Are you letting companies, potential employers or clients taking advantage of you possibly by giving hours of valuable free consultation at "interviews," only to find out they may have taken your idea or hired someone else to use it?  I'm starting to notice a pattern.

I didn't understand why quite a few business owners, potential clients, partners or employers, contacted me for opportunities over the years, inquiring technical advice or "interviewing" me on how I would approach their project or problem, but then, as enthusiastic they sounded, they ended up pulling the "disappearing act."  I'll probably go more in depth about the "disappearing act" another time, but basically it is when they don't get back to you when they said they would, don't return calls, nor reply to emails for a follow up, and sometimes you don't know if they're even alive or well.  Then I wonder if there's anything I'm doing wrong and what could I do differently.

I'm no etiquette expert, I've had my fair share of mistakes where I could understand why I wouldn't get a call back.  But setting that aside, these other situations were situations that did go very well, and I was positive that I was moving forward with these companies, especially after hours of my time, giving "free consultations", and planning.  So what went wrong?   One of my business contacts mentioned that he noticed that I give out too much info.  Yes, I was well aware of that, but I guess I just needed to hear it coming from someone.  He also made a good point that not only am I giving out too much info, I'm giving out free info that could be preventing me from earning a living... because why pay when they can get it for free?   True.  I need to invoke a desire to hire me, then give some answers, and receive compensation for my time, valuable advice and hard work.

A friend, a business owner, also warned me about potential clients who may be "picking" at my brain for free consultation and ideas.  That does make a lot of sense, because I did know at least one company who posted ads, spent hours "interviewing" freelancers, without the intention to hire.  Sure it's cheaper to pay a job board than hiring several consultants for several hours of advice, but the deception really shows the lack of respect for us, our work and our time.  These are people who are genuinely seeking opportunities, spend hours doing so (including research on the companies), and are truly there to provide for companies.  Though it's not material like a car, it's equivalent to asking several mechanics directions on how to fix your car, design a prototype, or build a car without the intent of hiring. I can't count how many hours, days, weeks or months of time that I lost with such companies.. and as much as I want to, I cannot get back lost time.

I've even made the mistake of giving copies of several different demos to potential partnerships/clients who made small down payments but then they "disappear" and I wonder if they just handed it off to someone else to complete the work, because there was at least one who mentioned hiring some more people to elaborate from my prototype.  It sounds obvious that I shouldn't have given copies, but I'm not sure if it's always a good idea to tell your potential partner(s), (that you're supposed to trust), "No, I'm not giving you copies of anything." That may set a red flag saying "Hey I don't trust that you're not going to steal my work."  So with all the unbelievable stories I mentioned in http://portfolio.bizarrexpressions.com/blog/blind-sightings-deception-and-obstacles-in-career-and-business  I'm need to figure out this out in the midst of unpredictability.

As an opportunity seeker, it's hard not to give free consultation when businesses say they need to "interview" to "get a feel" of you skill set and what can be done for them.  But, I have an excellent portfolio that demonstrates my knowledge, distinguishes me from others; there were companies that recognize this and even compliment how impressed they are.  Yet, I'm often asked detailed technical questions on how I would approach specific problems they are having.  After I answer them, they appreciate it very much, and reassure their confidence/desire in my services, then I never hear from them again.

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