There are countless articles and tweets from experienced creatives screaming at those coming up in the world that you shouldn't do work for free. The narrative is tired: "Clients are the worst. They undervalue design/photography/writing and expect me to do work for free. Ugh. Why doesn't anyone appreciate my craft!"

I've made more money doing work for free than just about any other activity. And I've become a better creative and business person for it.

Free opens doors

There are plenty of organizations out there that need your help that probably can't afford you. I'm not suggesting you go do a bunch of free design work for Google - but that friend that needs you to copy edit their resume could end up being a big client someday. The best investors and leaders do this naturally. They serve up help and support as much as possible knowing that playing the long game and creating lasting relationships yields more value than any hourly contract.

Decide how to add value for free

Free doesn't mean you need to spend weeks creating something for nothing. Instead, learn how you can add value without a huge lift. Show as many people as you can how you think and how you work. It takes me almost no time to look at someone's work and offer them some insights. The people I know who demand payment for every interaction make the least. Those that offer value at every turn regardless of a contract are the most successful.

Learn to Set Boundaries

The most common complaint with doing work for free is that it sets a precedent that your work will continue to be undervalued. And it will be - by the wrong clients. People that actually value your work will pay you for what it's worth. I tell people all the time: if I want to do it, I'm really cheap. If I don't, I'm really expensive. That's me setting boundaries. For companies and people I love, I'll go deep for almost nothing. For those that are a bit tedious...they're getting what they pay for.