My Eye Designs: Tech Notes, Observations & Help For My Fellow Freelancers

IT Positions Available

2011-12-15T10:22:00.002-06:00

If any IT Admins are looking for work, I've got a line on some positions that are available. Feel free to contact me, and I'll pass along the information.

Working With The Brittany Project

2011-11-01T20:55:00.001-05:00

I'm proud to announce that I'll be working with the Brittany Project on their website and more. If you aren't familiar with them, here is some more info:

"Hello:
By now I am sure you have heard about Murfreesboro TN PD losing one of officers on Oct 23rd. Officer Brittany Maxwell passed away on 10/23/10 unexpectedly at her home. She had started a project to collect artificial Christmas Trees (pre-lighted or not, new or gently used) to give to the families in Franklin heights and other neighborhoods that will not otherwise have a Christmas tree. Most of the kids that she had on her list have never had a Christmas Tree before. She passed away before her goal could be finished. We, her family and friends, have decided to finish this project in her memory this year and in the years going forward to continue and make it something bigger than Brittany ever dreamed it could be. Kimberly Maxwell, Brittany's mom, and I have the paperwork in process to establish a 501(c)3 in Brittany's honor. It's called "The Brittany Project" in memory of her. Kim is the official chairman and I am her Co-Chair. I guess what I am asking is... Would you be willing to help us with a tree donation or a monetary donation to assist us with future projects. We aren't doing this to seek fame and fortune. We are doing this to honor the memory of Officer Maxwell and to keep her dream of making this a better community. Any help you could offer would be more than appreciated. ... Thanks for taking the time to read this Jennifer Smith donations can be sent to MPD c/o Jennifer Smith 302 S Church St Murfreesboro TN 37130 or call me at 615-653-8664"

I'm looking forward to posting the results of this new endeavor as they become available.

New Clients & More

2011-08-31T20:47:00.000-05:00

I'd like to welcome my newest clients. You know who you are. :) I'll post the graphics and sites once they are complete. That's always exciting.

I've added several updates to Guardian MMA site. I've added a new menu to the Guardian MMA site. I'm considering changing the font, as I'm a little concerned about the aesthetics. Yeah, I'll probably change that again soon. I've fixed the virtual tour finally as well. It isn't exactly a full 360º view, but we all enjoy it. And lastly, I'll be adding the 24 hour webcam again soon. We're all really excited about that!

Well, until next time.

New Guardian Site Coming Up

2011-08-01T15:08:00.000-05:00

Well, not exactly a new site, but certainly a new revision. It needs a jumps-tart with a new home page layout. The logo is just too big on the pages, and that is about to change.

Also, I'm about to dive into the 24/7 webcam at the school as well. I'll post it when it is ready to go.

Are you as excited as I am? I can tell!!

Galaxy S II - I NEED One...

2011-07-22T13:14:00.000-05:00

I've officially decided that I am going to get the new Galaxy S II when it hits the market next month (August).

I'm trying to get a bestie to get it with me.

The hardware is phenomenal and I'm in awe.

This was actually a quite boring post... but I refuse to apologize. :)

New Site Coming This Week!

2011-07-18T18:52:00.000-05:00

Yup, that's right. It's been a long time coming (5 or 6 months). And as you know, that's forever for a portfolio site.

Anyways, I'm excited and you should be too.

And in other news, I'm back working at Guardian MMA on a monthly basis. Coolio...

Of Course IE Would Be Giving Me Grief...

2011-07-17T03:17:00.002-05:00

What else is new...

Well, it's not like my job is really hard per-say. But I'll be damned if Internet Explorer doesn't make it that much more difficult. It's not so much that it isn't up to compliance, it's just that it likes to set its own rules. Think Office times 10...

What a Saturday, nay, make that Sunday morning...

I'm Bored... & I Want You To Know This

2011-04-26T22:23:00.000-05:00

Actually, this is just me buying time, as I can't think of a single thing to put here.... so perhaps I'll just be honest and say that I have absolutely nothing in my head at the moment. There. I Said it.

I'm Back With Firefox... Kind Of...

2011-04-19T10:59:00.004-05:00

Yes, it is true. I've preached to everyone I know to use Chrome for over a year now. Before that it was Firefox. But yet again, with the release of Firefox 4, I'm back, baby! This is a bit hypocritical, because I'm actually typing this in Chrome. Hey, I didn't say I only use Firefox.

Ease Of Use

I really enjoy the new layout. It is very simple and user friendly. The back and forward buttons (even though I've give up on using them years ago, and so should you) are in the top url bar, along with the refresh button. With a little customizing, you can have an extremely streamline browser. But when designing, of course, keep in mind that many clients and general browsers will have up to 4 different toolbars. I'm just saying.

Addons

Ok, now this is where Firefox 4 really takes the cake. Again, I love Chrome, but the addons were lacking in several main areas. But before I go into these, please let me predicate that I haven't found addons that would allow this same functionality. If you know of a Chrome addon that does what I've said it couldn't, please let me know, as I'd love to have it.

1. The gesture addons are far superior. They both have the same function in both browsers, but only Firefox gestures allow for non pages to be closed as well. At least from any of the gesture addons that I found. What I mean, is that you can't close out of a settings or tool pages in Chrome. But in Firefox, you can close out of ANYTHING. And I like that! Any time that I don't have to spend hitting a little x in the upper right hand corner, is happy time. And I appreciate happy time.

2. The screen capture addons seem to be lacking in Chrome. I have one in Firefox that I truly enjoy. it is called Awesome Screenshot. And it is, well, awesome. It allows for very easy screen capturing ability along with annotation and simple pasting into Photoshop when I need it. I just couldn't find a robust screen capture addon in Chrome that compares.

Ok, let me also say that there is one addon that you must get if you use Firefox. It's called Xmarks. It keeps all of your favorite links and folders synced to a server via Xmarks. This is very useful, because if you save a link on your home computer, the exact same link will be on your work computer, laptop, etc, when you open it up. This is very handy and has saved me plenty of times. Remember, Xmarks is good, and you must get it. Or don't, and live in the favorites stone age.

Universal & Modern

Firefox 4 can (like Chrome) handle anything you throw at it. It supports all major forms of code, flash and even HTML 5. Well, most of HTML 5. But hey, even most is great! It works very well with Dreamweaver too. As in, earlier browsers would not allow to react to local .php files without an actual server. Well, if you don't count database work, but I digress. The main point here, is that Firefox 4 can hand the job, and keep you on the cutting edge of browser capabilities.

Extremely Customizable

If you are a crazy custom look guy like myself, you'll LOVE Firefox 4. Pretty much, if you can think of it, you can do it with the sweet mods. Be it new themes or the popular personas, you are sure to enjoy a custom look that will be all your own. Themes have been around for a while, but the new ones are pretty sweet. Check 'em out. And of course, if you like the persona options, there are new additions to them every day. Check them out too.

What I'm Thinking

Ok, you surely get the gist of what I'm talking about here. I'm back to Firefox 4 over my beloved Chrome. Be it from the easy interface and maneuverability, the superior addon options or the sweet custom look and feels you can create, I'm liking my new change. Until the next version of Chrome comes out. Then I may change my mind. And I'll be sure and let you know all about it.

You Charge What? Really?

2011-04-04T13:55:00.001-05:00

As with every designer, I get asked what I charge per project. Well, as most other designers would agree, "it all depends". And by that, I mean there is much more that goes into a quote than how long it will take. But sometimes, it is just amazing to see how much some folks charge for design and we work. Some charge disproportionately on both ends of the spectrum. Which are you?

What I'm Talking About
Come on. You know what you're worth as a designer. If you are just starting out, don't charge like a professional. If you are a top professional, don't charge like a beginner. And if you're like me, somewhere in the middle, you charge just that. Somewhere in the middle.

Your Work Isn't Worth That Much
When I first started doing design, I read a "how to freelance" book by a chap that had been doing web design for many years. I found that he wasn't exceptionally great at design after I looked up his latest portfolio work. Wait, back up. It's not that he wasn't good, it is just that his design skills were stuck in the early 90s era, where pure HTML sites were top dog, with very minimal graphics or interaction. And what I learned, is that he charged way too much for his work. I'm not saying that he wasn't worth it, provided that he was putting together real money-maker websites for his clients. I'm just saying, that for a purely static site with very minimal graphic design, he was receiving an obscene amount of cash. Are you charging too much?

Your Work Is Worth More Than That

But by that same rationale, I've seen some phenomenal sites and graphics, in which the client payed a fifth of what it was worth. It happens. I know that sometimes you just have to work, no matter what the price. You've got to eat and pay the bills. But, take an honest look at what you do. If you know you're worth more than what is counter offered, simply refuse the work. You must set the precedent of what you are worth. I've learned that the hard way, and been stuck working on low paying projects for way too long. But, if you do work for cheap, ALWAYS put out the best work you can.

What I'm Saying

If you've seen my work, you know it isn't the best out there. But it certainly isn't the worst either. And that is why I charge a proportional amount for my work. But, when work is dry, I must take what I can get, and will work for less than my work is worth. However, if I'm "sitting pretty", I'll turn down work if my quote price is not met. And on the opposite end, I won't quote someone at an unnecessarily exorbitant amount because I know they can get the same thing from a top designer. And you should as well...

Busy Like A Boss... With Cabin Fever

2011-03-28T17:23:00.000-05:00

I've been quite busy these last few weeks. And for that, I'm crazy grateful. But I'm also crazy crazy. As in, it is tough to keep your wits when you can't find time to do anything but work. And when you work from home, there's a good chance that there are times that you don't leave the house for days. However, I've found several ways to make the time much more bearable while in the ol' domicile.

Keeping Time With Shows & Movies

Of course I always keep time with an actual timer. But I also like to keep time with shows and movies. On one of my monitors I'll have a movie or a tv show playing, depending on how much time I need to work on a project. If I need to work 3 hours on a project, I'll que up two movies that are about 1.5 hours per. So, while I'm being entertained by listening (and occasionally looking at the screen), I lose time easier. Hey, it works. Put your Netflix account to work!

Taking Walks & Mini Workout Sabbaticals

Yuppers, that's right. I like to take small 20 or 30 minute walks and bike rides outside when the weather is nice. If it is cold or nasty out, I use the treadmill in the basement. Hey, the basement beats doing nothing. But the reason to do this, is because it gets you out of the working mindset, along with giving you more appreciation of not seeing the exact same surroundings for hours on end. Getting away will also get your creative juices flowing again, if you just allow yourself to forget about everything for a bit. So, if you get a chance, get up and out of the house at least twice a day. It is more important than you think.

Cherish Your Errands

Yes, I said it. Everyone hates errands, and so do I. But, if you time them over several days per week, it will get you out of the house even more. For instance, I consider it a good thing that I have to go pay the water bill, because I have to leave and get some fresh air. Luckily, I'm fairly close, and can even ride my bicycle on occasion. So take action to spread your errands out. Your sanity will appreciate the favor.

So yes, although working from home is fantastic in many ways, it can also close you off from the big world that is out there. But as stated above, there are several easy ways to get you out workville, and into reality again. So take a few of these tips, and quit wasting away in your office!

Learn New Things About Design Every Day

2011-03-08T14:18:00.005-06:00

That's right. I said it. Well, perhaps not every day, but at least 5 days a week, you should learn something new regarding design. That could be some new jQuery tricks, a new Photoshop design skillset, a new 3D software or just practicing your typeset. The more you learn, the further you end up ahead of the curve.

I personally take 15 minutes a day to learn something new. That's it. And just like anything else, if you do it in steady and consistent intervals, you will be surprised at how much you get done. It adds up super quick. And before you know it, you'll be oh so proud of your accomplishments. What a concept, right?

What works best for me, is I set a timer for my 15 minutes of learning. I don't go over whatsoever, unless I'm in the absolute middle of something that I have to save or note. I've found that it gives me a a reason to come back and finish the lesson the next day. No burnout, and no boredom. And all the while, I'm officially learning something that will be oh so useful. Win, right? Right!

Remember to be consistent. If you miss a day during the week, make it up during the weekend. You can't give 15 minutes of time to your future? Exactly, so do it. You won't be disappointed.

Box Store Cable Ripoffs

2011-03-07T14:29:00.002-06:00

Ok, so you're at Best Buy, and the awesome sales person sells you on 98 inch Plasma with built in butler service. Pretty cool right?

Right, actually. Good for you. But then, you'll certainly need an HDMI cable to go from your tv to your blue-ray/dvd/vhs/betamax/laserdisk combo right? Of course you will! And somehow you are convinced that it is a good idea to buy a "Monster Cable" for over $170. Really, I just saw a cable on Best Buy's website for $169.99. There are tons of articles about why you are being ripped off buy buying cables from box stores, so I won't bore you with that. Basically, just don't do it.

I'll make this really simple. Go to newegg.com, and buy your cables there. It's that easy. You'll save 75 to 90 percent in some cases. And these cables have been proven to be the exact same thing, just not at a gouged price.

And this goes well beyond HDMI cables. This can and does include cat5, component, s-video, audio, adapters, splitters and a whole plethora of other cables and devices you've never heard of.

Stop getting ripped off. Questions? Ask, I've got time.

3 Monitors and Some Production Please

2011-03-01T11:34:00.004-06:00

I remember back in the day, when I used to have one monitor. It feels like ages now. I'm still amazed at how many freelancers only have one, or maybe two. But at least 3 is a minimum for me. And it should be for you too! I'll tell you why.
Having a 3 monitor setup with your essential software and such is quite a great time saver, and more important, an easy way to keep your sanity. Doesn't it get daunting going back and forth between programs over and over again? No? Well, I wish I had your patience. Or perhaps, you've just never experienced the benefits of 3 monitors. I'm thinking this is the case.

For sake of ease, we'll call the left monitor number 1, the middle monitor number 2, and the right monitor number b. You weren't even paying attention were you? I can't believe you.

Monitor 1: Browsers & Tabs, Oh My
On this monitor, I like to have up several browser windows.

On one browser window, in tabs, I'll have Gmail, Google Voice, Google Calendar and Google Docs. That would be my communications and info browser. Gmail and Google Voice are smart enough to put a number badge in the tab section to show you if you have any new emails or text messages. And did I fail to mention that you can talk via Google Voice as well? I've got a usb microphone that let's me talk hands free. Ok, back to it.

On another smaller browser window, I'll have an online timer. I use a very simple one named Online Egg Timer. It's easy and simple enough.

And on yet one more smaller browser window, in tabs, I'll have my Springpad documents, and a thesaurus.com page open. Hey, if you aren't using Springpad to take notes, you might be a crazy person. There are some great options, and you can take your notes with you anywhere, as long as you have access to the web, an Android operating system, or an iPhone/iPad. Again, you should start now. You'll thank me later. And of course thesaurus.com is essential in writing to clients and copy for projects. Well, if you have a superb vocabulary, perhaps you don't need it. However mine is barely adequate, so there is no shame in some help. Use it!

Monitor 2: Photoshop & Secondary Production Browser

On monitor dos, I like to have Photoshop open at full screen. Obviously, Photoshop takes a huge proportion of my time when designing, so it deserves my full attention on the middle screen. You forgot that the middle screen was screen number two, didn't you? Pay attention!

Ok, so along with Photoshop, I like to have one web browser page available for general searching and such. It is always right behind Phtoshop, and there if I need to do general searches, references and more. Alt+Tab will get you right there quickly. If you aren't using Alt+Tab, please tell me why. I'm waiting...

And of course, the middle screen is where your explorer folders are located. Windows 7 does a pretty decent job of letting you preview your open folders, by simply clicking on the explorer icon in your quick bar. With the integration of Live Preview, you'll have no worries seeing exactly what you have open.

Monitor 3: Dreamweaver, Music Player & Alternative Browsers

On my far right monitor, which we decided minutes ago was number 3, I like to have Dreamweaver open. I don't full screen it however. I leave some space at the bottom of the screen.

Underneath, I like to have my mini music player (iTunes at the moment - hey don't judge me, I hate it too) and several alternative web browsers to make sure that my code and images look correct on multiple formats. I'm officially a Google Chrome guy now, but I'll have open Firefox, IE & Safari for testing purposes.

Monitor 4 (bonus): Video Out

I hadn't planned on even mentioning it, but I do actually have a 4th screen. It's actually my television, which I s-video out as a video screen for watching shows, movies and such. It's pretty sweet to be able to watch what you want on demand from your local pc library. Yeah, I dig it!

Start Using 3 Monitors NOW!

Again, I can't express to you just how much more you can get done, and in less time. And that's not even mentioning the sanity it saves. Just ask around. Anyone using multiple monitors will tell you the same.

Contact Response Times

2011-02-28T09:31:00.000-06:00

Note to self... always reply to emails and phone calls in an appropriate amount of time.

When I first started in freelance, I would reply very quickly and without hesitation. However, somewhere along the way, I started lacking in diligence, and ultimately paid the price for it. Clients and potential clients get quite frustrated when their emails and calls aren't returned fast enough.

Believe me when I say that it didn't take long for me to learn my lesson. Some folks get extremely upset when not in direct contact 24 hours a day. And even the folks that don't mention it, grow upset on the inside, and will certainly let other potential clients know.

It's not worth it. Be diligent.

In reverse, you must learn patience with clientele. They do not always get back to you as fast as you would like. You must anticipate that you are not their top priority. And this is understandable, as they are almost assuredly not worried about their web and graphic projects all day. They have real jobs, unlike you, haha.

But as you're probably aware, it is difficult when you are waiting on content updates, and at the last minute, you receive both the content and an urgent request to hurry up. Although this is frustrating, you must expect it. Provided that you aren't "getting dodged", simply write the time off as just part of the job.

To reiterate, be diligent.

My Car Tablet Is Not A Myth... I've Seen It!

2011-02-14T19:38:00.000-06:00

(pics and video coming soon)

Ok, so if you've known me at all in the last year or so, you know that I've been obsessed with having a computer in my car. Or a "carputer", to those I haven't annoyed with the term yet. Well, it is finally a reality. Kind of... well... just read on.

Before, I had a convertible netbook (a netbook that folds over to make a tablet with a touch screen). I had it mounted on my dash, with wires all over and such. It was pretty cool... kind of. I loved the netbook, but Windows 7 was a pain in the ass while driving, along with multiple hardware struggles.

I wanted to start from scratch with a tablet this time. And that involved correcting all of the negatives about the netbook. I'll go over all of the negatives, and what I did to change that with my new carputer.

Interface
As stated above, this was a huge factor. Windows 7 was just aweful while driving. Especially while using the touch screen. The buttons and such were too small and finicky. Now let me say that I REALLY wanted an Android tablet, as I'm a big Android guy. However, I couldn't find a decent Android tablet that I liked. Mainly, I couldn't find one that connected to the Android market that had a big enough display. Lo and behold, I decided on the iPad. A Jailbroken iPad, of course, which I can customize and manipulate like I want. Darth Jobs, be damned! Say what you will, but I am an Apple hater. However, iOS apps are made with the idea of fat finger interaction, as opposed to the precision of a mouse. This makes it much easier while driving.

Mounting

I completely took out my stock radio. Is was just in the way of everything. Even after removing the radio, it was a nightmare dealing with the netbook. I could never come up with a solid and reliable solution. I had it mounted on a laptop stand, velcroed to dash and many more unnerving methods that never left me satisfied. But now I have a pretty great method that I use. I securely fastened a snap-on case to the dash that is easily removable for access to the inside of my dash where the guts are. And all I have to do is snap the iPad directly to the case. And when I'm ready to take it out, I simply unsnap it. It's truly that easy. It hasn't come down or fell once. Thus far, anyways. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. You should do the same for me!

Portability

With the netbook, it took a good 10 to 30 seconds to get everything hooked up, depending on if I was putting it in the dash, or taking it out. I had to plug/unplug the power cord, plug/unplug the portable usb hard drive, plug/unplug the audio cord to my stereo and finally place/remove the damned thing to the dash. Pain in the booty, Rudy. Now, all I have to do is simply place it on the mount, and plug in the audio cord I don't have to plug in the power cord unless I'm on a long trip. I'll explain this more below.

GPS

I'm currently using the Navigon GPS app on my iPad. It is pretty badass. The interface is really clean, and the direction animations are top notch. I'm not really happy with entering directions. If you've used the Google Maps app on an Android system, you'll know why. Another big plus is the size of the GPS screen. It is HUGE, as you can imagine. And it runs very smoothly, even when I'm streaming music over 3G. Keep in mind, that you'll need a the iPad 3G + Wi-Fi, if you want GPS. The Wi-Fi only version doesn't have GPS.

Internet

I went ahead and bit the bullet regarding internet on the iPad. The iPad is internet ready (on AT&T with 3G, unfortunately). Before, I would tether my phone to my netbook. That wasn't too difficult per say, but it was annoying having to setup the tethering every time I got in my car. It only took a few seconds, but it was still quite annoying to have to do this every time. So now, as soon as I leave the wifi at my house, it automatically picks right back up with its 3G connection. And unless I'm trolling though the crazy backwoods, the 3G network of AT&T isn't too bad. I'm content for the time being.

Audio
As with the netbook, I'm running rca cables to my 2 amps, which in turn, power my speakers. This is done via the 1/8 audio jack on the iPad. That seemed to make much more sense, considering I had a stock radio that didn't have inputs of any kind. And of course the amps distribute the appropriate frequencies to their respective speakers, including my sub woofer. Easy-peasy!

Power
The netbook wasn't necessarily a power hog, but it certainly didn't have near as much battery life as the iPad. It probably had about 3 or 4 hours max, with everything hooked up to it. Not to mention, that I never could fully get the thing to hibernate or sleep. There was something about that model that just wouldn't let it stay powered down. With the iPad, I've got a power cord in the car that I can plug in for long trips, or if I forgot to plug it in for a while in the house. But come on, I personally can have it in the car for 3 or 4 days minimum, without bringing it in, and it still has juice left. However, I bring it in all the time, so simply plugging it up before I go to bed is no sweat. To handle the power requirements, I purchased a 500 Watt power inverter that is inside my dash where my radio would normally go. And with this unit, I can power my iPad, phone, and also have an extra slot if someone want to use their laptop on the road. Pretty sweet, if I say so myself.

Video
Before, I had to plug up the usb hard drive if I really wanted to watch some video while on the road. Well, if my passenger wanted to watch video... of course. For some reason, even with wireless 4G speeds, streaming video of any kind just seemed too choppy. And of course tethering with the netbook via my phone was a pain. But now, with the Netflix and Air Video apps that I have on the iPad, it is quite a cinch. They respectively determine what my internet speed is, and play back the video accordingly. Even with 3G speeds, the video truly isn't unbearable. Now that's pretty sweet, especially for trips.

Music
Ah, my sweet music. With the netbook, I would plug up the usb drive or stream from Grooveshark. And the pain of course was having to tether my phone to the netbook or deal with the off and on reliability of the usb drive. Daunting you ask? Yes, I say. But with the iPad, it syncs automatically via a home streaming audio app named Audiogalaxy. It almost always streams flawlessly. It keeps your iPad up to date with all of your albums and playlists, in practically real time. I like to set up tons of playlists, and they automatically show up in my car when I'm ready to listen. Totally cool!

Gaming
The netbook had one positive aspect. It allowed me to use my wireless Xbox 360 controller. Now I'm stuck with a wiimote, if I want to use my Sega Genesis, NES, or SNES emulators. This isn't too bad, considering I have the classic controller as well but you get the point. Now this is great, because a passenger can play those emulators along with some great native games while on the road. It is truly cool to see a new passenger play Mario Brothers for the first time in a very long time.

In closing, let me say that I'm actually quite excited about my new CarTab setup. It is super easy to deal with, and absolutely fantastic for trips. Entertainment for the passengers has never been this cool. I highly recommended that you try your own skills at mounting your own tablet. I'm also open to any suggestions.

Take care, and please be safe. Just because you have a tab in your car doesn't mean you should drive like a jerk!

Schedule Your Time With Yourself For Success. It works!

2011-02-03T19:15:00.000-06:00

If you've been around me in the last few months, you've certainly heard me harp on about scheduling my day, and how important it is to me now. I recently discovered just how much time I actually waste by marking down what I've actually done. I then compared that to what my goals in work and life are. Needless to say, they didn't match up too well. This had to stop.

What am I talking about?

I'm talking about making a spreadsheet with a ton of individual items tasks that must be checked off daily. These tasks are things that I know I should be doing, but seem to never do. And at the end of the week, I see where I'm failing and where I can and will improve. For me, this has honestly been a breakthrough. I don't forget what I'm supposed to do, because it is all right there.

What do I track?

I track everything but the very small stuff. As an example, a few of my tasks today include drinking a tall water when I wake up, making my bed, eating 6 to 8 times a day in intervals, spending X amount of time on client work, spending X amount of time writing, spending X amount of time finding new clients or working on my own promotional stuff, spending X amount of time learning something new be it a tutorial or diy, taking out the cat litter and finally taking my nightly vitamin. I put down the things that I'll "accidentally" forget to do. Small obvious things like showering and brushing my teeth are a given, as I don't miss those... usually :). And then I've got a second spreadsheet in the basement that I mark off 6 days a week for working out and drum practice. Now before you say that that is too much to deal with, ask yourself if you do everything that you should do every day. No? Didn't think so. Why not try something crazy and wild? I did, and I'm truly better for it.

What if you miss or forget something or just don't have time?

I've become crazy with this. If I miss something, I'll make it up the next day. Even if it is silly like forgetting the cat litter, I'll do it in the morning and then again at night. If I miss a workout, I MUST make it up the next day or on one of my wiggle days. I'll explain wiggle days below. If you're serious about progress, you must not cheat yourself.

The little times add up way fast!

I was amazed at how much writing I was getting done with just 15 minutes a day. Especially when you considered how much I wrote before, which was basically never. And working out on a task by task basis lets me measure my successes and where I need improvement.

Have a wiggle days to keep you in check and sane!

For me, I have no real responsibilities or calorie counting on Saturday. Just a workout and kitty litter, haha. Other than that, I can do and eat what I want, which is great. And on Sunday, I have a very low priority list, and a reasonable calorie restriction. However, these are also my wiggle days. As in, if I've missed a task through my week, I can use these days to get caught up. And it MUST be caught up. I can't stress that enough. If I've been good throughout the week, the weekends are mine to do as I please. And guilt free, because I've made progress in many areas of my life throughout the week. Now that is pretty cool!

Get your task spreadsheet started today!

Your first week will be a mess and look crazy. But once you do it, and realize just how important of a tool it can be for you, you'll never know why you didn't do it. Trust me, it is totally a progress builder and meter. Do it!

Finding New Work

2011-01-20T00:23:00.002-06:00

"So, how do you find all of those wonderful clients and projects, Daniel"? Well, there are some sure fire ways to find new clients and projects. And there are some not so great ways that just annoy folks. You just have to know where to look, how to approach and sometimes how to just leave it alone. So, I'll go over some of the ways to find and approach your next gig. At least this is what works for me, and might just help you too.

I. Word of Mouth Is Your Best Friend

Yes, almost all of those folks that you know, know at least one person or company that is interested in or has talked about having a website, some postcards a brochure, logo, etc. And who better to sell for you than your friends, family and business acquaintances? You know, the people that love you and honor your friendship. When I got back into freelancing this last time, I sent out a humble, humorous and brief email to all of my applicable contacts. I asked them that if they knew of anyone that is in need of graphic or web work, just give me a reference. And sure enough, slowly but surely, people began to email and call me about helping them out. And why did they do this? Because a friend of a friend told them about me. And for that, I'm extremely grateful. As you will be too, if you get to it.

II. Craigslist Is Also A Friend, Albeit A Strange One

If you've spent any time on Craigslist, you know without a doubt that it can be a crazy place. However, it can also be a profitable place if you look in the right spots and reply accordingly. There are many spots on the site in which folks are looking for your help. I have a few pieces of advice when dealing with people on Craigslist.

1. Never assume that you're talking to someone that has your best interest in mind. Be open and polite obviously, but keep in mind that there are scammers, cheats and sketchy people abound on the site. Some want you to work for free, some just won't pay and some need mockups before even considering giving you work (another topic all together, as your portfolio of work should be enough to get you the job). Go at replies slowly and with caution. Don't be rude or sketchy yourself, but just be careful and feel out the situation before committing.

2. Reply to emails in a professional, yet personable fashion. Never reply in a freehand. It will almost never get you replies from serious clients. And be specific to the ad you are replying to. Let the client know that you are interested in their project in particular, as opposed to just copying and pasting your resume in a very sterile manner. They won't feel important, which won't make you important.

3. Get payed! I can't stress this enough. Some freelancers like to get half up front, and half after completion. Some take a small deposit. And some wait till completion to get payed. I personally am a half up front kind of guy. I've been burned several times by doing a bunch of work, and the client just refuses to pony up to the agreed upon amount. Again, this is Craigslist, not your grandmother or cousin. Don't assume that your best interest is their interest at all.

III. Direct Mail

This can be tricky. There are positives and negatives, as with most everything. The positive is that you can put your name in the hands of clients. The negative, is that they don't even look at your mail and simply toss it in the trash. Postcard style works best for graphic and web designers, I've found. Also, it is best to focus on a broad range of your services, but to leave a good bit of room to write a personal note to the client as well. As in, on one side they see what you do with some portfolio pieces, and on the other, you write a personal note to the client by name, and tell them that you are specifically looking to earn their business if the need arises.

IV. Give Your Services Away For Free

Ahh yes. The ol' "give away my services so that my name will get out there" trick. Two words... It Works! Especially when you are just starting out. Give away your services to your family, friends, coworkers and whomever else will be giving you a good referral. Maybe you have a cousin with a landscaping business, or your mom sells a bunch of stuff on eBay. Get them and yourself rolling, and get your portfolio rocking.

In conclusion, there are obviously a ton of ways to get new clients. It is just that I have found that these messages are particularly good and have worked for me. The main thing is to just keep getting your name out there. It is pretty hard in the beginning, but before you know it, you'll be up to your teeth in work.

I think my next post will be over the different client types, and how to deal with them, based on my own experience.

Why I Freelance?

2011-01-13T21:56:00.001-06:00

Well, that's a pretty interesting topic, if I say so myself. And I do! There are certainly many different reasons why I freelance. But perhaps I'll shed some light on the major pros and cons of what I choose to do for a living. And from there, perhaps I can better relay just why I do what I do. I said do twice. Do do... I'll never grow up, I think. Well, I know. At least that's honest, I suppose. Ok, enough of my complete lack of professionalism.

Here are 5 general reasons that make my career worth while.

PROS:

I. Making My Own Hours - Believe it or not, this is honestly my favorite thing about working as a freelance web and graphic designer. I can wake up when I want, work in my jammies when I want, exercise when I want, vacation when I want, lounge around when I want and all that jazz. And let it be known that all that jazz is quite important. But yes, I can do all of this at my own leisure. Provided that I get my work done in an appropriate amount of time, that I've designated to my clients, the rest of the time is mine.

II. I Choose My Clients - Unlike working for someone else, I can pick and choose whom I will work for and with. As in, if a potential client comes to me with a project and I don't feel comfortable with it, I may very well choose to pass on it. But if I worked for someone else, I would not have that luxury. I'd have to bite the bullet and struggle through it, even though it may be detrimental to their company.

III. I Get To Be Creative - With the exception of the direction a client wants to go, I have carte blanche to be as creative as I want to be. I see an end-goal, and just whittle it down to something that just works. If I worked for another company, I may have several people whom would put their input above mine before I send it to the client. That's not to say that I don't take advice or criticism, (I love both actually), but at least I get to present my vision before anyone else touches it.

IV. Possibilities Are Endless - The sky is the limit when you work for yourself. There are endless clients to work with, countless ideas to explore and an unset amount of prospects to investigate. In fact, as cliche as it sounds, the only limit is truly yourself. Not your boss's.

V. It Just Makes Me Happy - When I combine all of the above, it generally makes me feel fantastic. I've worked in the corporate world for a while and it just wasn't for me. I came back to freelance because it is a perfect fit. I may not make millions, but at least I have the satisfaction of knowing what I'm doing and where I can go. And that is important to me.

Well, as with anything, there are certainly some bad things about working for yourself. And I'll tell you all about some of the worst things below.

CONS:

I. The Hours Can Be Hectic - As much as I applauded all my free time to do what I want... well... there is certainly a flip side. As in I have to make sure to get all of my clients' projects done, seek new clients and projects, make graphic and site updates, put out tech fires, making sure billing goes smoothly (I just recently got completely burned by a client) and much more. Even on vacations it is hard for me to be completely free. And weekends? Haha, what are those? Basically, you have to fight to be a 9-5 worker when doing freelance. And you certainly don't always win.

II. Clients Are Not Always Easy To Come By - As much as I want to say that the world is my smoked oyster, it isn't always so. There are very dry periods in this business. Some months I can get a huge influx of clients and projects, and some, well, not so much. It comes and goes in waves it seems. And it is when it is in the goes phase that you have to really buckle down and find new work. This can certainly be straining and will burn you out. But, you just have to work your way though it, learn some lessons and just keep at it.

III. Creativity And Direction Is Subjective - As much as I elaborated about my fun with creativity and focus; it is certainly subjective. Sometimes I am working with a client and I absolutely know what direction we should go in. However, the client has an idea of which direction they want to go, and they will be damned if they are going to let someone tell them otherwise. I certainly feel that it is important to protest and make sure my ideas are heard or at least considered. However, that isn't always what I get. And that is fair enough, as it is certainly their project, money and ultimately call.

IV. Sometimes It Just Plain Sucks - There, I said it. Sometimes it is just no fun not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from. Sometimes it feels like your mind will explode because you have so many projects due at once. Sometimes it is frustrating to know that you'll receive a call or text from a client when you are done for the day and trying to relax. Sometimes, the benefits and security of a 9-5 job seems like it would be much better than all this effort. Sometimes clients don't pay, like recently. Sometimes the creative juices just don't flow, and you are in a designer's block. And sometimes, just sometimes, it is just no fun to be in this business at all.

But, even with all of that negativity that can come from the cons, I am absolutely doing what I want to do. I can't imagine doing anything else right now. Perhaps that will change someday. And that's ok. But for now, I'll soldier on. There aren't many folks in this world that would attempt to do what I do. And that makes it all the more sweet. Are you one too?

In closing, I'll give it up to Al Green who said, "for the good times".

Online Backup: I Was Almost A Statistic

2010-10-12T00:54:00.001-05:00

I remember that it was a bright and sunny day. The kind of day where nothing could go wrong. Nothing in the world. Not even a complete hard drive failure. Wait, pump the brakes.

Yeah, it happened. And I don't mean the kind of manageable hard drive failure where you simply take the defunct hard drive out, and convert it into a slave drive inside another PC. Nope, not one of those. It was completely fried. Was I freaking out? Hell yes, quite badly. The world had come to an end. Well not really, but I was pretty freaked. All of my clients' web data, all my college documents, all those pictures of friends and family, all my music and all that stuff I can't mention...... all gone. :) ALL GONE!!

But wait a second, on a whim, didn't I sign up for an online backup service about 3 months earlier? YES, yes I did! And you know what? All of my data was saved. Every Photoshop file, MP3, Word Document, PDF, JPG, you name it, it was right there. It was safe, and waiting patiently for me to re-download.

First, I went to newegg.com, and bought me a new rough and tough hard drive. I then placed overnight delivery on that bad boy. As per usual, New Egg was fast and on time. I then put a fresh version of Windows on my machine. You've got to love that fresh Operating System smell! And lastly, I began downloading all of my content that I had lost from my online backup provider. Then, I was back on track with a ton of work to catch up on. But guess what, I didn't have to explain to my clients that I lost all their info. How embarrassing, and possibly critical that could have been. Plus I didn't lose all my sacred Bozz Scaggs and Debbie Gibson! :)

It took around 1.5 days to download all of the data and get back to 100%. But come on, I think a day and a half is worth a lifetime of digital work and file hording.

So what am I saying? Here is what I'm saying:

1. Choose an online backup service today. Nevermind today, do it now! Do your research and find the one that is right for you. There are tons that are free up to 2 Gigs, which is more than enough for some folks. I needed quite a bit more, so I chose an unlimited data storage plan. If you need help in deciding which online storage provider to use, feel free to ask. I don't mind a bit.

2. Backup everything that is important to you. And I mean everything. Because coming from experience, the thought of losing anything important to me, my family or my clients just hurts. Especially when it is so avoidable these days. So spend that extra cash. I use a service that costs less than $60 per year. And again, there are a ton of lower cost or free backup services.

3. Spread the word to everyone you know about how important this service is. I certainly do. But as per usual, you never know how important something like this is until you are faced with a crisis. And that is exactly what it will be, a crisis! So don't let this happen to you or your friends and family. Trust me, I know!

In closing, I just want to say that I can't express to you enough just how important this process is. At least it is if you want to not feel like you've been punched in the gut, after you come home to a fried hard drive. Without hesitation, I tell my story to anyone who will listen. Every house call I go on, I'm sure to bring it up. And you should too. Just try not to be as annoying about it as I am. Because I'm pretty annoying :)