Good Karma, part II: Serving while Setting Boundaries

So we’re talked about how using your video skills to give back is rewarding in and of itself.  But like editing weddings, if one gets caught up in a backlog of favors, what could’ve once experienced as a blessing now becomes a nightmare.

So whenever doing something for free, it’s important to clearly communicate what you will provide, what the client must provide, when they can expect the project to be finished, etc.  In short, it is still very similar to a business transaction.

When you decide to take on a non-profit (to you) project, be proactive and support a cause or organization whose mission you support.  As you grow your business, you will be approached by no shortage of organizations wanting you to do pro-bono work, so it’s helpful to be able to say, “as much as I would love to help you out, my business is already supporting The Human Fund with our services.”

As you begin a service project, communicate the following:

• how much time you can give to a project, and how much time you would expect their requests to take.  They must know that meeting with them to understand their mission better counts as the time you are giving to the project.
• what they need to provide you with before production begins.
• how many copies they will get, and where can they go to make copies themselves, or how much additional copies will cost.  If you allow them to expect unlimited copies, or getting copies from you exclusively, then they will surely take you up on it, and at the worst possible time!
• if you will be providing a web-ready version, communicate that you are not a webmaster and that it will be up to them to insert the video online.  Even if you offer to help them insert code into their blog, then chances are they won’t see the difference between that and you being able to program changes into their html.  Expect the project to snowball.

One thing for sure – if you wait until you have time to do a service project, it will never occur – it is something for which you must make time – and as long as you stay on top of the project rather and communicate clearly versus taking an “it’s free, so I’ll just work on it in my spare time” attitude, your service project should be successful and rewarding.

I’m interested in your comments about your service projects and how you’ve kept something that’s “free” from taking over your life.

Happy serving!
jones

Jones

Chris P. Jones began Mason Jar Films 10 years ago in his garage. He still has no idea why y'all would vote for him for EventDV25, but Thanks!

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