Would You Work for Free?

Feb 08, 2023

“I enjoy what I do more than any other time in my life. The truth is I would do it for free.” my friend said. Then he added, “Please don’t tell my partners what I said about the free part.”

I was out to dinner with Bill (not his real name). He just joined a business partnership. He talked glowingly about his new job. I was so excited for him and, to be truthful, a little jealous. He woke up excited each day. He knew what to do and was in his skills’ sweet spot. That’s special.

He was invited to join this new partnership because the managing partner saw Bill in action. He worked with him as a customer through his former employer. He also participated with him in community organizations. Bill was vetted. The managing partner had no doubt Bill would be a great fit in the partnership.

I know the people in this new partnership. I know why Bill is excited about being a part of it. He found the Holy Grail of a company position. The five critical components:

Shared personal values
Shared Vision
A meaningful mission
Unique yet integrated partner talents and interest
A great business model

Shared personal values

Early in our careers, specifically during our 20’s, we are testing values. We are working for managers who are generally older than us. They have established who they are in life and business. This includes how they live, how they work, and how they treat people. As we age, we adopt and reject values until we settle on what finally becomes our values. And it is these values which determine our behavior.

Bill is in a partnership with people who have the same values. This makes for a lubricated working environment. Business planning, problem-solving, personnel management, and outside relationships proceed smoothly. They each know who they are, and they enjoy each other. They are grateful each day that they are working together. This is special, and it starts with aligned personal values.

Shared Vision

This is important in a marriage and a business partnership. You need to know what the “promised land” looks like before you get there. And the promised land needs to be perceived by each partner as an exciting place. And to get there together.

And it is crucial to understand the shared vision includes more than the business. It is a shared vision of life. They will spend most of their waking hours at work, and their families will be swept along. The shared vision in their partnership must be consistent with their shared values.

A meaningful mission

Each of the partners believes in what they are doing. Every day they show up and do their part to stay on mission. To do what they say they do to the world. And they are excited about doing it because it is meaningful to them. It is an excellent way for them to spend their time on this earth. Working together to accomplish this mission.

Unique yet integrated partner talents and interest

Bill joined a partnership that values his skills and experience. They value Bill because he has skills they don’t have. And Bill values his partners because they have skills he does not have. They are interdependent as a partnership.

This is incredibly important. No one judges the other thinking they could do the other’s job better. I’ve witnessed this in their partnership when I’ve worked with them. They never speak over each other. They are always showing respect for each other’s opinions.

Don’t think they never disagree. They do. But their respect for each other and the unique skills and experience they bring to the partnership permit them to work through these issues with no breakage. This again brought out a bit of jealousy in me. This is so rare. I have seen this in so few businesses at the leadership level.

A great business model

A great business model should result in continuous growth and positive cash flow. Our combined efforts to provide customers with a product or service should make money. Profitability is the foundation for a sustainable partnership or enterprise.

Bill is working hard, as are his partners. Part of their shared vision is to be successful. And success means a rising tide that will lift all boats. This means the partners, customers, investors, and employees benefit financially from the business’s ultimate success.

This is a great business model. Solving customer problems, growing each year, and making money doing it. Bill has this.

So these are the reasons Bill told me he would work for free. He is having so much fun with his partners because of these five elements in their partnership. I am so happy for Bill that he found this. It is a rare find for any of us in business. Bill knows this, and he knows how fortunate he is.

We should all be so lucky!