Free advice for pros who keep getting asked for free advice

When Ian Wills attends a cocktail party, it’s only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. “Word gets around about who I am, and people start coming up to me,” he says.

Wills is an iPod technician and, day after day, people lean on him for free iPod advice or repairs.
Doctors and lawyers have long endured friends and acquaintances seeking medical or legal tips. But, these days, Wills and others in less-traditional jobs—feng shui consultants, life coaches, Botox specialists—are also feeling put upon. Continue reading