THIS is exactly the right strategy for many things.
Don't say "No.".
Instead think about it, figure out how much it would be worth TO YOU to do the thing, add some, and quote that.
A friend with his own firm/ consulting practice was an expert in a particular kind of database work, was asked by IBM to do a months-long project in Turkey (iirc). He didn't want to go but used this approach. A week later he was in Turkey (they didn't even blink at his outrageous quoted price). Said it was totally worth it because he'd taken that approach.
Don't say "No.".
Instead think about it, figure out how much it would be worth TO YOU to do the thing, add some, and quote that.
A friend with his own firm/ consulting practice was an expert in a particular kind of database work, was asked by IBM to do a months-long project in Turkey (iirc). He didn't want to go but used this approach. A week later he was in Turkey (they didn't even blink at his outrageous quoted price). Said it was totally worth it because he'd taken that approach.