Hey Brian,<br><br>I'm doing Startup Weekend Redmond this weekend and will be pitching my ClientRating idea. One of the things we've talked about is what would add value to the conversation. A big issue that keeps coming up is how do you get consultants to feel free to accurately rate their clients, without worrying about client backlash. (either current client or potential future clients).<br>
<br>One of the possible solutions we're looking at is an invite only community to help increase the trust factor, so folks can be less guarded. Of course, clients will always slip through the gates (especially since many of us are both clients/contractors) but I think a client who is also a consultant potentially has more insight into the other side of the coin and thus may be more reasonable...??<br>
<br>-Dave<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 5:55 AM, Brian Vuyk <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:brian@brianvuyk.com">brian@brianvuyk.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<br>
<br>
As far as clients on the list, well, they definately lurk here. A while back, I posted (in general terms) about a client issue I was having, looking for advice / how other developers handled it. I had a *different* client call me later in the day quite upset that I was referring to him. Once I explained that it was not him, and pointed out the obvious major differences between what I wrote to the group and him, he calmed down, but told me in no uncertain terms that he felt I should not be discussing client relationships with others.<br>
<br>
Since then, I've refrained from discussing anything client-related or business-related in this group. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a mailing list created with controlled access for developers - ie, you must have an email address from a development shop or something. I do feel that we can learn a lot from each other, especially small business shops. Best business practices, tips for dealing with problem clients etc. etc. which may not be appropriate to discuss in front of clients directly.<br>
<br>
Brian<br>
<br>
Ryan Cross wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div><div></div><div class="h5">
Hi,<br>
<br>
This is not directed at anyone in particular (i.e. Sam) but I'm<br>
curious how other people feel about job postings on this mailing list.<br>
I personally would expect this list to be used for discussions between<br>
consultants/shops and mostly around issues facing us that do not<br>
necessarily get addressed by other outlets (i.e. not technical or<br>
development questions, theming functions, etc). I would generally<br>
expect discussions around business topics such as Sam's recent<br>
discussion about a skills inventory used in hiring people.<br>
<br>
It seems very obvious when people not familiar with this list (usually<br>
newbies) end up posting job offers or projects to this list without<br>
this concept. While I am sure people on this list might be interested<br>
in more work (obviously they are in the business for it), I personally<br>
do not like seeing them here. I guess I would like to imagine that<br>
this can be a bit of a sanctuary for discussion about clients/business<br>
without feeling like we have to always be worried about looking bad in<br>
front of potential clients. (you probably don't want clients knowing<br>
you're unsure of how to estimate a job or that your contracts might<br>
have holes in it, etc). I am quite conscious of this being a public<br>
forum and have no delusions people can find out this stuff, but I<br>
don't want potential clients to have more of a reason to come here and<br>
I would support any actions that would discourage this like job posts<br>
to this list. The converse of this would be if people started posting<br>
to this list advertising their skills/services, which I think would<br>
also be inappropriate.<br>
<br>
How does everyone else feel?<br>
<br>
There may be some grey areas, such as consultants looking for<br>
specialists in other areas. Like a themer looking for a developer, or<br>
a developer looking for a hoster. So, if you do want to support job<br>
posts, what is acceptable?<br>
<br>
This may also lead into a more detailed discussion of general<br>
guidelines for this list I guess, but I think this is a specific issue<br>
that should have a clear answer.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br></div></div><div class="im">
Ryan<br>
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