By edentu OROSO
The Power of Free is not a phrase of my own invention. I first
encountered it during an illuminating conversation with my friend, Akinloye
Tofowomo—widely known as Akiin Shuga of the iconic Shuga Band—while we explored
the contours of a potential book project in his Lagos home three years ago.
Since then, the phrase has echoed through the chambers of my thoughts, shaping
my professional journey as a ghostwriter and resonating even in the quiet corners
of my personal life before that fateful meeting.
In the relentless pursuit of our aspirations, values, and higher callings, we often overlook the invisible engine that quietly fuels much of our progress: the principle of free. Like a river flowing unimpeded toward the sea, propelled by unseen forces, “the power of free” charts its course with a grace that belies its strength. It is the gentle current beneath our ambitions, the unseen hand behind serendipitous connections, and the silent whisper that coaxes dormant talents into bloom.
Nature is the grand testament to this truth. Air—free to inhale, free to exhale. Water—granted in its raw abundance, refined only by our hands. The lush fields, the towering trees, the stone-laden mountains concealing treasures in their depths—all of them manifestations of nature’s benevolence, freely given, awaiting only our recognition.
To harness the power of free is to understand that growth does not always come with a price tag. It is a seed, potent and self-willed, that flourishes in openness and generosity. It is a honeycomb hanging on the branches of human interaction, needing only a curious touch before the swarm comes to pollinate, distill, and sweeten the world with purpose and possibility.
In clearer terms, the power of free is the launchpad from which potential—raw or refined—takes flight. It is the fertile ground where talent is first nurtured before it is applauded. You may carry within you a gift, a spark, a vision, waiting not for perfection, but simply for recognition and release.
When next you consider your next move, your next act, or your next collaboration—pause, and remember: The Power of Free might just be the most powerful force in your arsenal. What does The Power of Free truly mean? At first glance, it may seem like a contradiction in a world where value is often measured in currency, and time is exchanged for profit.
Yet beneath its modest name lies a principle that has built empires, forged networks, and transformed obscurity into influence. The Power of Free is the conscious decision to give—your time, your talent, your expertise—without demanding immediate compensation. It is the unglamorous art of service born not of naivety, but of a profound understanding of how value circulates in unseen ways. In a world obsessed with instant gratification and monetised validation, this can feel almost heretical.
Why give something for nothing? Why pour energy into a task that doesn’t pay the bills? But here’s the truth: if your first instinct is to equate talent with income, then you may have misunderstood the essence of creative labour. Passion births talent. But passion alone is not currency. Recognition is the bridge between your ability and its reward. And recognition often begins with generosity.
You see, talent is not a finished product. It is a seed—alive with potential but dormant until planted in the fertile ground of opportunity. And where is that ground found? In the minds and hearts of others. By offering your work freely—strategically, not endlessly—you give that seed a place to sprout. You allow people to experience your gift without the filter of a price tag, without suspicion, without hesitation. And that is often the beginning of everything.
Let me draw from my own story. As a ghostwriter, editor, and publisher, I have written, revised, polished, and nurtured countless projects for others—often for free. There were days when it felt foolish, even wasteful. The world whispered, “You’re being used.” And yet, I knew better. Every unpaid article, every quietly edited manuscript, every uncelebrated consultation was a brick in a structure much larger than I could see.
Those late nights of labour, those weekends sacrificed on the altar of service, became my quiet offerings to a future I dared to believe in. Some of those I helped never looked back, never even said thank you. But someone always noticed. And when they did, they came not just with compliments, but with keys—keys to doors I never knew existed.
Today, my most treasured professional relationships, the networks that sustain my career, the referrals that flood my inbox—they all trace their roots to moments when I said: “Let me help you,” without a fee. That is the Power of Free. Not free as in worthless, but free as in fearless. Free as in planting a forest without needing to own every tree.
So, if you are at the start of your journey—or even midway through it—and you are wondering whether it’s worth offering your skills for nothing, ask yourself this: What if free is the most powerful currency in your arsenal? What if generosity, offered wisely, is the very thing that will make you unforgettable?
Remember, the world may not always pay in cash. But it always pays in kind. And sometimes, the kindest reward is a door you never thought would open. I’ve forged friendships I never could have imagined—kindred spirits from corners of the globe I may never physically tread—all because of one simple, radical idea: the power of free.
Free has opened doors I didn’t even know existed. It has ushered me into rarefied rooms, into conversations and communities typically reserved for society’s highest achievers. And who knows what tomorrow holds? Perhaps the winds of opportunity yet to blow will still be stirred by that same powerful current: the power of free.
Here’s the truth—any talent, when nurtured and exposed, can evolve into a thriving, income-generating engine. But first, dare to give it away. Offer your skills without price tags. Approach decision-makers, tastemakers, and those calling the shots—not with a pitch, but with value. Share your voice, your vision, your craft. Not for the payout, but for the platform.
Because when you’re generous with your gift, people take notice. And when they do, momentum builds. Recognition follows. Eventually, even those who once received your services for free will return—this time, ready to pay. That’s the magic. That’s the full-circle reward.
That’s the power of free!
Never be discouraged when you’re grinding through the humbling journey of offering your talent for nothing. It bruises the ego—especially when the pantry is bare and you’re out there, pitching your gift for free while others charge for less. It’s not just the hunger that bites, but the sting of doubt from those you love. They whisper that you’ve lost it, or worse, that you’ve thrown away your sense. But deep down, you know this: what you carry is priceless—it only needs to be seen.
It’s not madness to give your best without a price tag. It’s strategy. It’s sacrifice. It’s the hard, often invisible work of letting the world catch up to your worth. Keep going. Stay true to what you do best. The universe has a long memory and an even longer arm. It rewards those who plant value without demand. As certain as breath and breeze, your harvest is near.
The Power of Free Is no weakness—it is a waiting crown. Wear it boldly.
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