The thing about making my living from words is that friends tend to see you as the go-to person whenever they need some text edited or proofread. Which is all well and fine, except when they act as if it’s their right to ask it of me and/or they assume I’m definitely doing it for them for free.

So yesterday a friend whatsapp-ed me a screen shot of the “About us” page of a website she is setting up for a business she is starting.

Friend: “Could you help edit it?”

No “please” in the sentence or something along the lines of “I’d appreciate if you could edit it.”  And to send me a screenshot? Seriously, how am I supposed to edit a picture file?

Me: “Need an editable copy. How did you think I was going to edit on a picture file??”

Friend: “Thinking that you cut and copy from my website :-)”

Wow. Seriously, who’s the one asking for a favour here?

Me: “You are supposed to make it easy for me. Not make me do extra work.”

Friend: True true. Send you in 30min.

 

*Rolls eyes*

 

I just get the feeling that I’m not going to be appreciated or reciprocated for my time and help. It’s not that I won’t extend my services for free. And frankly, I’ve done that a lot. But people don’t seem to appreciate the fact that I’m taking time out to do such things. It’s an opportunity cost I incur (Trust me, I do have better things to do) and you know, it’s nice to be shown a little appreciation.

Contrast this to another friend who recently asked me to review and edit her CV. I ended up giving her CV an overhaul. I never asked for anything in return but this friend was appreciative enough to shout me a dimsum lunch which I felt was a nice gesture. And I did not reject the gesture because I felt it was important for both of us to recognise there was value in what I did.

Anyhow, it’s a good reminder to myself that if I’m asking for favours, it’s important to make it as easy as possible for the person I’m enlisting help from. And always remember to reciprocate and show appreciation in some form or another!