"Ultimately, the downfall of the Freemasons was giving away their stonecutting services for nothing."

The core idea here is pretty straightforward: if you give away your services for free, you might end up devaluing yourself and your work, eventually leading to your own downfall. It’s a timeless lesson about the importance of valuing your skills and making sure others do, too.

Let’s put this into a bit of historical context. The Freemasons originally came together as a guild of skilled stonemasons. These were the folks who built the cathedrals, castles, and other monumental structures in medieval Europe. They were highly revered for their craftsmanship. But over time, the organization evolved into a more general fraternal society, and in focusing more on rituals and less on their trade, they started to offer their stonecutting work for free. This act of generosity or maybe just a misguided strategy led to the devaluation of their unique skills, and eventually, this noble guild saw its relevance wane.

Let’s dive into a real-life example. Think about a talented graphic designer who's just starting out. She’s really good—her work is top-notch. But in an effort to build her portfolio, she starts taking on projects for free. At first, it seems like a good idea. She’s getting her name out there, right? But as word spreads that she’s willing to work for nothing, more and more people start asking for free designs. She’s swamped with work, barely has time for herself, and worse still, she’s not making any money. The clients who got her work for free don’t see it as valuable. They don’t even recommend her to paying clients because they think she’s always available for free. In the end, she’s burned out and broke. Her career takes a hit before it even really starts.

Now, let’s talk about how you can apply this. First, always value your skills. Know what you’re worth and don’t shy away from charging for your services. It’s fine to do a favor here or there, especially to help out a friend or for a cause you believe in, but make sure it’s not the norm. Second, remember that people often equate value with cost. If something costs nothing, they might assume it’s worth just that—nothing.

Imagine you’re a budding photographer. You’re passionate about capturing moments, and you’re good at it. Now, a friend asks you to shoot their wedding for free. It’s a big deal, and you want to help. But think about this: you’re going to spend hours, if not days, on this project. Editing, organizing, not to mention the actual event. If you do it for free, your friend might appreciate it, but they might also start to see your work as a hobby rather than a profession. If you charge a reasonable fee, they’ll value your time and effort more—and so will you.

In a nutshell, it’s about balance. You want to help, you want to build your reputation, but you also need to value what you offer. It’s okay to say no to free work. In fact, it’s essential for your growth and sustainability. So next time someone asks you to do something for free, think about the Freemasons and remember: your skills are your livelihood. Don’t give them away.