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Years ago I came up with this strange approach to providing compassionate help and assistance to people that were having money troubles and needed some good advice.

My approach in the U.S., no set fee for my services. Instead I left it completely up to the person wanting help to determine how much they wanted or could pay for my professional advice and assistance.

People thought I was crazy for doing this, after all, that’s not what professionals do. But I’m here to tell you that not only did the experiment succeed, it was an unqualified success.

Using this approach I was happy, my clients were happy and everyone felt like the transaction was fair. I’ve never altered or changed the help and advice I give based on the amount people decide to pay. I just toss my faith out into the cosmos that people will be as generous as they can be at the time they need my help.

I’ve had people that could only pay a little now, come back and pay me more latter. What goes around, comes around. Yep, call me crazy but with this approach, karma is on my side. If someone wants to screw me, then that’s on their shoulders. And if someone wants to give me extra to help out, that is a blessing and bonus for them, and I sincerely appreciated it.

To make this even more nutty, I also backed this up with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Others Doing This Now As Well

Radiohead make a big noise when they released their album and allowed fans to pay a fair rate for their work. I thought that was pretty cool when they were brave enough to do that.

I had heard about a couple of restaurants that also had the same approach and I really commend them for being brave enough to do this, especially with hard costs associated with delivering good food.

The Tera Bite Lounge is a place that I’ve followed for a while. Their “Pay Us What Were Worth” approach has garnered some acclaim, along with their good food.

Tera Bite Lounge

Patrons choose what to pay, and are encouraged to pay what they would elsewhere. You may use this as a convenience feature, e.g. get your daily coffee and drop in a $20 at the end of the week.

We also cheerfully serve those who cannot pay, in a non-stigmatizing customer setting, with no political or religious message, and with full-time availability.

One World Everybody Eats also operates under a similar philosophy. They are even mentoring an establishment in Durham, NC to try the donation approach. Now that I’m moving to Raleigh I’ll have to stop by and check it out.

One World Everybody Eats

We believe that we can trust our customers to be inspired, honest and fair in their exchange of money and/or work for the fresh, gourmet, organic food we prepare both mindfully and in a heartfelt way each day.

Right Audience

I don’t want to stereotype anyone, BUT…this approach with food seems to work best in the soy, lentil, veggie karma loving world. I’m not sure how great it would work, say at a Hooters. Is Hooters the opposite of a lentil latte?

Last time I was at a Hooters I had a Chelada beer with clamato juice and lime. That’s about as far away as you can get from a soy shake.

Are You Brave Enough To Try This Approach?

So if you’re running your own business, do you think you’re brave enough to try this approach and put your services out there and see what the world thinks you’re worth?

Of course I have to admit that I’ve also experienced failure with this approach also. In England we tried the same approach but nobody paid a penny. Not sure if that is a cultural, nanny state or entitlement thing. I really didn’t spend too much time analyzing it once I realized I was getting royally screwed and taken advantage of. Royally, get it? LOL

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Steve

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