My First Web Design Gig
It was 2002 and I remember a couple of my friends had built websites of their own. I thought it would be cool to try out, so I got my hands on a copy of Microsoft FrontPage, found a couple of good resources, and dove in. I’d do something, and then check the source to see how it was done. It was shortly thereafter that I was approached about what would be my first gig.
I’d be lying if I said I worked hard to get it. The honest thing is that at that point, I didn’t see web design as a business. I was really just learning. Then someone at my parish approached me asking if I knew how to make them. I wasn’t too keen on accepting the job until she uttered three magic words: “We’ll pay you.” I had one of the many epiphanies that got me to where I am today:
People will pay me to do what I like to do?
I was sold. It would be a good learning experience and I’d be making some money. And I did learn a lot; how to price a website, meeting with clients and meeting their expectations. That’s all on top of whatever I picked up on web design. But that was not the significant part of landing my parish as a client. Here what was: I learned that people were willing to pay someone for their hobby. This is specifically for people who want to freelance/run their own business, but are not sure what to do. Do what you love to do. Throughout college I told my friends the same thing. “Make scrapbooks for people” or “Take photos.” If you’re willing to put yourself out there, people will pay for your skill.
Finally, this was also the catalyst for what I am doing today. That first site set off in me, at 16 years old, a passion to find more clients and a passion to get better (of course my logic was if I get better, I will get more money). Next time I will talk about how I found more people, and my first experience with pricing.
