The Freelance Dating Game: How to Avoid the Nasty Break-up

Sunday, August 22, 2010

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Josh [email protected]


Educator

http://www.pti.edu


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FreelanceDesign and Development


How to avoid the nasty break-up


Advice Part-time Freelancers


First DateSunday, August 22, 2010

What was your first date?


For the next 30 secondsintroduce yourself to someone you DON’T KNOW and tell them about your first date.


http://www.google.com

http://www.google.com

GO!!!


Times Up


On the Playground


First Date Highlights

Lasted one recess

I got mad props from other kids

We held hands

I got a kiss on the cheek

I was unaware the relationship ended

I was totally confused


My 1st Freelance Experience


Band WebsiteSPLASH PAGE


OMG

me, really?WOWthis is gonna be

AWESOME!!!

A Band Website


“We can’t afford to pay you…”


That’s okay I’m just psyched they thought of me.


First Freelance Highlights

Phone calls from the band

Credit on the home page

It could potentially lead to other things

Great exposure, but no money

I was unaware when the project was over

I was totally confused


Hmm…This sounds familiar


1st Freelance ever

1st Date ever=


We can learn a lot from our failed relationships


What is a relationship?


re·la·tion·ship[ri-ley-shuhn-ship] - noun

a state of connectedness between people


5 Stages of a Relationship


5 Stages of a Relationship

Romance / Attraction

Reality Sets in / Disappointment

Power Struggle

Commitment

Co-Creation / Stability

http://dating.lovetoknow.com/Five_Stages_in_a_Relationship

http://gcuc.ncf.ca/relate5.html








5 Stages of Freelance

Inquiry

OMG What did I just do?

Scope Creep

Project bender / Just have to get through to…

Revisions


Why Relationships Fail


Why Relationships Fail

Avoidance

Burnout

Compatibility issues

Enthusiasm fades

Just say yes

Poor communication

http://www.singlescafe.net/why-relationships-fail.html




Our goal today is to examine these stages and try to solve common problems in client relationships.


Before the Romance


Meeting New People (clients)

Go to them

They come to you


Sit around and wait…

My Courting Process


Not very effectivewith clients or the ladies.


Potentially the WORST kind of lead generation.


The people that CLAIM to be your friends and family.


For Example


What’s the worst kind of date?


The Blind Date


Where do the majority of blind dates come from?


The people that CLAIM to be your friends and family.


Reasons for the Blind Date

They’re really nice

They’ve got a great personality

It’s not like you’re doing anything else

I was just trying to do you a favor


Have you ever been thrown at a freelance project like this?


Blind Date Clients

I’ve got a buddy with a great idea to make lots of money on the internet

It’s going to be just like Facebook, but different

It’s not like you were doing anything anyway

Your mother-in-law meets a horse farmer in need of a website on the way home from work


RED FLAG!


Not all BLIND DATE clients are bad


but beware


My Advice15 Lessons you’ll want to write down


Advice #1Just because you can, does not mean you should


How do you know?


Romance / Attraction Stage

STAGE 1Sunday, August 22, 2010

Client Consultations are really First DatesIt’s awkward

You’re feeling each other out

You’re not sure who’s paying for dinner

The entire time you’re trying to decide if this is moving on to a second date


Don’t Be Charmed Too Easily

Potential is dangerous.

Remember Ryan Leaf? Full of potential, but now bags groceries.

Promises sound great but they don’t always come true.

Your perception is different from theirs. Calibrate expectations through communication, if you can.

Everyone wants to be wanted.Sunday, August 22, 2010

Advice #2Ask lots of questions


Client Questionnaire


Most Important QuestionDo I trust them?


Warning Signs

Disorganized

Blows off scheduled meetings

Looking for a handout

Aggressive - calls or emails you constantly

Jumps the gun and disregards any of your processes or advice


Advice #3Know why you’re doing the project


It’s their deadline not yours


One date does not mean that you’re married


Freelance Isn’t Free

Less time with friends and family

Pulls you away from activities and hobbies

Lose sleep due to late nights

General life stuff is put on hold


I’m Taking This Project Because

I believe in the project

It pays well

I like the kind of work

I trust the client

It excites me

It involves new technologies or techniques.


Advice #4Be prepared to walk away


My quality of life doesn’t hinge on freelance


It helps


I don’t have to work on every project that comes my way


There will be other projects


If it’s not a good fit, don’t waffle, pass on it .


Project Policy

Consultation meeting.

Analyze what they need, what I can do, and the amount of time it would take.

Is it worth my time, effort, or pulling myself away from other things?

If no, I decline the project.

If yes, I prepare an estimate.


Advice #5Don’t take a freelance job because you feel obligated


Remember the blind date?


Obligation projects are on the fast track to BREAK-UP TOWN


Advice #6Know the kinds of projects that best suit you


I used to take any project that came my way


I didn’t really consider the best projects for my skill sets

and time requirements


All I heard was money… I’ll do it.


Similar to… A girl wants to

date me, AWESOME!


Not Good For

Development for long projects that take 4 - 6 months to complete

Managing large projects

Reinventing your business on the internet

Building a blog site for a business, then writing blogs for them

Projects that promise exposure in lieu of money, goods, or services


I’m Great for

Prototyping

Being a code or design hero / ninja

Small projects

Building components, designs or animations

Not managing the entire project


Advice #7Your portfolio should be what you want to do, not what you’ve done


I totally struggle with this


Nobody cares about every project you’ve done, they only

care about the next project you’ll do for them


Build a portfolio of work you WANT to do


Your portfolio suffers from taking just any project


I try to be a little selective about the projects I take on


What Matters to Me

Two way street of Trust

Client will deliver when they say they will

Pay on time

Enjoy working with them


Create standards for yourself


Stick to them!


Reality Sets in / Disappointment


Reality Sets In: Dating

Hmm, our design tastes aren’t the same.

He chews loudly when he eats.

Really she honestly likes to watch Sex and the City. Honestly?

OMG can you please put the seat down when you’re done!?


Reality Sets In: Clients

Hmm, our design tastes aren’t the same.

Be creative and by that I’ll tell you what to do.

10 pounds of content in a 200px text box.

Comic Sans is not a fun font!


Advice #8Consider your needs


You have needs too!


What do you want out of this relationship?


What I Want?

To use technologies and techniques I don’t normally get to play with

To work on cool projects

To earn some extra cash

To meet interesting people

To feel like a hero

To be proud of the work


Advice #9Work your passions / interests into your projects


Exploring new things is fun!


Look for opportunities to integrate interesting

technologies and techniques


Math-based Interactions

15 minute code

DataViz

Programmatic / generative art

Math-based transitions and interactions


Integrating your passions will get you through the rough patches


You get what you want, they get comic sans.


Or something like that


Power Struggle


Who’s in Control?It’s a partnership


Be UP FRONT About

Availability

Requirements for the project

Delivery dates

Threats for delivering on time

Your costs

Scope creep

What will be delivered


Advice #10Communicate everything!


“Assumptions are the termites of

relationships”. - Henry Winkler


Really? Everything?Any request I get, I restate it

back to the client for confirmation.


I’m Busy This WeekI push back about my availability. Sometimes I can’t start a project until a week or two from when I’m discussing the project with a client.

I book projects based on available blocks of time.


I used to say, “Sure, I’ll get that by Tuesday,” then pray for a miracle of time to show up.


Late for DinnerLet clients know ahead of time if problems occur.

They’re more willing to work with you if they know there’s a problem. Have you ever been really late for dinner

but didn’t say anything? I bet it didn’t go all that well.


UpdatesEveryone loves them. Check in every few days and give a

progress report. They’ll love you for it. Even if there is no “real” progress there’s usually something you need to follow up on anyway.


Be HonestIt really is the best policy. If you don’t come

through, come clean. You might get a second chance.


Stick to your policesIf you have a workflow STICK TO IT. Yes there are

times for flexibility but trust your process and stick to it.


That goes double for your estimate


Advice #11Know your value


How do you know what to charge for a project?


Pricing ModelTime + Materials = My Estimate


I provide value-based estimates


4 Animations = $200

instead of

4 hours of work = $200


Be confident in what you’re charging


I used to take 20% - 30% off the top of estimates because I was afraid I’d lose the project


Please Refer to Prior Advice

#3 Know why you’re doing the project

#4 Be prepared to walk away


My PhilosophyToo Expensive? Good! I’m too busy anyway.


I get less work, but paid more, and the

clients are much better.


Undercut Projects

Projects end poorly

Clients don’t return

Services aren’t valued

Requests get more ridiculous

Work isn’t worth putting in my portfolio

I just want it to be over


ConfidenceGirls like it and so do clients


Be Confident, Not an Ass-clown

You’ll find clients respect you for sticking to your guns.

People will pay or even overpay for things they need right now.

Eight dollars for a Beer at a Pirates game? Yep, I’ve done that.

Don’t abuse this, be fair and your clients will return.


So how do I figure out my estimate?


Estimate Considerations

Set-up and admin

Research / development

Additional equipment / materials / assets

Re-factoring and revisions

Delivery


All of these things factor into my estimate


Sometimes I’m wrong


But I track EVERYTHING so I can compare my estimate to what

actually happened.


Commitment


I’ve got the project!Now I have to come through


Do I have time for this?


Advice #12Manage your time


Time ManagementTake time to learn what works for you


My Techniques

Block out time in hours

Running project list

Horizontal to-do lists

Prioritize no more than 5 items at a time


Block Out TimeI schedule projects based on availability


ListsNo more than5 items in myfocus at a time


Horizontal ListsGlobal view of what I need to do


Above AllStay balanced. There are other things besides work. I try to

budget 5 - 10 hrs max per week. But I’m also flexible.


Advice #13Document EVERYTHING


SketchbookCreative weapon of choice


What I Track

Client communications

Times

Deliverables

Requests

Discoveries

Errors

Doodles


Times


ProblemSolve


Flow Charting


Log Other Ideas


It’s totally worth it


Scope Creep KillerIt’s the best! Recalling details makes you

sound smart AND can sometimes help you win scope creep battles. Remember, don’t be an Ass-clown.


At the end of every project I do a “Lessons Learned”


Ask MyselfWould I do this project again?


Co-Creation / Stability


Advice #14 Be patient with revisions and make

them as quickly as possible


Revisions SuckIt’s not that you did something wrong. It just time to

shore-up the details and finish the project strong.


GET-R-DONEJust get them done


Benefits

You get paid!

It’s over!

It’s not hanging over your head!

Less of a chance of more revisions!


Revisions Are Like BunniesThey multiply


Revisions are NOT…HEY can do this

entire thing over?


You have to manage it


Advice #15Don’t listen to me


Everybody has to find their own way


I learn the most when I get knocked on my ASS


And so will you!


In Review


My Advice

1. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

2. Ask lots of questions

3. Know why you’re doing the project

4. Be prepared to walk away

5. Don’t take a freelance job because you feel obligated


My Advice

6. Know the kinds of projects that best suit you

7. Your portfolio should be what you want to do not what you’ve done

8. Consider your needs

9. Work your passions / interests into your projects

10. Communicate everything


My Advice

11. Know your value

12. Manage your time

13. Document everything

14. Be patient with revisions and make them as quickly as possible

15. Don’t listen to me


Questions?Comments, thoughts, or reactions?


How’d I [email protected]@gmail.com


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Thank YouI appreciate your time


The Freelance Dating Game: How to Avoid the Nasty Break-up

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Transcript of The Freelance Dating Game: How to Avoid the Nasty Break-up