Don't Volunteer Your Business Away

Last week I had the honor of being a panelist at a seminar titled "Getting Paid What You're Worth". The seminar was sponsored by the Pittsburgh Professional Women organization.

Women, much more than men, appear to have greater difficultly limiting their "freebies", volunteering and other give-aways. By default we are nurturers, givers and the ones to sacrifice when necessary. But, once we put on a business hat we have to redefine ourselves.

Saying no to others is a great start to saying yes to you and your business. Say that out loud. Saying no to others is a great start to saying yes to you and your business.

Here are three tips:

• Limit your volunteering. (I only volunteer for one effort at a time. If its a year commitment- then I don't volunteer for anything else during that year.)
• Limit your freebies to those that are likely to REALLY lead to future work and GREAT connections. (Identify what a freebie is and keep them tightly managed.)
• Make sure you are spending the majority of your time doing what you are good at, loving it and GETTING PAID FOR IT. If not, its time for a critical analysis of your business and your strategies.