I often work with clients who would love to devote their entire practice to giving back to the community in a big way: they have a strong desire to help those who normally could not afford their services.
The idea of sharing what you offer at no charge or a small fee comes from the heart and is a truly wonderful gift. However, what many of my clients find out quickly is that it’s challenging to stay in business at this level of service–because there’s no real revenue coming in.
So what can be done to give back and remain prosperous? This can be hard to accept for some, but you must get paid for your work. There’s no way around it if you want a profitable business right? But think of it this way–if you can sustain a certain level of income, you can afford to give back to the community!
I’ll use myself as an example. I run a successful business and there are women around the world who can’t afford, no matter how well they’re doing, to take advantage of what I offer. Specifically, I would love to share my message with women in regions like Africa. The income I make from my paying clients would allow me to fly myself there and cover the cost of my stay so that I may then share the work at a very low cost to thousands of African women (and other places where they need me).
But would I be able to do this and affect these people’s lives if I didn’t properly charge for the value I give? Look at it this way – you get paid in one area, then you do something benevolent in another.
My advice is not to see this as all or nothing. Keep your business active rather than shifting to serve those who can’t afford your fees and let that support your charitable desires so you have the funds and support to give back. Obviously, the clients who pay the fee will get more access and more of everything you offer. But they are getting value and the results. Then you take a portion of that money from the value you provide and help those who can’t afford your fees.
Look at this like tithing. You take 10% of your time or 10% of your revenues and share this with people. This is done all the time in church. You are using this 10% to help those who can’t afford what you do to give back to your community, whoever or wherever that might be.
Your Client Attraction Assignment
Is there a group of people you want to help who can’t afford what you do? Think about who you might want to serve and who could gain the most from what you offer. Then start in a small way and test the waters to see how it works for you and those you want to give back to. You can perfect your offering with a bit of practice so it feels good for everyone involved.
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