I had this client once.
Pretty well-known online.
And, I helped them build, what turned out to be, a very successful membership site… from scratch. I actually built an entire custom WordPress theme just for their site. And, I stuck around for several years helping with any issues, adding new features… I even helped out in their support.
But, I always felt like the Jon Snow of the group.
They had little get-togethers and I was never invited.
They’d take their team on vacation… but not me.
Always shout out their “team” on social media… but not me.
(I mean can a brother get a Twitter shout-out… sheesh!)
It was depressing.
Especially considering I basically had to harass them to get paid each month for the work that I’d done (probably Bernie supporters… ya know).
As you go through your career, you’ll notice this.
Clients, employers… they’ll take you for granted.
They’ll talk to you like you’re an idiot…
They’ll yell, “because I said so” whenever you have a question…
And, they’ll generally treat you like you’re “a dime a dozen”.
Easily replaceable.
And, if you let them… it’s really easy to become disillusioned and jaded. Angry, even. And, to start questioning if this career is for you. And, if you’re not careful you could end up leaving a field you really do love because of sh!@#y people.
I’ll admit, I’ve been there.
Not all clients or employers, of course.
But, plenty.
Not really a big aha here other than… when it happens, realize it happens to all of us. Don’t get too down about it. And, always, always, always… make sure you get yours. Don’t be shy about standing up for yourself and making sure you get what you deserve. Because, if you don’t… most clients will take advantage of you.
Sad, but true.
Take that for what it’s worth.
That said… really good developers are never “a dime a dozen”. In fact, they’re really hard to find. Not just skill. Reliable. Hard-working. Responsible. Good communicators. They’re harder to find than you think.
And, if you are one… you can basically write your own check.
You can turn the tables.
And, clients and employers will be at your mercy.
And, you’ll sure as hell never be taken for granted.
That’s what I learned.
And, believe me, that ish does not happen to me anymore.
Anyway, if you want to ramp up your skills to the point you can’t be ignored or taken for granted… this is one good way to get there. You’ll learn graphic design, HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, and a bunch more… AND build 23 projects along the way… which gives you the best opportunity to learn it quickly. But it’s only available at this low fee for a limited time.
