Offering your time without expecting anything in return can create a deeper, longer‑lasting impact than an immediate payment ever could. When you give something genuinely — without obligation, pressure, or the expectation of being repaid — people remember the gesture, the respect it shows, and the trust it builds.
Building strong relationships and partnerships isn’t about getting something back straight away. At the beginning, you don’t know them and they don’t know you. Trust takes time, and sometimes the most effective way to start that process is by offering a small piece of your expertise as a gesture of goodwill. It doesn’t need to be grand or time‑consuming. We all need to earn a living, but there are other forms of currency that often go unnoticed: generosity, integrity, and the willingness to invest in someone before they invest in you.
One example from my own work is the partnership I built with a counselling training provider. I initially reached out to ask about being added to their list of recommended counsellors for students. Alongside that, I offered to run a few group sessions so they could see my work in action before committing to anything. That simple gesture opened the door. I now have a long‑standing partnership with them, and I’m regularly approached by students seeking counselling and supervision. In return, I continue to offer certain pieces of work at no charge because it strengthens the relationship and reinforces mutual respect — and that’s what truly matters.
Making the first move, offering your time, and showing genuine interest in someone’s work or project is often remembered far more than asking to be paid upfront. It can be as small as running a short group session, giving feedback on a project, or making a few tweaks to a website to help with visibility. These small acts can lead to long‑term partnerships where the financial side naturally falls into place as the relationship grows.
