I am what you would call a career success. I have multiple companies, each earning a significant annual sum. Whenever anyone asks me the most impactful decision I’ve ever made in my career, I tell them: working for free. I relocated across five countries, embarking on new ventures or securing high-level positions in a different industry each time. How did I manage these transitions? By first volunteering my time and skills for free. I have contributed to over 30 events and festivals, organized countless community gatherings, written for print and digital media, and managed numerous social media accounts. I’ve also participated in peer reviews, edited colleagues’ work, shadowed consultants, helped run wellness retreats and engaged extensively in online communities—all without monetary compensation.
The prevalent but flawed notion is that careers should progress linearly, with constant upward growth. This assumption is inaccurate and harmful even, especially for those navigating career paths in dynamic and culturally diverse environments like Bali.
In Bali, many people know what they don’t want but struggle to pinpoint exactly what they do want or how to achieve it. Some are stuck in unsatisfying jobs, discouraged by unclear
or seemingly unattainable alternatives. Others leap into entrepreneurship but are mired in a cycle of managing similar clients and maintaining a stagnant business. We need more than traditional career paths to break free from this cycle. We need diverse experiences, expanded networks, and a wealth of knowledge—things that unpaid work can quickly provide. Through my unpaid work, I’ve had the chance to meet remarkable people who might have been otherwise inaccessible. These invaluable connections offer learning opportunities, inspiration, and support. I’ve gained insights into business operations—understanding systems for document management, customer forms, databases, and CRM tools— that have allowed me to scale new ventures rapidly. Working without pay also allowed me to observe and learn from leaders and managers, helping me identify the type of leader I aspire to be and the mistakes I want to avoid. When I wrote and edited for free, I learned about editorial processes, what distinguishes a good writer from a bad one, and how to improve my craft. While paid work can offer similar benefits, it often requires prior experience in the same role. I was hired for my energy and enthusiasm,
compensating for my lack of qualifications. You might wonder, how do you manage financially while working for free? The answer is that it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation. Balancing paid work with smaller unpaid projects is entirely feasible. It’s worth reassessing your priorities and boundaries if you’re constantly too busy. Unpaid work can take various forms, such as collaborations and exchanges. You might offer your product or service for free under specific conditions or exchange your skills for something you need, be it a product, service, or business asset like a database.
“The prevalent but flawed notion is that careers should progress linearly, with constant upward growth.This assumption is inaccurate, harmful even”.
Choosing the right collaborations and learning valuable lessons from each will increase earning potential. Each unpaid project brought me closer to financial stability and maturity, unlocking new opportunities and expanding my network.
“Unpaid engagements are more vulnerable to emotional volatility as collaboration terms are more fluid”.
However, not every unpaid experience has been a match made in heaven, and I encourage you to analyze every opportunity thoroughly before committing. I’ve faced burnout and occasional bitterness, and some collaborations left me feeling I had received an unfair deal. While every experience was not pleasant, each helped me grow. I refined my assumptions, improved my communication skills, and better understood my strengths and weaknesses.
How can you select the right collaboration, maintain it effectively, and extract valuable lessons? Here are a few tips:
- Assess Your Needs: Be honest with yourself about what you need. For example, if you’re looking
for an affiliate seller, ensure your product is strong enough first. Before seeking partnerships, try collaborations that provide feedback and enhance your offering.
- Evaluate the Benefits: Consider if you can learn something valuable, improve a skill, gain inspiration, or build exciting connections. Enquire if you can get non-monetary perks like free products or discounts. List everything a potential collaboration might offer and compare it with your priorities.
- Know yourself: Understand your ability to leverage the perks of a collaboration. Often, big brands offer you prestige for your work because you are associated with them and receive invitations to high-profile networking events
“The unceasing pursuit of financial gains erodes mental health, social fabric, and diversity”.
If you are an introvert and easily unsettled by crowds, you might not be able to capitalize on the provided chances. Someone else’s dream opportunity may well be your worst nightmare.
- Test the Waters: Start with small collaborations before committing to long-term partnerships. Assess how smooth and pleasant your interactions have been so far. Observe how the other party handles both difficulty and success, profit and loss, and whether your working and communication styles are compatible.
- Prepare for Challenges: Unpaid engagements are more vulnerable to emotional volatility as collaboration terms are more fluid. Adjust your expectations, learn how to deal with conflicts and hold other people’s emotions, as well as your own. And be sure to exit a relationship that’s proving too emotionally taxing for you.
We desperately cling to money, forgetting that sharing and collaboration can provide the same benefits—and then some. The unceasing pursuit of financial gains erodes mental health, social fabric, and diversity. Balancing aggressive hustling with a collaborative mindset can lead to a more sustainable and fulfilling career and a higher income. Ultimately, the lessons learned from unpaid work have shaped my professional journey and enriched my personal growth. Embracing these opportunities with an open mind and a strategic approach can unlock doors you never imagined.
