Beginner's Guide

•
discuss with your partner wife or husband about whether it's a good idea to continue your firm
•
think of going back to a normal and easy job?
You are not alone.
If all the answers are 'no' you are natural talent in earning respect & money with open source CMS
expertise.
Or you've worked through this chapter before?
DENIAL
After years of long days and hard work, you only find your soul mates at open source congresses and
meetings. Where we share our experiences. Or via the IRC channel, where we like to complain about
our customers: they're stupid, they don't want to pay, they think they know it all, they expect you to go to
work without them putting pen to paper, and so on.
What's happening here is that we are in denial. The customer is not the problem. We ourselves have to
change our attitude.
"I'm not good at selling, I like to build systems."
Fair enough, but did you start up your own organization to be in charity work? Charity workers get
respect and "sell" their free help.
If you have decided to start your own firm, not selling is not an option. You have to get off the wrong
bus quickly.
"I'm not what you call a salesperson - I'm too soft. To be honest: I hate selling."
You need a change in how you perceive the world. Selling is a profession that should be indicated as
"assisting with purchasing". Put aside your prejudice! Start assisting your customer in purchasing the
right things (instead of selling), and teach them how to give you the respect and treatment you deserve,
plus payment.
"Larger organizations don't contract small firms on their bigger projects."
Play their game, play it well and they will hire you.
"My customers don't work this way."
Well, then get a different type of customer, or teach your current customers ''how it works''.
"There is not much money to be made in open source"
Joomla! 2.5 - Beginner’s Guide
Monday, 30 January 2012! Page 245