Best advice you'd give to ...
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- sofakingback0
I have one more piece of advice for you...
Get an eye patch man. Get an eye patch.
Where the eye patch bklyndroobeki, where the funky, funky eye patch.
- rabbit3
developer - add 30% padding to all of your briefs you get asked 'how long will this take" and explain to them there is 30% padding.
After 10-15 years in industry - solid advice.
- SlashPeckham1
Don't waste time with advertising agencies - go and work for a software startup.
- That's good advice.drake-von-drake
- ^
Don't waste time on this site - go and work for a software startupSlashPeckham - don't waste time with finishdowns (aka, startups) work for an agency instead, it's easier and actually pays well.robotron3k
- but I think its important to have a mix of agency and client side jobs on your resume -SlashPeckham
- Start with agencies, then when you have 5 years of experience, do the jump.Maaku
- Double edged sword. Nothing more disheartening than working at a startup that sells for millions and you walk with nothing.IRNlun6
- Know what you worth, what you contribute, and walk if you're not getting what you deserve financially. Speaking from experience...IRNlun6
- Always ask for equity. Negotiation is EVERYTHINGdrake-von-drake
- Equity quickly loses value once the rounds of financing to increase valuation comes into play. But your point on negotiation is sound.IRNlun6
- drake-von-drake0
Never name your kid Latanya or Roshanda. For that matter La'Quan, Latisha, Shananay, DeJuan (or anything abbreviated with a De or D') or any of those fake, French-sounding, made up names.
Verifiable data to suggest you are FUCKING them from birth.
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/…
Oh, Google results are also racist, lol!
- BK2
Don't be a dick.
- Krassy9
Join QBN and visit 4-5 times a day for at least 2hrs at a time.
- nocomply2
I haven't read any posts in this thread except for the very first one in which the question was posed, but I want to provide some helpful advice.
I graduated from college in 2004 and I had unreal illusions of making good money in the web design/development industry right away. I thought I was talented and I thought I knew more than most people. Looking back, I might have actually been a bit of a cocky, naive, douche. Well... probably not cocky and douchey, but most definitely ignorant and naive in how the professional world works.
My first job was humbling. I got $12.50/hr doing updates and support for pre-existing websites at a company of over 100 people. I had to wear slacks and a button down, and I had to be at my desk by 8am every day. The work was boring and tedious, but I learned a lot. I also spent a lot of time on a website that was then-called Newstoday, but I did so stealthily by building a custom webpage that pulled in the comments in a small iframe so it looked like I was actually working.
I've moved up and on from there, and I know browse QBN in its fully glory spanning across my 24" monitor. But it's been a process that has played out over 10+ years.
I've gotten to where I am through hard work, persistence, and having a passion for what I do. Big breaks don't just come out of nowhere. You need to make your own luck. Be patient and understand that everyone needs to put in their time. It's called "experience" and it really does matter and make you better at what you do.
Pick a discipline/technology that interests you and become awesome at it. Always be learning and improving your process, or else you will become left in the dust.
If you're not happy, move on to something else. You can most definitely make a solid living in this field, but I think there are only a small handful of people who actually become "rich" in the process. If dollars are what you're after, there are likely better ways to obtain them.
Create a network of people in your field that you trust and come to them when you need advice. This is one that I've neglected for too long, and it's to my own detriment. Don't try to make it through the journey entirely solo. You don't know everything and you never will.
Those are a few sage tidbits for now. Good luck!
- Good stuff. I used to talk to people online around 99-01 who were not out of high school yet, expecting to make $$$ because they knew how to domg33
- crazy stuff in Flash that had no legitimate business purpose whatsoever. People who thought they could skip college and get rich off Josh Davis' inspiration.mg33
- Literal arguments with strangers who had big heads and big egos. Big ambition is great, but it has to be rooted in reality.mg33
- Ha! You would have been talking to me mg. Graduated HS in 2000. Height of the 1st .com boom. Wanted to skip college and get rich making websites.nocomply
- detritus-1
Do whatever the fuck you want in your twenties - and I mean 'whatever'. Don't hold back, don't be shy, don't be scared — because it's one of the times in your life when you've got the most to offer, the most on the line to offer to the gods and try, goddamn try.
Because one day you'll be in your early thirties, and everything changes a bit; Then you're in your late thirties and everything changes quite a bit more.
After that, you've only got your mid-life snap to really push you to great accomplishments.. but by then you're old and cranky, tired and not so swanky.
.
This is my experience - but look up the average age of founders and entrepreneurs and you'll find it's mirrored out there amongst other people too.
"Youth Is Wasted on the Young" as they say.
Don't let this apply to you.
- detritus1
ps. I know it's cliché - but you have no idea how short your life is. No fucking idea at all. When you do, it's too late.
- sted1
Music is
your best inspiration.
your best friend.
your best colleague.
your best mood changer.Listen to music while you work, it will help you to focus and learn how to manage time.
Use it's rhythm, and style and transform the listening experience into your creation.
Don't get stuck at one style, learn how you can take advantage of different genres.
Ask everyone around you about the music they are listening to, because it's one of the best ways to change your perspective and find something new and inspiring.
- bklyndroobeki0
Practice being diplomatic in all of your doings.
- sofakingback5
Some of the best athletes in history used cocaine at the peak of their stardom. So should you.
- eryx0
Your only as good as your last mistake.
Get your complaints in writing.
Don't learn flash!But I don't work in the industry anymore so.... Yeah get out would be my advise.
- BusterBoy0
Don't think you know everything...respect & learn from people with more experience than you.
- ok_not_ok1
If it smells like trout eat it out. If it smells like cologne leave it alone.
- trooperbill0
sell out fast and early, chase higher paid jobs and move frequently, get some brands in your portfolio, leave starting your own agency til youve saved enough cash to at least pay a salary for the first year. sometimes good enough is acceptable, never work for free. dont do people favours. never stop learning. find a mentor, keep in touch with old friends, get a life outside work
- autoflavour0
Only work for free or for full price.. never for cheap.
- autoflavour1
Face, Neck and hand tattoo's generally are not the best idea.. unless you are a tattoo artist, hipster barista or a trashy techno dj
- and even those last 2 its still really not the best idea.autoflavour
- UX/UI designers got em too. Add that to the list.bklyndroobeki
- mugwart0
in all my years no/low paid / "favours" / for your show reel work, never ever ever (ever) pan out well and end up costing you in the long term.
Experienced this on flash websites and film productions, at some point it all goes to shit. Don't do it!
- and never buy the "oh, there this will lead to big projects soon"formed
- to a point, its better to have a stronger portfolio with things you may have not been paid for than an empty portfolio..autoflavour
- dbloc0
watch out for #1 and don't step in #2