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Re: Why I turned down 2 dream jobs, 12 months after graduating…

Raymond Duke — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 11:06:10 -0000

Great story. It seems that when we're in a system we get all googly eyed about working at a big agency, company, firm, etc. But when we finally get to the front door, it's not all what it's cracked up to be! There are pros and cons to freelancing, but from what I can tell from your story, you seem to be experiencing the pros more than the cons. Cheers man.

Re: Optimizing your time as a freelancer (Survey Results)

Robert Williams — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 17:14:54 -0000

Most definitely.

It was a key for me simply because I stopped worrying about it entirely, which led me to being able to focus on things like communication and providing value to my clients. (By first deciding what it was they actually wanted).

However, I totally see some value in maintaining one. Even when I deleted my site, I still had a portfolio of work samples I would send (via pdf over email)

Thanks for the comment! Cheers!

Re: Optimizing your time as a freelancer (Survey Results)

Mitch Malone — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 16:11:37 -0000

Well, to be fair you wrote that "deleting my portfolio" was a part of the "key" to your success. But, let me clarify. I wasn't focusing in particular (although it's related) on that comment, rather on your thoughts about how much time is wasted from maintaining a portfolio/adding polish to it. I agree it's a good practice to actively ping potential clients and conduct good account management practices, however I don't see the value in not maintaining a portfolio.

My point is that one can, and should, do both. The work in a portfolio doesn't have to be comprehensive. Just the (relatively) latest or best work. Maybe three or work case studies. Plus redesigning your portfolio is fun! You get to experiment. You can make "risky" design decisions because, after all, it's your portfolio. And a lot can be learned from redesigning it every now and again.

Re: Optimizing your time as a freelancer (Survey Results)

Robert Williams — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 14:54:47 -0000

Hey Mitch, thanks for the comment - funny you latched on to the tiny part about my deleting my portfolio - which I simply mentioned in passing :)

I don't recommend people delete their portfolios, I just think focusing exclusively on that is a recipe for passiveness and poor results.

Re: Optimizing your time as a freelancer (Survey Results)

Mitch Malone — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 14:22:05 -0000

While I applaud your entrepreneurial success, I don't see the need to abandon a portfolio. Freelancing is not a zero-sum game; time spent working on a portfolio is not time lost for getting clients. You can do both effectively. Also, personally I find it a bit weird to provide a testimonial without the work that is associated with it.

Re: Warning: Good Copy is More Valuable than Design…

mtitus16 — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:02:30 -0000

Hey, a lot of great points in here. I'll reinforce what some other people said about the grammer (doesn't look like you actually went through it yet--lots of little errors that distract from your point. I would make a point to fix them since the post is supposedly about being a great copy writer.)

One more comment. Like I said, lots of great points and tips in there (I'm a fellow Ramit fan as well), but your Invisible Scripts are showing. Take point 8 for example: this is just a rant about things you dislike about the design world. It actually has no relevance to your greater point. It's distracting and makes you come off as bitter or like you have some vendetta against the design world. And, hey, I totally get it. I've had similar thoughts and similar rants. It's helps me to remember that someone else's success doesn't mean my failure. We can both have different priorities and methods and we can both be successful.

I hope this helps you. I think you have good ideas and are a talented designer. Let some baggage go. :)

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Jamie Holland — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 15:10:15 -0000

30k is beautiful! Pretty baller yo!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

virtualCableTV — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:15:31 -0000

.
One thing I learned is to --never-- refer to myself as an independent developer or as a freelancer.

I am a sole proprietor that owns and operates a small business that provides software design and development services.

In other words, if a persons wants to be in business it is probably best to learn to sound like it.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Lewis Cowles — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:03:17 -0000

I Fully respect what I now understand was your approach, and I know that even if it was the other way there will always be agencies, freelancers and small teams queuing around the block for work, maybe it came across a bit lost in translation if you know what I mean.

For me the main thing is mutual respect, I don't say to potential clients I don't have a portfolio because I don't need one, or that they are lucky to have me either; But I also do cut people off if I feel they even begin to tell me how lucky my business is, we are lucky to have such a great relationship with a lot of our customers, but you know how it is the best things are not gained by either party reminding the other how "great" they are, it just happens.

I believe in showing potential clients, live examples of work, or put them in touch with live customers that talk our work up for us. For me as someone that has had at least one portfolio used by someone else; I Suppose it is also about how you view your brand, I for example don't get involved in tender processes or bidding, either, I have accounts on tendering sites, I just never use them, I think it almost weakens a persons position to have a race to the bottom of the barrel on prices or directly compete. Forming bubbles or niches IMHO is the best thing businesses can do so we don't promote incestuous practices where we all copy each other and sell a bland grey material rather than the plethora of skills that I know everyone has to offer, take care man!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:57:19 -0000

I don't know, I guess it's not that huge on my list of critical things to update right now. I like wpengine... I like having only robertwilliams... I've never been that happy with the domain robertwilliamsdesign.com... or any of my domains actually. I know it might hurt seo, as a much more experienced blogger, freelance designer what do you suggest?

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

jonathanjaeger — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:50:43 -0000

Perhaps my word choice was 100%, but it had nothing to do with them wanting to work with me so bad at all. They have tons of clients and I convinced them to work with me, not the other way around as you imply. The only point I was trying to make was they had an amazing portfolio and I was lucky enough to discover them because of that portfolio. I paid them their market rate and they got a new client simply because they had it up there. If they didn't have their portfolio up, I probably wouldn't have discovered them. That is all.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Lewis Cowles — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:20:49 -0000

Hi John "I wouldn't have hired that duo because I wouldn't have the incentive to contact them." Which was the who cares, but the you made it so much worse "Basically a client fell into their lap" Dude, really do you really think anyone wants to work with you that much? .... I had a woman phone me up a few weeks ago with that exact way of looking at things and I said "I'll call you", and the poor woman said, "but you don't have my number" just as I hung up, nobody likes a client that thinks you are lucky to do their work, in UK we call them BOAT's

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

jonathanjaeger — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:24:37 -0000

Are you replying to the correct comment? I'm not saying an online presence and portfolio is necessary in all job functions -- I'm just saying it often doesn't hurt. I see myself as a customer, whoever said anything about being oppressive like a slave master? I pay market rate and I'm fair with the scope of work. All I was saying was that a good portfolio can generate leads without you doing any extra work searching.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 11:26:40 -0000

Wow man thanks. What an interesting story!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Lewis Cowles — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:45:57 -0000

This is not really representative of anything though is it? I Speak to people all the time, guess how many care about a portfolio? Squat, live work counts for much more than a portfolio, and my work is for investment banks, government bodies insurance businesses as well as start-ups etc, it's not about following a yellow brick road and doing whatever someone says, they are a customer not a slave master!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Lewis Cowles — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:35:50 -0000

Hi Robert, Great story, a good read and good for you man! I Have been running my own businesses helping others for over 10 years (so pretty much my whole working life), and although I started life as a designer I have transitioned, firstly into a dev as the money seemed way better to a young designer, but now into a project manager, because while I love development, I have to be involved in design; I Think everyone should at least try to be self-employed at least once in their life and more stories like yours should help to encourage more people to take the plunge!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

julianomoreirasilva — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 13:09:21 -0000

Thanks for sharing Daniel. Now that you mentioned, I feel overwhelmed at times when I go to restaurants and they have a [poorly designed] menu with tons of items to choose from. I think it makes sense to have no menu. The human interaction is more valuable to me, and I end up asking the server's opinion anyways.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 12:40:46 -0000

and I bet the food there is excellent... thanks for sharing!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Daniël W. Crompton (webhat) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 07:34:40 -0000

A friend of mine has a restaurant without a menu. You come in and get your drink, then the chef comes over and tells you the ingredients he has today and asks you what you like. He then gives you some options on how he can prepare them for you, or you can suggest the way you would like them.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:50:11 -0000

I guess my main argument is, if you can send your portfolio to any potential client than it's generic. Each client has different goals, problems, and design needs, why send them all one blank general design website?

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:45:34 -0000

good one *eye-roll*

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 01:43:29 -0000

Thanks man!

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

julianomoreirasilva — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:24:09 -0000

Nope. I would convince them to get a good steak next door, perhaps, fogo de chão. Trust me, they would all come with me. It's happened.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

Robert Williams — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:20:25 -0000

I bet you would sit down if all your friends were raving about how awesome their barbecue was and you were freaking hungry for some barbecue.

Re: Deleted my portfolio, made $30k in my first six months…

julianomoreirasilva — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:24:38 -0000

Great insight Kerem! We, designers, are somewhat strange but unique characters when it comes to our surroundings. Did you ever go to a restaurant where the menu was poorly, insultingly designed? Did you feel like you wanted to leave? Well, I did. Now, imagine a restaurant without a menu. I wouldn't even sit down.