Give it Away? The Bold Path to Success

A friend recently shared a story about his son, let’s call him Michael, who recently graduated college. Like many new grads, Michael was discouraged by the job market. The roles he wanted and applied for? Crickets. The roles he didn’t? A few offers but zero desire. Frustrated by the situation, he reached out to me for advice.

I listened and then asked, “What do you want to do?”

Michael explained his love for marketing and branding and enthusiastically spoke about possibilities with AI. He talked about working through college at a successful family-owned business in Dallas, where he wore multiple hats and thrived on solving problems. His desire was clear: to be in business for himself and bring his brand of creative solutions to the marketplace.

“So, what are you waiting for?” I asked.

When he hesitated, unsure of how to start or connect with clients, I told him, “Give it away. Show people what you’re capable of. Prove it to them and, more importantly, prove it to yourself, the rest will follow.”

At first, the idea of giving it away felt risky—maybe even absurd. But the truth is, fortune favors the bold. Giving your work away isn’t about devaluing yourself—it’s about doubling down on your potential. It’s a temporary sacrifice that signals to the world (and yourself) that you know what you’re doing and believe in what you’re offering.

Before you know it, referrals will come, opportunities will grow, and you’ll hit a new challenge: too much work and not enough bandwidth. And that’s the kind of problem you want to have.