I got my first paying job at age 11. Five nights a week, I delivered the evening newspaper to about 200 homes. It was considered a “double route” because the canvas bags we “paper-boys” carried the papers in would only hold about 100 papers at a time.

Continue Reading

Kurt,

Your articles are so refreshing and wonderful to read; I’ve learned a little, sometimes a lot, from each one thus far. I really appreciate the insight you’re providing.

thanks

geof

Here’s a blog entry I published last fall after getting some inquiries on the ins-and-outs of being self-employed.

Wow Kurt, your articles are amazing.

I started learning EE with the intention of turning pro sometime in the next year or two (depending on circumstances).  Having been a consultant in the past, I already know that my ability to sell and manage customers is at least as important as my ability to deliver the technical goods.  You have inspired me to start developing my marketing materials now, including elevator pitch and FAQ, and continue to refine them until I finally take that plunge into self-employment again.

Thank you!

When it comes to customers, my biggest challenge is helping them to figure out the best definition of “web site” for their business.  I don’t have a recipe, but I have 1 main question I ask all of my new clients:

1.  What do you want your customers to *do* if/when they visit your site?

It’s surprising how many business owners don’t know the answer to this.  They just know they want a web site. 

I talked one customer down to a 3 page site (heavily burdened with SEO) because 100% of their business was over the phone.  They just didn’t need a giant website since all they wanted was for people to pick up the phone.  I didn’t get paid much to do the site for them, but they saved a ton of money by not getting more than they needed.  The benefit?  Referral work from business owners they knew.

In short, I think my recipe for success is in figuring out what the customer really *needs* before throwing technology at a solution they *think* they need.