Where's my toolbelt?
My business cards say "software engineer" and I'm self-employed. So lots of my life involves negotiating bids and stuff with clients. Who want things. BIG things. With, you know, features. And they need to make budgets. And they need to know things NOW.
I finally nailed it yesterday. THIS is the conversation I have, again and again, and will keep having. It's as though I were a building contractor, and somebody has called me for a bid on a building.
Me:
Joe's Build-o-rama, may I help you?
Them: I need you to build me an office building. Right away.
Me:
I'd be happy to help you. Now, what kind of building were you...
Them:
I need to know the costs and timeframe up front. Your resume here says you've got ten years' experience, and my friend Bobby hired you last year, so that'll be no problem, right?
Me: Actually...
Them: You know, an
Office Building. Windows, walls, elevators, maybe a roof or a parking garage. So what's your bid?
Me: Well, maybe we could spend some time figuring out some of the details. For example, how large is the lot? Do you know anything about the zoning for the area? Were you thinking about two stories? Twenty?
Them: (sighs) Fine, let's say between 5 and 15 stories. And I definitely want those retro moldings around the windows. And carpet, but not that tacky hotel patterned stuff — gives me a headache. Maybe something in a kind of dusty blue?
Me: If we could just...
Them: So what's your price? Can we get it done by June?
Me: Maybe if we sat down together and started going through some of the...
Them: Listen, what's all this hemming and hawing? What kind of builder are you, anyhow?
It is possible that I need a vacation.
Posted by Liz at April 11, 2003 06:44 AM