A tendency towards aesthetics is also not very appreciated among programmers. “I don’t care if the code is prettier this way or that,” clients grumble. And I understand them. If my car mechanic starts recommending a certain type of motor oil – which costs twice as much – because it is such a nice product, he will lose me too. If he tells me that my car will last longer or be cleaner by using the product, I will consider the matter. Nice for the sake of it is a bad argument for clients. So reformulate: what makes this solution, code, graphic novelty nice for the client ? And if you can’t put it in those terms, maybe you should just leave it out for this project.
When I started my coffee round, I knew exactly what makes clients grumpy: paying a lot for vague things. Still, this little study shed new light on my daily activities. A lot of annoyance and distrust can be solved by listening and talking very precisely. The most important note to self is that my job (and that of UX'ers, designers, project managers, front-enders, programmers, SEO'ers, data analysts, network administrators, system designers and other office colleagues) also and above all consists of coming up with ways to convey what we do and why . Presentations, meetings and phone calls are not annoying interruptions after which you can fortunately just get back to work, they are essential. Finding a form to be able to share the content of what we do with the people we work for is essential.
I intend to give communication more space and attention. To start, I should make an illuminating infographic about the impossibility of a static exception at a fairly deep level in a dynamic whole. To be continued…
Secret? Isn't that a bit too bombastic? No, no, not in this case, because it really seems as if no one knows about it.
Your personal brand will be completely different, at least, if you start doing what I say, if you start living, the advice I give. Then you are suddenly: a breath of fresh air. Refreshing as a mountain stream. Sounds good, right?
It is something – I'm still building up the greece telegram data tension, hanging in there – that is completely lacking in almost all self-employed people and small entrepreneurs, on their website, in their branding, in the story they tell the world.
And yet we all find it so incredibly nice. We yearn for it. We pay for it in the weekend, in the Dutch theatres. We organise a barbecue for it.
All the women on the dating sites write about it, that they really want that in a man. On all 14 dating sites that I visit regularly – I always watch with a good friend – the women write that they find this one of the most important things in a man, in life.
What the heck am I talking about?
Humor. I'm talking about humor. Yes! Three cheers for humor. Where is the humor in the small business owner?
Try to answer this question for yourself before you read on: Why is humor missing from almost every website of almost every trainer, coach, consultant, psychologist, lawyer or financial advisor? Why is there so damn little to laugh about?
The question seems fair to me, right?
Look at a website about 'authentic leadership'. I've been having trouble sleeping lately, but not since I've been checking out a website like that before bed.