I'll always wonder...

What someone is thinking when they trade their integrity for what they think will be a financially rewarding opportunity, is sad and pathetic. To explain, integrity is not the same thing as pride. Leave pride behind, but never compromise on integrity. In fact, if one were to really think about it, pride is one of those horrible human traits that often times takes the place where integrity should be.
To use a prime pop culture example, take the HBO series Entourage. A series about a a hot hollywood star, his has been brother, their neighborhood friends and the experiences with wealth, stardom, disappointment and everything else the writers and producers can conjure up for these characters. The one character that stands out the most and in the opinion of many has the greatest depth and connectivity, is Johnny Drama Chase. The main character's big brother who had a brush with fame and now is a struggling actor. He has a complete absense of pride with what he is willing to do to stay in the industry and hopefully revive his paused career. However, he shows unwavering integrity at all times. It gives the character, well...character.
In this society it seems that pride is often time mistaken for integrity, but the two ideologies couldn't be further from each other.
Pride has lead to destroying lives, hurting feelings, and taking an otherwise decent adult and making them a spoiled, arrogant and unprofessional person. This is a plague infecting the current business climate in the USA. The desire to become an internet sensation, to make money on the backs of others without any true and fair compensation has created a bubbling pool that will eventually boil over. Simply because the people who are making this heat are full of pride, and the bubbling masses are being punished for their integrity, and something will have to give.
Put your money on integrity, because bravery, dilligence and heart comes along with integrity, where as pride's major attributes seem to be greed, cowardess, and fear. The latter makes monsters and bleeds is bile into society rapidly and only integrity's bandage can heal its wound. With hope pride will fade along with the ridiculous notions that it inspires and integrity will have it's turn.

Contradictory Contracting

When a person is contracted to perform a particular function for any company or business, often times the contractor will go the extra mile. Allowing for some light consultation, a little help here and there, but can this be the wrong way to perform.
A contracted individual is hired for a specific job or task. The plus for the company is they do not have to pay benefit fees, or regular salary, still some business people haven't any real understanding of the appropriate business ethics when dealing with a contractor. Far too often, middle management will treat contractors as personal assistants, when in fact that is not their function. It is important for the freelancer to put their foot down immediately and make it perfectly clear that if the contact isn't under negotiation for an increase in payment due to performing another function, that it important to perform only the tasks contracted for.
Unfortunately, the contractor can get left out in the cold after devoting unrelated hours to a company, and the business benefits without any regard to the fact they have required free labor in order to keep the contract running.
A contract is a contract and should not be confused or used as a leverage chip in order to threaten someones receipt of compensation for their contribution. So freelancers, contractors, and all other non-traditional artists, creators and writers, make sure you stand your ground, because be sure that some people have no shame in removing it out from under you.