-4 minutes for most people.) The author’s closing advice will sound familiar:
Here, for public use, is my very own template for a response to people who offer to let me write something for them for nothing:
Thanks very much for your compliments on my [writing/illustration/whatever thing you do]. I’m flattered by your invitation to [do whatever it is they want you to do for nothing]. But [thing you do] is work, it takes time, it’s how I make my living, and in this economy I can’t afford to do it for free. I’m sorry to decline, but thanks again, sincerely, for your kind words about my work.
Feel free to amend as necessary. This I’m willing to give away.
Tim Kreider is the author of “We Learn Nothing,” a collection of essays and cartoons.
Related posts here:
- A turning point for patient voices, including my advice comparable to Kreider’s:
“No, I can’t donate my time to you – not even over the phone.
“If there’s no economic value for you in what I have to say –
if my views are ‘so valuable’ but not worth a penny –
that’s fine; business is business.
“But I can’t donate my thoughts for you to sell
in a report or a conference.
If there’s value, let’s do business.”
Next in the series: #13: Strategic freebies
Hi Dave,
I wanted to respond to your post. While I agree that a business should reimburse an expert patient as it would a healthcare provider for consultation, speaking, etc. I do believe we should separate out the act of service. Most healthcare providers I know (mostly diabetes educators) feel a duty to engage in acts of service to support and improve their profession and healthcare in general. I, for example, am a peer reviewer for several journals, I serve on non-profit boards, I speak at local diabetes meetings, present webinars, volunteer for diabetes walks and many, many more things without being reimbursed. I think it is a duty to give back as well as a gift in return. In the developing world of the e-patient, I think there should be some similar expectations for service within your emerging profession. For example the author in your post said he was probably going to speak to the social work students for free, I would hope and expect he would make that choice.
We all need to give back to improve healthcare and I think that would be a good message to spread too!
By the way, we tell everyone in our e-patient work that you are a great voice for this growing movement, we promote your book and encourage people to read it, and we encourage people to join the society for participatory medicine and become engaged and involved.
Thanks,
Deborah
Hi Deb – it’s great to hear from you again.
I might be wrong, but your response suggests you may not have read the whole series of prior posts on this subject. Have you? Reflecting on this post, its wording does assume people know the context in which I said it.
The series has included my saying that until a speaker has a reputation it’s hard to ask for payment. And I don’t think I ever said nobody should ever do anything pro bono. I myself will do an unlimited number of events for my own hospital. (Ironically, they rarely ask – even though their competitor Mass General has hired me for pay!)
The point in the series is that too often a conference organizer is out to collect whatever they can get for free, so they can sell it to others. I’ve seen it time after time after time. AND, quite often someone who quibbles over price doesn’t actually see much value – sometimes they’re less likely to act on the subject.
But that doesn’t invalidate good events with good people.
(I have a bad head cold so I’m not sure whether I’m making any sense – does this change how the post seems to you?)
You are correct Dave, I have not read every post, just when I have time. I am glad you clarified for me and others who did not read your previous issues. You are a trail blazer and a role model for so many, so I am glad to know that you are setting an example in service as well as the business end! I was conversing with Perry yesterday and he reminded me that so often great opportunities have come our way (some with funding attached) after an act of service or volunteering. Hope you feel better!
Yes, Deb, that’s how I got started. Thanks for speaking up about the lack of clarity!