So Worth It!
January 26th, 2010
It’s been a long day, but I feel the need to share.
Today started early (7:30 am) when—after making lunches for the kids and sending them to school—I sat down w/coffee and email.
Designer/IT Help Desk
One of my Eastern time clients (I’m Pacific) was having trouble accessing his webmail (day 2). The day before, I had reset his password, tested the email, sent directions and screen captures, and generally tried to help him get ‘back in’ to Cubemail. He’s a bit impatient, not a computer geek, and in need of help. So I reset his password again, and spent 30 minutes or so putting together a VERY detailed email w/explicit instructions and screen captures for him to access his email via the front door of hosting company AND directly via webmail.
Wished him good luck and let him know that I was going to be out for most of the day, but I’d check in via email.
Note: I will not charge him for this time.
Then breakfast, finished morning emails, fed the dogs, showered and prepared for a new client interview.
Side note: my husband has been suffering from sciatica. Just yesterday he was finally able to see the neurosurgeon—3 weeks after MRI. Lucky hubby—the surgeon had a spot for him THIS AFTERNOON! Yahoo! PainBeGone! So, according to schedule, our son would drop Dad off @ hospital, I would go to interview, then to hospital to be there during surgery, recovery and bring husband home.
Designer/Marketing Manager/Creative Director
Back to the day…went to interview. Nice folks. They were left high and dry—without ANY warning—by their former webmaster of 3+ years. (Apparently, this other web design co. left many clients in same boat!) We talked for an hour. They liked me. I liked them. I shared some “things of value” (ie: web tips). But…I must have missed or ignored the fine print (it’s not in my copy/paste from their ad) of the hourly fee they were willing to pay.
Bottom line…I’m too expensive for their budget.
Now I could write an entire other blog or two about hourly vs. project (I generally do project bids, but hourly factors in for edits, etc.). I could talk about how I determine my rate—not the client. I know what I give. I know what the work involves—after all, isn’t that why I’m being contracted—to provide a creative service clients cannot do themselves? But that is not the post I’m writing today.
Designer/Salesperson
They budgeted for a Civic. I’m selling Acura. Both rides will get you to your destination—but the level of luxury varies—and no one confuses the brands. Oh, well.
Next to the hospital…where I wait…for several hours, because there was some delay w/surgery preceeding my husband’s…
But, hey—the hospital has WiFi!!!! And I have my laptop. And teabags. All good. Open up the email…
Designer/UI Developer/Programmer
To be turned down by the second potential client of the day. (Deep cleansing breath.) This one was already well aware of my hourly rate. (From oDesk, where I discount my rate by 10% to accommodate oDesk mark-up.) I spent an hour on Skype with this guy—nice, too, and with a socially progressive website plan. He wanted a new WordPress blog—CUSTOM—within two weeks. I quoted a project bid, broken down into wireframes/PSD/coding sections.
Again—too expensive! (Mind you, he never gave me a budget within which he had to work. My error for not insisting on that information before I spent the time putting together a tight bid!) Ah, well…he hopes we can work together in the future on other projects…
So, hey! I’m still at the hospital. And. Still. Waiting. Texting the kids (3) en masse. Surfing and reading “Digging Into WordPress” by Chris Coyier and Jeff Starr… [no affiliate payoff]
Finally…husband is being wheeled by in gurney. Stop to chat—he’s pale, but looking good—and can move his toes! Doctor says everything went well!
Designer/Wife/Mother
Hang w/husband in room for a bit. He’s sleepy and not quite ready to go home. Decide to run home (10 mins. away) and eat something. Change. Check in w/kids…share a minor teenage meltdown (child #3) and eat dinner while standing at kitchen counter surfing email. Read a timely, awesome post by Johnny B. Truant.
Then back to hospital to retrieve husband, bring home and tuck into bed.
Yes, a long day…where I was all of the following:
- the good wife, the good mother, supporting husband & children
- the rejected designer, turned down by 2 potential clients
- the valued designer, assisting client w/2 issues outside of my ‘expertise’
I was helpful. I was rejected. I was supportive. I was rejected. I was appreciated.
Mostly, though…I’m just tired. But Johnny’s right—I’M WORTH IT!
Postscript…Designer Skills
Chris Coyier put together a nice little list of designer skills on his blog. Tongue-in-cheek, yet…not!