A free rider is someone who enjoys a service without giving anything in return.
This makes sense, ‘why spend energy when I can take the rewards?’
A pay rider is someone who gives of themselves generously.
This makes less sense, ‘why spend energy so that others can take the rewards?’
The pay riders are exhausted. They have to make difficult decisions. They have responsibility. People rely on them to get work done. Expectations are put on them.
But the problem with being a free rider is that they aren’t useful to anyone. They are easily replaceable. They don’t have trust from their comrades. They rely on the employer to hand them their pay cheque. Free riders are happiest on tuesdays at their bowling league.
But the pay riders don’t work for their employer, they work for the customers, the clients, the comrades. They are useful, make big contributions, exercise creativity. Pay riders are leaders, they have gained the trust of others. Pay riders have rock solid confidence in themselves, that they don’t need to free ride off others. Pay riders provide for themselves abundantly and are happiest sharing the spoils with others.
A pay rider learns the values of hard work
, problem solving
, providing value
, hard skills.
Pay riders stand out and get paid.
Free riders blend in, and fade.