Dora's Corner: Getting Paid (Properly) For Your Creative Genius!

...Well, I usually don't charge family and close friends for my computer-related services, but when it pertains to others...business is business.  Point-in-hand, I design websites for people/companies.  Honestly, if I could focus on just this aspect of computer design, programming then I would.  I just do not like hosting the sites.  My fee is fairly substantial according to what I do and how much time and effort I put into it.  My fees usually commiserate with my time.  My usual fee is $1200.00 for a corporation, LLCs, SMCs...and if it is for personal use then the fee drops considerably.  Lately I have been doing favors for family and friends and not charging my standard fees or making it pro-bono; my 1099s for 'business write-offs' is going to see an increase next tax season.  J.K. (or not).

When I perform these tasks relating to building websites, I get extremely involved and said tasks take up a large amount of my time.  I love it, though, and do not mind utilizing this creative side of me.  I also add though that I do prefer to be paid because I put 100%+ effort into it.  Some friends and family members still come to me with issues relating to the websites I created for them --the freebie ones.  Although I do not host I still get involved when issues arise.  Not my duty, but, hey, I believe in going the extra mile.  My bad.  But, it perturbs me to no end when I get questioned about things that do not/should not involve me at all.  The host company(s) slow-server issues especially not being my fault for one.  Then there are issues with bad codes...again not my fault unless I wrote that particular code and it ended up somewhat broken then, yes, I deem it partly my responsibility to try to fix.  I will work with the website hosting company(s) to fix my art.  Coding is fun and sometimes easy, but it can be extremely difficult depending on which programs/language we use.  So with the long hours, and creative coding...making websites is an art.  But do not shoot the messenger most of the time the host company(s) are the culprits behind a website issue.  They are the ones with the moronic people at the helm of watching their MEM servers and such.

Bottom-line if you ask someone to do something for you for free or for a small fee, don't complain about the service.  Or better yet, find out if the issue is truly their mistake.  Don't just assume that the result of a freebie was shotty work because I assure you that when I create or design a website for you that you are getting top-notch work.  If I develop a code for your picture files (i.e. GIFs, PNGs, JPEGs, etc.), for your websites, for your music --anything with a code which allows a layperson to just C&P a code to embed onto their respective website, blog, or via social media sites...please just know ahead of time that you are getting exceptional work from me.  My codes are true and steadfast.  I can boast that I have yet to end up with a true broken code.  I code better than the geeks in my firm.  Women make better coders is what I should really say.  Proof of over 11 years of doing this.  Not just my theory, I have seen it where I have worked.  Women are better programmers overall.  Long and old-ways of thinking is that women are supposed to be 'less than' their male counterparts in regards to math.  B/S, guys!  Since all of everything computer-related involves some serious mathematical skills it is still assumed (serious misconceptions) that men 'should' have the upper-hand, per se.  But my belief is this and it is quite simple...women pay closer attention to details.  Us women can do the math these days with little to not conflict (a far cry from the days of old).  Details, folks, are what makes you or breaks you in the computer-universe.  Details are a woman's best friend with anything in this life.  Women were after all chosen to bear children.  Ha, ha...just joshing with you men-folk.  Get over it and get those panties out of that was.  LOL!

So the next time I compose anything e-related for you...don't ask me if I forgot to do this or that if you don't want me to ask you if you remembered to fuel up your vehicle the next time it breaks down on you.  ROTFL!  And for Karma's sake...don't have a conniption fit when I quote you my fees because I am worth every penny.  But, if you did manage a pro-bono out of me...if it doesn't work, or goes awry somehow...it wasn't my fault.  I have yet to be the one at fault.  Don't complain if your pocket-book I did not drain.  LOL!

Just my take for the day!

Dora's Corner: When Is Enough Really Enough. Defending Your Stance!

...Why is it that the opinion of just one person bothers me so much that I am left confused and not knowing what to do.  It drives me crazy metaphorically-speaking.  We were once best friends but life got in the way, and we each went our respective ways.  More like I was cut off from her world.  I would have liked a continued role in her world and would have been ecstatic to have had her remain in mine, but no such luck.  We drifted apart and worse.

There are so many things I want to discuss with her again, but I especially want to ask her why she really ended communication with me because the reasons that she gave me not too long ago over the phone just do not add up.  I am not the person she once knew.  I know the same of her --that she is different.  The thing that is bothersome for me is how she still thinks that I am the same person of over 20 years ago.  My gosh, who remains the same after 20 years.  I know I did not.  I want to yell at her for assuming that I would be able to do some of the horrible things which she claimed that I did during our absence from one another.  Those alleged, horrible things she claims were the catalyst for ending our friendship.  But I say b/s.  There has to be more to all of this and a better reason for cutting me out of her life.  The timeline during which I supposedly did some ill things to her just do not add up with the information that I found out in regards to my supposed-transgressions.  Totally not adding up at all. 

So, do I defend myself against such allegations or not.  Do I share my findings which prove that someone else did many of those awful things that I was castigated for having done.  I am no innocent, helpless person, but as far as those things that I supposedly did...I did not do them.  I am just dumbfounded by it all.  I defended her and made up excuses for the way she dismissed our friendship all these past years; stupidly and blindly giving her the benefit of the doubt.

I have changed a lot during the 20 year hiatus of our friendship.  Yeah, I refer to it as a vacation (hiatus) when it was no such thing.  I was persona non grata in her life.  All this time I wondered what happened between us to create such a rift, but after hearing her story over the phone earlier this month, well, it is just very upsetting.  I do not agree with any of it, but I will accept how she chooses to view things.  After all, she dropped our friendship for her own reasons and both of us have moved forward.  I know I have accomplished a lot during the last 20 years, and that I am happy.  Sure I would have loved for us to have continued our friendship all these years, but what has been done cannot be undone.  I am not even sure if I will hear from her ever again.  She is the one who missed out on continuing a friendship with me.  I know this much, though, that I am a good person.  I already reached out to her so it is up to her going forward.  I won't hold my breath that I will ever hear back from her, but that is okay. 
I have lived a good life thus far without her friendship, and I plan on continuing as such.  I just need to write this down so that one day maybe the Karma G-ds will see fit to bring us together again and maybe help us mend a broken friendship.  But for now, I say enough is enough and just hope that one day I will get to defend myself.  I am so disappointed that she would think that I could do those things to her.  If she remembers how things were long, long ago then surely she knows that I could never hurt her like that.  I walked away long ago to allow her (and me) to be happy.  I am disappointed in myself as well because the last time we talked on the phone, I just listened to her allegations and by not defending myself at all, I indirectly accepted it all.  I just sat there and took it.  I was just not in my right mind.  It saddens me, makes me a bit angry/upset, but nothing left to do.  Not now, not anymore.  It just blows my mind.

Just my take for the day!