It’s been one week since the Rich Happy & Hot LIVE conference in NYC, and several game-changing concepts are still pinballing around in my head.
I tipped my virtual cap to Marie Forleo earlier this week, with a free-form riff on her powerful question: “if you were the BEST in the world at what you do, how would do BEHAVE?”
Today, it’s all about Danielle LaPorte, and her provocative stance on “free stuff,” which she shared at RHH to a room full of 150 nodding heads.
“Nothing is free — everything is a transfer of energy.”
– Danielle LaPorte
Expansion: just because something is free (monetarily) doesn’t mean it’s free (energetically). Time is money. And money is a paper representation of an energetic transaction. Don’t be profligate with your most precious resource: your energy.
Some practical approaches to unshackle yourself from the free stuff / time-suck cycle — straight from Danielle’s lips, to your eyes:
> Don’t take the swag bag, if there’s nothing good.
You’ll just waste time throwing out, recycling, or regifting the stuff later.
> Don’t download other people’s free PDFs.
Unless they’re amazing, and it’s amazing, and you are quite certain that you’re going to be more amazing because of it.
A few more ideas of my own:
> Unsubscribe from all the e-newsletters that you never read.
If you’re ashamed to unsubscribe (because it’s Auntie Sue’s newsletter about her corndog stand at the state fair, and she’d commit hari-kiri if she saw your unsubscribe request) then set up an auto-filter that immediately archives or deletes the newsletter before it hits your inbox. You’ll never see it, and Auntie Sue will be none the wiser. I’m not a huge fan of passive-aggressive workarounds, but hey, I don’t wanna start any epic family feuds.
> Don’t travel out of your way for free pizza, beer, or anything of the kind.
That nonsense is for frat boys — and people with no vocational calling. Your time is worth SO much more that the chump change you’ll save on a mediocre morsel.
> Don’t sign up for free trial periods.
Unless you’re genuinely interested in the service, and plan to upgrade as soon as you’ve given it a thorough test drive.
Frugality is swell, and locking down freebies feels virtuous. But — to borrow a common maxim — “a bargain is only a bargain if you need the product in the first place.”
And honestly — you probably don’t need it.
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AMEN! It took me a long time to finally get this concept. But once I learned to stop wasting my energy on “free” things I didn’t even want or need, I was amazed at how much time/energy I had to focus on the activities I love. Great post Alexandra!
~Piper
You know how sometimes you hear or read something, and while it’s a new thought for you to hear, you know deep down it’s true and it resonates deep inside of you? This post, Danielle’s comment, your expansion, all ring that way for me…
It also really validates all those “unsubscribe” buttons I’ve been hitting lately ;)
Like Gretchen Rubin sez: “spend out.”
http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2007/10/what-it-means-t.html
Live in all of your power, not just what you let yourself live on two weeks, months, years ago. Use and let go, everything in its own place and time. If it’s the time for free PDFs, it’s the time. But if you’re far enough along to be at #RHHlive, I’m guessing it’s not.
So what big-ass city are you moving to, post-RHH glam? ;)
PIPER: Freeing up time for the stuff you REALLY wanna do is…well, everything.
ASHE: Keep unsubscribing! It’s a beautiful habit.
MISH: I’m quite happy with my tri-coastal lifestyle, for the mo. I’m based in Minneapolis-Saint Paul (“no coast”) but make frequent sojourns to NYC (“east coat”) and LA (“west coast”). One of the perks of having far-flung family members, and geo-scattered friends. ;)
My partner says ‘Free sh*t is still sh*t’…it’s totally true. Unless it’s something you would have paid for b/c you really want it, it’s not worth it even for free. Cheers!
brilliant, Alexandra! I wonder what your take on OFFERING free stuff is. There’s a lot of pressure to “give it all away” (or at least the first taste). I wanna hear what your brain has to say about it. Oh, and glitter fingers to all of the comments–couldn’t add anything more insightful to those.
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Danielle’s blog is one of two I read consistently (the other is the monthly forecast from http://www.thepowerpath.com). So what in me thinks I might miss something in all the others in my inbox that I rarely get to, or if I do take way too much “free” time? I’m giving it up and unsubscribing today!
I loved reading Danielle’s blog and the recap / lineup at RHH Live in NYC. I have been unsubscribing slowly and surely. I want my energy to stay with growing my business not reading other’s free stuff.
This totally resonates. I’ve been unsubscribing recently and it makes a big difference in my inbox, though I could seriously go for more. Sounds like an amazing time in NYC! Danielle came to speak in Utah recently and I was there, front and center, taking in every word. Thanks for sharing!
I needed to hear this *again*. I just got sucked into a free “trial” for eMusic. I bought a flash drive and they said I could get 35 songs for free, so I got sucked in. Well, their selection bites, and I just lost $11 because I forgot to cancel before the month was over. Argh! Time to cut the strings and not sign up for this “free” stuff anymore :)
-Kristen
PS
I am new to your blog and found it through Danielle’s link. Glad I found it!
Hi Alexandra!
Just found you through a mention on Danielle Laporte’s site and just love your thoughts on this! I hadn’t looked at free stuff quite this way before, and the points you made about swag bags, pdfs, newsletters, etc really hit home. This is definitely an area where I tend to take on too much – thank you for the “permission” to let it go and not take the free stuff! :P
I totally get what you and Danielle are saying about freebies, but this has been a super-stretched year for me and free cinema tix, a free audiobook, and a DVD-rental trial have all added a little fun to my life lately (and didn’t end up costing one thing later). I guess it is about prioritising, though: I would have wanted all those things anyway. I’ve been guilty of taking free pens, rulers, and stickers I didn’t need or really want in the past, and I am OV-ER doing that.
GILLIAN :: Your partner is a smart cookie. Well said.
DYANA :: Indeed, there’s a lotta pressure to give shizz away for free. My advice — pick ONE product and give it away — but make people WORK for it. Mebbe they gotta complete a client survey, join your mailing list, participate in a contest … whatever supports your vision, and helps YOU move forward, too.
GAIL :: Well done! I’m an obsessive unsubscriber. Feels good. Clean. Free.
SHEROLD :: Indeed. Some stuff is good readin’, most is not. And you intuitively know the difference. Usually immediately. ;)
SARAH :: Your haircut is making me happy. That is all.
KRISTEN :: Free trials can be gorgeous — but they’re usually a timesucker. It’s a lesson we all gotta relive, and relearn …
JESS :: Permission, granted!
DIANA :: Freebies can be fun, when they’re high-quality (and needed / wanted)! The key is discernment. Which you’ve got, in spades.
Muah to all, over & out!
So true – if we had to pay a dollar for everything we now opt-into for free, would we still do it??
Cathy