The Freelancers' Show

Informações:

Synopsis

Weekly discussion by freelancers and professionals about running a business, finding clients, marketing, and lifestyle related to being a freelancer.

Episodes

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 006 – Setting Your Rate

    05/03/2012 Duration: 01h04min

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) David Brady (blog witter github ADDcasts) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) JT Zemp (twitter github) Discussion Doubling your rate and doubling your business Exchange of value Communication counts Rate setting is about perception Experiment with your rate The "gasp technique" Sales confidence You may be able to charge more if you can get it done quickly. Freelance Switch Rate Calculator Take your yearly salary and divide by $1,000 Rate based on your cost The cost of employing a person is something you have to cover "Do the hustle" - Obie Fernandez What is the minimum that Rails developers should be charging? $100/hour? $150/hour? Talk to people who do what you do and see if they tell you to raise your rate If they want you to subcontract to you, you might be too low Look for subcontracting opportunities if you're willing to lower your rate and pass off the marketing, etc. Do you lower the rate

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 005 – Work/Life Balance

    24/02/2012 Duration: 47min

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Evan Light (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) Discussion Separate things out by day Set a fixed schedule The downside of being hourly Flexibility Ebb and Flow with balance Get help Hire a VA Subcontractors Contracting out Design Work Cut back Batch up the work Food delivery services (frozen pre-cooked/pre-made meals) Cleaning services Batch dinners Every Sunday pay bills/expenses Balance the checkbooks Build systems Earth Class Mail Concentrate FitBit Exercise & Sleep Recumbent bike Build it into your routine Picks Happiness Tracker iPhone App (Eric) TED talk on maintaining air quality (Eric) Concentrate App (Jeff) Treadmill Desk (Jeff) Standing Desk (Jeff) Geek Desk (Evan) Finding Outside Help (Evan) Theme Forest (Chuck) Keep a Water Bottle at your Desk (Chuck) Camelbak Water Bottle (Eric) Ruby on Ales (Evan) Mountain West Ruby Conf (Evan)

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 004 – Fixed Bids vs Hourly Work

    17/02/2012 Duration: 01h04s

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Evan Light (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) Discussion Fixed bid Time and materials Give a budget to the client Scope creep Do you renegotiate the contract on scope creep? Short fixed bids can help manage costs and risk Customer management Fixed vs. Hourly is a discussion of risk Provide options for a fixed bid Multipliers for each unknown Risk is added for each new technology added to the stack Alan Weiss Start up with a courting period and then renegotiate after the courting period Shorten the scope of the project When you lower your bid, remove features (value) from the bid Charge more! Picks Find a Mastermind or Group of people who do what you do (Chuck) Heil PR-40 Microphone (Chuck) Other dynamic (Chuck) Behringer XENYX (Chuck) Roland R-05 (Chuck) Resounder (Chuck) Adobe Audition (Chuck) Million Dollar Consulting (Eric) The Consulting Bible (Eric) Peepcode Play by Play (

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 003 – Firing Clients

    13/02/2012 Duration: 57min

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Evan Light (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) Discussion George Bush misquote Cashboard Non-payment/Late payments Lack of Communication Working for a client is like a dating relationship Subcontracting Blame Local vs. Remote Corporate Culture Find clients who are willing to learn Communicate before you fire the client Watch out for people who push back on non-negotiables in your client The client must sign a contract It makes a difference if the client appreciates your work If things become emotional, just nod and say "Thank you for the feedback." Watch out for long silent spells Zero Bullshit Policy We want clients to be more like business partners rather than masters (with us as servants) The Shrink Principle Have a website 3 day reminder from the billing system F*** you, pay me. Make sure you get a deposit Be helpful and professional Punctuality for meetings Overused rel

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 002 – Keeping the Pipeline Full

    07/02/2012 Duration: 51min

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Evan Light (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) Discussion ChiliProject/Redmine Website Contact Form littlestreamsoftware.com business/niche apps libraries getting involved in open source projects Refinery Fat Free CRM Instructure speaking at conferences talk to other developers, have a community presence users groups referrals from other/larger firms subcontracting blogging and podcasting for lead generation be an expert in your field build trust with potential clients the tiers of intimacy do what you enjoy doing job boards -but- not job boards compete not on price, but on qualities recruiters government contracts and associated suicide accessories don't work for equity unless you're fine as an investor vetting clients define availability, timetable, deadline and rough spec research the client Obie Fernandez' Master Services Agreement

  • The Ruby Freelancers Show 001 – Getting Started

    24/01/2012 Duration: 47min

    Panel Charles Max Wood (twitter github Teach Me To Code Rails Summer Camp) Eric Davis (twitter github blog) Evan Light (twitter github blog) Jeff Schoolcraft (twitter github blog) Discussion Transition from other work to freelancing Finding clients Have money in the bank Have no money in the bank Selling yourself short Billable time, administrative work and time spent working Finding prospects Get involved with user groups, the community, for networking Host events, get behind podium, have credibility Confidence for getting clients and not selling one's self short First and second degree contacts Find out where your customers are Picks Harvest (Chuck) VIM (Chuck) MacVIM (Chuck) Freshbooks (Evan) Getting Things Done by David Allen (Evan) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (Evan) Pinboard (Jeff) Skype (anti-pick) (Jeff and Evan) Cashboard (Jeff) James Bond by Ian Flemingy (Jeff) A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (Jeff) The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (Jeff

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