At the beginning of Parshat Miketz, Paraoh summons Yosef to ease his mind after 2 disturbing dreams. I choose to stay away from the translation of liftor as "interpret"; it has the same root as pitaron which means "solution". Paraoh’s regular sorcerers and advisers tried to interpret the dreams, but he probably already knew what they meant. Even if we don’t take the position that his dreams, like ours, were manifestations of his inner worries and psyche, nevertheless, he knew the previous explanations weren’t correct.
Along comes Yosef and promises that Hashem will give Paraoh peace. Paraoh’s not looking for the answer to a riddle – he just wants peace of mind, and Yosef recognized this right away. After hearing the dreams, Yosef explains the dreams and then offers a solution: hire a manager to oversee the food storage program, etc.
Like we said, the first thing Yosef does right is offer a solution to Paraoh’s problem. He promises that the problem will go away. The second thing he does right is create a trust between the two of them by giving away solid advice without exacting a cost in advance. I don’t know the character of Paraoh, but based on royalty and mafia movies, many people in positions of power get rid of the lowly messengers when they’re done, especially if they demand payment up front. Yosef proved that he’s directly connected to a great source of wisdom, Hashem, and that he’s loyal and not looking for a quick buck or even a pardon. Paraoh, recognizing this, appoints him as head of the project and second in command of the country.
In business, it’s often helpful to take the role of consultant, showing off your expertise by offering solid counsel. Even when the discussion extends beyond the scope of your work, potential clients like to hear how their problems can be solved. Very often, the people you speak with are not fit for your services. Nevertheless, you gain tremendously by taking the time to discuss and advise. If you are a good match, you’ve already earned the client’s trust in your knowledge. If you’re not a good match, you can refer them somewhere else, which makes them and the referee more likely to refer a good match to you next time.
Take the time to share your knowledge with others, and Hashem will bestow you with good fortune, just like He did with Yosef.