The Barter System

So your mom(sibling, friend) wants you to fix her computer...?

Who does your "client" know?

Do you need something?

If you can link your want/need to something your client has (or a clients immediate network), then try to get them to swap their skill for what you want.

Radar O'Reilly from MASH always used to horse trade like this.

Even if this doesn't get you out of having to provide free support, at least you have made it clear that what you do has value (just like the thing your client does).

I always get the "I don't know anything about computers" line, but I don't know much about the following:

• Cake decorating
• Landscape architecture
• automobile window tinting
• automobile detailing
  
• carpentry
• welding
• metal working
• massage therapy
• picking out matching clothes at the mall
  
• ad infinitum

I guess the problem is that computer people somehow became people-pleasers back in high school or college to become popular.

Stop the madness.

You don't have do someone's homework for them now without receiving back something more tangible than a "thank you".

I know geeks like to show off their intelligence, but find some other way.

Here are some suggestions:

• make a blog
• write a book
• get published in a journal
• learn math and card tricks
• learn to say the Pledge of Allegiance in Latin (or whatever is an analog for your country)
• start learning about business and finance
• win a contest or award
• learn to do something weird, like one arm handstands (Luke Skywalker-style)

Learn to negotiate.