New article
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Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
There's something really satisfying about owning your own company
Yes, there is. I've had the business for about 4 years but never really advertised or marketed very much. Looking to step up and be more aggressive on that part.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Good luck with that.
Thanks. I don't know if it is anything to do with luck, or just playing the cards right :-\
"I guess it's what separates the professionals from the drag and drop, girly wirly, namby pamby, wishy washy, can't code for crap types." - Pete O'Hanlon
Paul Conrad wrote:
I've had the business for about 4 years but never really advertised or marketed very much
I'm going to be talking more about networking. This is the single most effective way of building up your clientbase in the short term, so it really needs to be covered more thoroughly.
Paul Conrad wrote:
I don't know if it is anything to do with luck, or just playing the cards right
I found that it was more to do with knowing when to ask others for help. I spent a lot of time learning from people who have nothing to do with the computer industry - I talked and I listened and I learned. Then I tried things out, learned what worked for me and what didn't.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Paul Conrad wrote:
I've had the business for about 4 years but never really advertised or marketed very much
I'm going to be talking more about networking. This is the single most effective way of building up your clientbase in the short term, so it really needs to be covered more thoroughly.
Paul Conrad wrote:
I don't know if it is anything to do with luck, or just playing the cards right
I found that it was more to do with knowing when to ask others for help. I spent a lot of time learning from people who have nothing to do with the computer industry - I talked and I listened and I learned. Then I tried things out, learned what worked for me and what didn't.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I'm going to be talking more about networking.
I look forward to that. I think that is an area I could improve on. Word-of-mouth advertising is okay, but you do get what you pay for with it sometimes. One former client of mine ( they moved out of the area after several years ), I was in their shop and a friend/customer of theirs happened to overhear our conversation about the IT needs in the shop, the customer ended up becoming one of my most loyal customers :) Actually just got off the phone with them a few minutes ago :laugh:
"I guess it's what separates the professionals from the drag and drop, girly wirly, namby pamby, wishy washy, can't code for crap types." - Pete O'Hanlon
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Paul Conrad wrote:
I've had the business for about 4 years but never really advertised or marketed very much
I'm going to be talking more about networking. This is the single most effective way of building up your clientbase in the short term, so it really needs to be covered more thoroughly.
Paul Conrad wrote:
I don't know if it is anything to do with luck, or just playing the cards right
I found that it was more to do with knowing when to ask others for help. I spent a lot of time learning from people who have nothing to do with the computer industry - I talked and I listened and I learned. Then I tried things out, learned what worked for me and what didn't.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Networking is no doubt important. Equally important are ... (references not included) (1)Research has consistently ranked Communication Skills as crucial for small business owners and managers (2)Learn good PR including your own good news stories, without involving costly consultants (3)Control your use of time more constructively to achieve your business goals and have time for yourself (4)In business, image is everything (5)A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge ... and so on (far too many to list) ...
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Networking is no doubt important. Equally important are ... (references not included) (1)Research has consistently ranked Communication Skills as crucial for small business owners and managers (2)Learn good PR including your own good news stories, without involving costly consultants (3)Control your use of time more constructively to achieve your business goals and have time for yourself (4)In business, image is everything (5)A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge ... and so on (far too many to list) ...
I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge
Yup. Mentioned them - these are the people you turn to when you don't know something. Identifying these people is part of what networking is about, and can't be achieved without knowing where and who to talk to.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge
Yup. Mentioned them - these are the people you turn to when you don't know something. Identifying these people is part of what networking is about, and can't be achieved without knowing where and who to talk to.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
Identifying these people is part of what networking is about, and can't be achieved without knowing where and who to talk to.
My one client I just got off the phone with about 20 minutes ago happens to be an advertising consultant/guru and has given some great advise :) I guess I do have one of the basics to networking :-\
"I guess it's what separates the professionals from the drag and drop, girly wirly, namby pamby, wishy washy, can't code for crap types." - Pete O'Hanlon
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I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge
Yup. Mentioned them - these are the people you turn to when you don't know something. Identifying these people is part of what networking is about, and can't be achieved without knowing where and who to talk to.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals
Developers are a strange (sometimes solitary) bunch of people who are mostly out of sight and consequently out of mind to the more Management type of person. And it is a very hard up-hill battle when they decide to go it alone. And bank managers are not known for their sense of leniency for business start-ups
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Paul Conrad wrote:
I've had the business for about 4 years but never really advertised or marketed very much
I'm going to be talking more about networking. This is the single most effective way of building up your clientbase in the short term, so it really needs to be covered more thoroughly.
Paul Conrad wrote:
I don't know if it is anything to do with luck, or just playing the cards right
I found that it was more to do with knowing when to ask others for help. I spent a lot of time learning from people who have nothing to do with the computer industry - I talked and I listened and I learned. Then I tried things out, learned what worked for me and what didn't.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Thanks for the great article. I look forward to your next one. This is too cool. I handed in my 4 weeks notice last week. In 3 weeks I'm going solo, so it's quite topical for me.
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I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
A relevant business mentor to act as a sounding board is a source of valuable experience and business knowledge
Yup. Mentioned them - these are the people you turn to when you don't know something. Identifying these people is part of what networking is about, and can't be achieved without knowing where and who to talk to.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Hello guys... this is my first time posting message in CP. It's all coz of the inspire I got from Pete articles... Thanks Pete... the article is a greate one... can't wait for the next one...
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
This is very true... I tried to develope my networking skills but when the oppurtunity comes, I always failed :sigh: Maybe you can include guide on how to develop the soft skills Pete... its the skills that kill me softly... :((
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Hello guys... this is my first time posting message in CP. It's all coz of the inspire I got from Pete articles... Thanks Pete... the article is a greate one... can't wait for the next one...
Pete O'Hanlon wrote:
I couldn't agree more, but I have to start somewhere and networking is something that doesn't come naturally to most developers. As a breed, we do tend to be a bit standoffish with none-developer types and we need to be able to talk to them as equals.
This is very true... I tried to develope my networking skills but when the oppurtunity comes, I always failed :sigh: Maybe you can include guide on how to develop the soft skills Pete... its the skills that kill me softly... :((
Thanks for that, and welcome to the forums. Hope to see you round here more. As the series progresses, I'll be going over the techniques and help that I've had developing these soft skills, and I'll also be discussing the people who you need round you to help you with these skills.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Thanks for the great article. I look forward to your next one. This is too cool. I handed in my 4 weeks notice last week. In 3 weeks I'm going solo, so it's quite topical for me.
Good luck with the move. ;)
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Following popular(ish) demand the other day, I've finished off an article I was writing about going solo[^]. Enjoy (or not).
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Next article should be "How to get paid for reading the Lounge all day" Please?
"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..." "There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."
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Next article should be "How to get paid for reading the Lounge all day" Please?
"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..." "There is no one who loves pain itself, who seeks after it and wants to have it, simply because it is pain..."
That would be the "I'm the boss so I get to do pretty much as I please" article. ;P Otherwise known as the "I put in 60 to 70 hour weeks, including weekends so I need some relaxation" article.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Following popular(ish) demand the other day, I've finished off an article I was writing about going solo[^]. Enjoy (or not).
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Great article as others have mentioned. I hope you keep it going and publish chapter 2 soon.....