I beg disagree with Net Caster on the issue of assisting techies with advice on issues when they get thick amounts to free service. When a person requests direction on an issue you have some knowledge on, they are not asking you to log in to their server and do configurations for them. I happen to be a beneficiary of online assistance with forums like Linuxquestions. A couple years ago, when I was facing difficulty with Samba, JHT himself pitched in to help me out. The concept of forums for people with same interests, in the same field not only helps participants to grow but also precipitates innovation. Now it is likely that someone improved a system but introduced a concept not so known by all. Also, ICT systems are not flawless and if one is facing difficulty with an issue, it is likely that in a techies forum someone else might have faced the same issue. And giving help is voluntary so if someone is ready to give help, let us not castigate them as diluting our value. Also, remember that IT is one of the youngest industries in the world put alongside law, engineering, medicine, architecture among others. Even in those fields, when they were starting they had to exchange a lot of information that today they would deem so valuable. So share information and assist where you can, appreciation for your services might stem from the unlikeliest of sources. Regards, M. Mugo On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 11:06 PM, David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd < kianiadee@gmail.com> wrote:
From my experience running a business between 2003 and today, clients find NO value in any consultancy the get for free. Secondly and even worse they'll never find value in you as a consultant, and will squeeze you for every penny you have for the same fee NOTHING.
Think about it this way would PWC of Delloitte offer ANY service free of charge?
Hope this helps.
Kiania D
On Sun, Jun 12, 2011 at 10:50 PM, Net Caster <madungu@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Skunks, Something has been bothering me for some time now on this list. I know many skunks have set up IT businesses and consultancy in areas such as web-design, networks, VOIP, software development, support, FOSS implementation and maintenance etc. Lawyers, doctors, civil engineers, realtors, quantity surveyors and plumbers have also registered their businesses. The one major difference between the techies and the later group is that we tend to offer our knowledge, skills and consultancy for free on public forums such as Skunkworks. There is a fine thick line between offering a fellow techie help when stuck and streaming really premium information to non-techies and thus denying professionals their right earning. Those of you who have engaged lawyers, realtors and plumbers recently can attest that nothing is free from the outset.
While you may have a day job, there are fellow techies who hassle with start-ups and can offer these services at a fee. I believe the better approach is to refer such questions to IT companies we know who offer the service/product in question. Come on guys, the techies need to pay bills, tax and put food on the table.
I've got lawyer friends who cannot copy-paste that company incorporation document for free claiming LSK does not allow them to offer free service (my foot). On the other hand, techies would helpfully volunteer information on how to google, download and customise IT Policy without asking for a cent. Very soon, IT lawyers (they exist, by the way) will start "developing" IT Policy at a fee as IT professionals watch.
I think we are our worst enemies and we invite quarks with money to easily set up and run IT businesses at our expense. In the end it helps no one. Not the industry and its growth in competence, professionalism and respect. Not the people we think we are helping and not ourselves. And we ask why we are treated with disdain in office. Look at the mirror.
Just my opinion. Don't lynch me. Maybe it's just me but am I so off the rail?
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