When I went to my favorite site Draftin.com the other day, I was taken aback by its founder, Nate Kontny, who wrote, “I’m so sorry. But I have to shutdown Draft on 12/31/2022.” But I have to close Project 12/31/2022.” How so? It was the perfect online service for writers of all stripes. Functionality, convenience, and minimalism. Once I tried typing my first text, one was as addicted as to opiates. The program worked seamlessly, allowing the author to do the main thing, that is, create, without being distracted by unnecessary commands, messages and buttons. And in addition to all the advantages, Draft was… free. Paid accounts existed, but the basic functionality was available to everyone anyway. As far as I understood, that’s what killed Draft.
Once again, Mr. Market teaches an important lesson that valuable things can’t be free. This is not immediately understood by the novice company founder, consultant, designer or psychotherapist, who willingly shares his expertise or product left and right. While their enthusiasm and desire to help those who are suffering is understandable, there are two sides to the problem. Few clients will feel gratitude and appreciation for what the creator parted with so easily. Most will simply be surprised by his naivete, shrug their shoulders, swallow the favor, and run on. As for the creator, it is only a matter of time before his stock of empathy and zeal is exhausted, and he is likely to fall into cynicism as the other extreme. The truth, as always, is in the middle.
Life is always an exchange. And business is no exception. The key to the stability and development of any service is the benefit for each of the parties involved. One-way game is a short-sighted strategy, because the depletion and collapse of the service is inevitable. If a service creator truly wants to help his customers for years on end, then, oh paradox, he needs to look out for his own interests as much as he looks out for his clients’.
Yours sincerely,
-Alexander
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As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
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