THE 10 RULES OF FREESOURCING

In compiling this book and creating what is now commonly understood as freesourcing, certain truths have become apparent. The Freesourcing ethic in its simplest form aims to help people understand that they do not require huge sums of start-up capital to get their business on the road. Instead, by adhering to simple steps, anyone with an idea can create and move a business forward with very little more than time and effort.
We have created the 10 rules of Freesourcing to ensure that the Freesource movement understands the fundamentals of how to practise good Freesourcing conduct, for the benefit of both themselves and others in the business community. These rules are not set in stone but are meant to act best practice as more and more people take up the challenge of Freesourcing. Stick to these rules and you won’t go far wrong.

1. Freesourcers use what they have to get what they need.
2. Freesourcers never take more than they need.
3. Freesourcers value relationships more than money.
4. Freesourcers seek out creative alternatives.
5. Freesourcers see time as more valuable than money.
6. Freesourcers learn about other people’s businesses.
7. Freesourcers understand that free may not always mean best quality.
8. Freesourcers always give something back in return for what they take.
9. Freesourcers conjure brilliance from nothing.
10. Freesourcers start businesses for more than just money.

GLOSSARY

• FREE – Provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment.
• FREECONOMY – The common social system of production, exchange, distribution and consumption of the goods and services of a geographical area where no financial or monetary return is offered or exchanged.
• FREECYCLE – The act of donating and receiving free goods and services using the Freecycle.org network
• FREEDOM – The result of a committed change of lifestyle to enjoy your own aspirations.
• FREEGAN – People who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity and greed. (Definition taken from the http://freegan.org.uk website.)
• FREEMIUM – business model that works by offering basic services for free, while charging a premium for advanced or special features. The business model has gained popularity with the new wave of Internet companies who encourage trial and viral propagation of its services.
• FREEQ – Or freesourcing equivalent, the cash value you would have spent on a good or service should you have paid for the item with traditional means. For example, the Freeq of a Freecycle-obtained PC with Ubuntu operating system might be the cash value of a similar Windows-based machine purchased online. Therefore the Freeq would be, say, £450.
• FREESAUCE – Sachets of ketchup you might be able to use for free in a café or fish and chip restaurant (not to be confused with freesource).
• FREESOURCE – A resource that a business is able to use for its benefit that has been found, borrowed or created for no initial monetary outlay.
• FREESOURCER – A person within a business who is actively using the freesourcing ethic to create business growth. The size of the business is irrelevant as any size of organization can benefit from the ideology.
• FREESOURCERY – The ability to find the ultimate freesources with apparent ease, a magical freesource touch.
• FREESOURCEUR – An entrepreneur who bases the start-up and growth of a business on freesources.
• FREESOURCING – The act of locating and using a freesource.
• FREESOURCING EQUIVALENT – See Freeq.
• FREESTART – A business you can start up for free.
• FREETIME – Spare time left over from your normal day-to-day activities that is currently underused or inappropriately employed.

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