Rant: A client in Austin wanted me to work for free because it was 'good for my portfolio'

I was at a local networking event when a guy cornered me and spent twenty minutes explaining why his startup's exposure was better than cash. I now have a firm rule against any 'portfolio building' talks. Has anyone else had to shut this down hard?

3 comments

3 Comments

wood.jana7d ago

What's your go-to line to shut that down? I just say "My portfolio's full, I only work for money now" and it ends the chat fast.

blairm776d ago

Yeah my portfolio's basically a museum too, @wood.jana, just with worse lighting.

wade_dixon7d ago

My portfolio is basically a museum of bad decisions and free work I did in 2012. These days, my rule is if the word 'exposure' comes up, I just tell them my landlord has a strict 'no exposure' policy for rent payments. Works every time.