Melissa Barton Consulting

I disagree actually, I am a developer. I take requ...

2010-01-29T15:37:06.563-08:00

I disagree actually, I am a developer. I take requirements, I develop requirements, I support during testing, I consider the project closed. That it. If you want something in future, I estimate again, and go through the process again.

I dont have ex clients ringing me anytime they feel like it because a flaw in thier requirements (i.e. a datafeed changed, or they didnt provision for having an admin backoffice where they can change text etc)
That is a new chargeable job, and If Im not contactable, my code is written well enough for another developer to make the adjustment.

You signed it off as being tested and correct, and paid me... Website code doesnt suddenly start doing something different for no reason!

I'm glad my ex clients do not think like this, how would I ever get any more work done!

As far as having all your own details and domains.. you are welcome to them, why would I want it under my name! Do developers really do this? They deserve all the extra hassle and management!

I use "Dharma" a lot of places, and a number of re...

2010-01-03T11:43:17.384-08:00

I use "Dharma" a lot of places, and a number of real life friends know it's a nickname. It also fits with my buddhist leaning, spiritually speaking. If I ever do something different, I might use something different. I do trust you - so graduate school is still on the agenda to research.

I like the name change. I like using seeing real n...

2010-01-02T10:21:06.100-08:00

I like the name change. I like using seeing real names on Twitter because I like making real connections. I changed mine from LouisvilleSoup to MikeCampbellCFO recently and never regretted it. Thanks for sharing, Melissa.

I say a hero is not thrilled during the heroic dee...

2009-11-28T20:38:21.817-08:00

I say a hero is not thrilled during the heroic deed. Later, the parade surely is nice, and perhaps the storytelling.

Read once that some salespeople sell like crazy, even with a weak product in a weak market.

Around me, a lot of folks are afraid they WILL fall on bad times. Some already are working short hours or laid off, but I see more fear than actual impact.

Heh. Our government helps big business, NOT small ...

2009-10-09T09:11:07.426-07:00

Heh. Our government helps big business, NOT small business. The only entrepreneurs they are interested in are ones like Donald Trump.

Wow. I didn't realize there was so much power in t...

2009-09-04T23:12:02.894-07:00

Wow. I didn't realize there was so much power in the word "What" for businesspeople. This showed me to remember what is alive for me and passionate for me in my business. Thank you!

Healthcare is the ONE thing stopping me from going...

2009-08-30T11:02:12.841-07:00

Healthcare is the ONE thing stopping me from going freelance. My husband is an artist with a debilitating disease. Health insurance is a must. Because of that, I'm stuck in a job I'm not crazy about right now. I could make more money freelance or contract but not without healthcare.

I have been self-employed for 10 years. I finally ...

2009-08-27T21:08:55.207-07:00

I have been self-employed for 10 years. I finally gave my expensive navy blue wool gabardine suit to charity, this summer. It had a dry-cleaning tag on it with the date of 1998. I gave up the "exit ramp" from self-employment when I let go of that.

I say that my only job security is me. I work hard and I love to work. I've switched jobs many times, but have only been out of work 3 weeks as an adult.

I think I always worked as though I were self employed, so now I do it for me rather than others. And working until midnight is lovely when I'm in an office or my studio inside my home. It's nicer than when I worked that late in downtown Lansing.

In 1981, I worked for an appliance-parts wholesale distributor. I saw a lot of accidental entrepreneurs then. Joe's Fix It, Don's Carpentry, Steve's Plumbing Repair... a lot of those guys had skills from being employed for others, but they needed to work and that's how they made it happen.

Health insurance, though... yes, that is a huge issue. I get mine (for a fee) through hubby's work. It would be harder to do this without him, because of that. Group rates help a lot.

Not corny: "Your dreams are my business. Bring the...

2009-07-30T09:38:55.979-07:00

Not corny: "Your dreams are my business. Bring them to me and let's see what we can do." Knowing your dream takes personal insight. Pursuing your dream takes bravery and humility. Most people don't have the courage to step out from the safety of something less dreamy. Helping people do that is a noble task.

I would love this! I have been in business for 9 ...

2009-06-19T10:28:28.834-07:00

I would love this! I have been in business for 9 years, and suddenly it is starting to grow faster than I ever thought!

I could sure use some sound advice, I'm full of id...

2009-06-18T07:06:13.689-07:00

I could sure use some sound advice, I'm full of ideas, but can't seem to get focus.

When I started my blog (http://zehnkatzen.blogspot...

2009-06-17T21:05:35.597-07:00

When I started my blog (http://zehnkatzen.blogspot.com) back in 2004, it was kind of on a lark. Right now my mission is going toward solidly toward really drilling down in my passions, which include type, graphic design, and art (illustration).

Since I started it with no clear mission, though, I pretty much talked about whatever I wanted to up until this point. So I may have concentrated my focus (at least I think I have) but I wonder if my past is diluting my present leaving me with a weak future.

I'd start a new blog with a different focus, but I don't know if that would just take what little online juice I do have away from my main blog.

So, I think I need to make a bold move in one direction or another, but I'm still trying to figure out just what that might be, I guess.

Shame about the article. I don't understand what value a article about blogging would be without links to blogs (which can actually be embedded in a Flash paper or PDF document, which is one of the points of that sort of electronic media) giving immediate reality to the content, it comes off as though the editors (if I can be bold about this) don't "get" what it is they're publishing about. I did like the points you made in it though. They were good ones.

I've had a blog since about 2004. I initially star...

2009-06-17T20:54:28.306-07:00

I've had a blog since about 2004. I initially started in on a lark and soon became very aware that it enabled me to interact with the world on a very different level that I find rather addictive and fun.

I soon realized that the blog gave me a chance to explore the passion I chose for myself, which is graphic design, type, and art. One problem is that I also like to talk about a whole lot more than that; politics, humor, all sorts of stuff. So my blog is less a tool for self promotion than it is kind of an ongoing sort of online performance.

So, for a long time I've been on the edge of either narrowing my content focus or maybe creating a second blog. But with whatever online presence and goodwill I have based on that one blog, I've been reluctant to make a bold move (which is, for some reason, something I feel is necessary). I have narrowed my focus somewhat and have pushed design and art up to the front of the blog. I think I can do more though.

Nice interview. Colette Patterns is such a great c...

2009-06-16T21:05:19.400-07:00

Nice interview. Colette Patterns is such a great company.

Thanks for the link!

I think I'm stuck in adolescence! I'm not ready t...

2009-06-16T16:22:09.269-07:00

I think I'm stuck in adolescence! I'm not ready to bring people into my business and let go of some control. Or maybe I'm just afraid I would have explain my reasons for doing things, lol.

Woo! I'd love this chance as well! Goodness knows...

2009-06-15T12:48:56.244-07:00

Woo! I'd love this chance as well! Goodness knows I have no clue how to go about my new venture...

That'd be marvellous for me as well. I'm trying to...

2009-06-14T11:34:28.270-07:00

That'd be marvellous for me as well. I'm trying to break out of my current "job" and start on the career I was supposed to have (graphic design).

This give away would be great as I begin to map th...

2009-06-14T11:23:20.396-07:00

This give away would be great as I begin to map the re-vamp of my small business.

What a great giveaway! And something I could reall...

2009-06-13T21:22:42.741-07:00

What a great giveaway! And something I could really use.

I love her patterns! She's inspired me to dust off...

2009-06-12T10:43:59.442-07:00

I love her patterns! She's inspired me to dust off the old sewing maching again!

Before my step-father passed away last month, he w...

2009-05-28T15:06:34.341-07:00

Before my step-father passed away last month, he was business partners with another man for over 25 years. When he passed suddenly, there was a thought of, "OK, what now?" because my mother was entitled to half of whatever the business was worth, or so she thought. There was nothing stipulated saying what to do with the business if something were to happen to one of the partners. The other partner didn't have to buy her out, as would normally happen. The business was dismantled and now my mother is holding half of nothing. Had there been a contract in place to say she was to be given half, she'd be a lot better off now. SO! Get a lawyer. Draw up a contract. And make stipulations for whatever could happen.

I'm a big proponent of helping others... my littl...

2009-05-28T14:53:50.622-07:00

I'm a big proponent of helping others... my little part of "doing". Yes I give advice here and there, but I also participate in some manner in my local community by giving a small portion of my time to pro bono work. Whether it be supporting a local community event, or volunteering to update a fledgling organization's website, or volunteering for a local community organization board of directors. This applies to all kinds of work.. in June I'll be demo-ing spinning at a colonial style town fair because the local chamber director also knows I'm a spinner/knitter/weaver as well as a webmeister.

Sure, along the way I get to tell folks about what I do for a living, but mostly, it puts my face out locally (which is something I have to do all over again very soon in a new community that I'm moving to). And there's nothing like real face time or doing something for one person or organization directly.

I have a business partner and we have the greatest...

2009-05-28T14:50:12.788-07:00

I have a business partner and we have the greatest relationship. I thought all business partners were like this...turns out not so much.

I'd like to add that luck has a large part in finding a good one, and not being friends first helps.

Our first business meeting was our first meeting.

We're going on a year now and I couldn't be happier.

Put your hand on the radio & say "Hallelujah!" R...

2009-05-24T12:13:22.964-07:00

Put your hand on the radio & say "Hallelujah!"

Reading a post that touts practicing what you preach and improving your skills/product really *is* the pause that refreshes.

Inherent in this ethos is BE SMART. Question what you are told (just because something *says* it is "organic" doesn't make it so, people). Try to figure out how to do it before you ask someone else (you *might* just learn something!). And for dog's sake, learn to evaluate the quality of your own work! If it's not up to snuff yet, no harm no foul - make something with it, give it away, or incorporate it into something better, and learn from the process!

We need more 'ranters' like you - kudos!

Thanks. That's not a rant. That's a nice, firm,...

2009-05-24T11:53:25.623-07:00

Thanks. That's not a rant. That's a nice, firm, timely reminder.

Happy Memorial Day.

@RobinJP