Free work is one of those topics that sparks strong emotions. Some people swear by it. Others say it’s the fastest way to undervalue yourself. But as someone who is building a career in corporate training, with fewer than three years of experience—I’ve discovered that free work, when done with intention, can be one of the smartest strategies in your early years.
Before diving in, let’s set the stage. In this season of my training career, I see every opportunity to teach, speak, or train as a gift.
Physical fitness professionals know this well: a muscle that isn’t used begins to weaken.
In the same way, the skill of teaching, structuring ideas, communicating clearly, and holding a room doesn’t stay sharp without practice.
As Vince Lombardi famously said, “Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” Each session you deliver—paid or not—helps keep your edge.
Now, let’s talk about why upaid work sometimes makes sense, and why it has benefited me.
Proof of Concept
In the corporate world, nobody wants to be the first to take a risk. Companies want to know that you can deliver. They want to see the results. They want to hear your ideas. They want reassurance that their time is in good hands.
Free work has given me the opportunity to prove myself in rooms I may not have stepped into otherwise. I don’t see it as working for free. I see it as evidence building.
Your skills are your product, but people still need to experience that product before they buy into it. A free training session creates that opening.
And the beautiful part is that once people experience the value you bring, the next conversation often has a different tone entirely.
Company Size Matters
Let me be clear: not all free work is strategic work—at least not for me.
Whenever I accept an unpaid engagement, I consider one major factor: the size and influence of the organization.
I’m far more open to offering value to a major brand with a strong reputation and a large audience because their name on my profile opens doors.
It signals credibility. It expands my network instantly.
Large organizations expose you to many potential clients at once. Even if you’re not paid immediately, someone in that room might become a client, refer your work, buy a product, or recommend you to another brand. That ripple effect is powerful.
Skill Improvement
One thing I’ve learned from fitness—my first love—is that skill is not a static asset.
Strength declines when you stop training.
The same is true for presentation and teaching.
Every opportunity to present your ideas is an opportunity to refine your craft.
You sharpen your delivery, your clarity, your timing, your presence, and your confidence. You discover what resonates with people. You improve the way you structure your content.
The people you admire today didn’t become great by theory—they became great by repetition.
Visibility Is a Currency
In your early years, you are largely unknown. It’s not a bad thing—it’s just reality. Visibility is what begins to shift that.
Free/ unpaid work, when done in the right rooms, gives you the chance to be seen. And visibility, especially in the digital age, is a currency on its own.
Sometimes you won’t know the true value of that visibility until months or even years later.
Someone who attended your session reaching out for a private service. It adds up.
And contrary to popular opinion, free work in itself does not reduce your value. Only the delivery of poor-quality work can diminish your value in the marketplace. Excellence, even when offered freely, always elevates you.
I delivered a training for a global brand. The agreement was that my contribution would serve as an exchange for future sponsorship—essentially, free work with long-term potential.
But something unexpected happened.
The session was so valuable that I received a generous honorarium. Even more importantly, I became visible to over 130 women in the organization—women who now know who I am and what I do.
That’s the magic of strategic free work. You give value, and in return, you gain access to people, opportunities, and networks.
As someone who creates original concepts in areas like nutrition, exercise, emotional wellness, and healthy living, I know how challenging it can be to break into certain rooms. People need time to trust new voices. They need to see consistency, originality, and depth.
Free work has helped me bridge that gap. It has opened doors, allowed me to build relationships, sharpened my skills, and strengthened my brand.
Free work isn’t for everyone, but for some of us—especially in the early stages—it can be a powerful tool.
The key is to do it intentionally, strategically, and on your own terms.
If the opportunity builds your profile…
If the room is filled with the right people…
If it sharpens your skill…
If it increases your visibility…
If it strengthens your body of work…
Then it’s not free.
It’s an investment.
And like all meaningful investments, the returns will surprise you.
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