Comments on: Two professionals in initial phone screen and why one came up short http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/ News, opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:05:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: omnicity http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14437 omnicity Fri, 24 Feb 2006 10:29:00 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14437 Two thoughts come to my mind here - why were you talking to a lawyer about his rates? I would expect any professional of that nature to have a receptionist - so if not then they weren't that professional to begin with, and if the answer is that you bypassed their recepionist and interupted whatever work they were doing, to ask a <em>non-legal </em>question I can understand the lawyer being a little upset. Sounds to me like the one that was happy to hear from you probably wasn't busy - which is a worse sign than being grumpy. Secondly, I think you have been extremely stupid to base what could be a crucial business decision on such trivial evidence. I agree that it is a good idea to be polite to clients, whether potential or existing, but when choosing business partners, nobody who has a professional role should be judged except on their results. Sales people, recepionists etc are the obvious exceptions where personality is a major consideration, but for technical people quite the reverse - all the best techies are trolls with no social life! Two thoughts come to my mind here - why were you talking to a lawyer about his rates? I would expect any professional of that nature to have a receptionist - so if not then they weren’t that professional to begin with, and if the answer is that you bypassed their recepionist and interupted whatever work they were doing, to ask a non-legal question I can understand the lawyer being a little upset. Sounds to me like the one that was happy to hear from you probably wasn’t busy - which is a worse sign than being grumpy.

Secondly, I think you have been extremely stupid to base what could be a crucial business decision on such trivial evidence. I agree that it is a good idea to be polite to clients, whether potential or existing, but when choosing business partners, nobody who has a professional role should be judged except on their results. Sales people, recepionists etc are the obvious exceptions where personality is a major consideration, but for technical people quite the reverse - all the best techies are trolls with no social life!

]]> By: campbeld http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14408 campbeld Fri, 24 Feb 2006 04:41:36 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14408 I don't like the use of "obviously" on these forums either. I find that many commenters jump to conclusions too quickly on forums. To me, people seem to push to arrive at conclusive remarks without fleshing out the discussions. I agree with Andrew in that I "can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like obviously." I find that the only obvious points are ones made about trivial matters. For example, if I see that the cat is on the mat, then obviously, the cat is on the mat! Anything more complicated than this simple silly case is probably not obvious at all. I don’t like the use of “obviously” on these forums either. I find that many commenters jump to conclusions too quickly on forums. To me, people seem to push to arrive at conclusive remarks without fleshing out the discussions. I agree with Andrew in that I “can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like obviously.”

I find that the only obvious points are ones made about trivial matters. For example, if I see that the cat is on the mat, then obviously, the cat is on the mat! Anything more complicated than this simple silly case is probably not obvious at all.

]]> By: Guillermo http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14390 Guillermo Thu, 23 Feb 2006 22:48:32 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14390 <blockquote>I can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like “obviously” and make assumptions with no facts. </blockquote> Andrew, This is a post about been nice to people and how that turns into business later on, really liked it, thanks for it. But, you have just destroyed all the good done here, by using an expression like "I can't stand it when Sitepoint readers...". Just made you sound too big for someone's opinion.... Makes you think, doesn't it? Guillermo. Big time SitePoint reader and fan, and book buyer... guillermo (dot) poveda (at) gmail (dot) com

I can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like “obviously” and make assumptions with no facts.

Andrew,

This is a post about been nice to people and how that turns into business later on, really liked it, thanks for it. But, you have just destroyed all the good done here, by using an expression like “I can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers…”. Just made you sound too big for someone’s opinion….

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Guillermo.
Big time SitePoint reader and fan, and book buyer…
guillermo (dot) poveda (at) gmail (dot) com

]]> By: Eater http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14275 Eater Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:37:18 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14275 Andrew, Perhaps next time you can include the facts in your blog post. Andrew,
Perhaps next time you can include the facts in your blog post.

]]> By: aneitlich http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14274 aneitlich Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:08:56 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14274 Eater, Not only do I deal with professionals who charge $2,000 a day for their time, I am one. I can't stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like "obviously" and make assumptions with no facts. I wanted to interview two copyright attorneys to see which one was best to hire. I didn't want free advice. The "advice" I sought was about rates and how each could help me. The gruff guy lost my business. The friendly guy got it. Andrew Eater,

Not only do I deal with professionals who charge $2,000 a day for their time, I am one. I can’t stand it when Sitepoint readers use words like “obviously” and make assumptions with no facts.

I wanted to interview two copyright attorneys to see which one was best to hire. I didn’t want free advice. The “advice” I sought was about rates and how each could help me. The gruff guy lost my business. The friendly guy got it.

Andrew

]]> By: cs_carver http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14238 cs_carver Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:56:25 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14238 I had a great friendly lawyer once. He didn't even send me a bill! Unfortunately, his advice was useless. Two years later, I saw his headshot in the newspaper--next to the article about his conviction for embezzlement. No wonder he didn't need to send me a bill! There are no bargains in legal talent, and intellectual property law is an area entirely unto itself. General practice lawyers can be a total waste of money in this arena. While I agree with the general principle in the blog, it may not be sufficient for this instance. I had a great friendly lawyer once. He didn’t even send me a bill! Unfortunately, his advice was useless. Two years later, I saw his headshot in the newspaper–next to the article about his conviction for embezzlement. No wonder he didn’t need to send me a bill!

There are no bargains in legal talent, and intellectual property law is an area entirely unto itself. General practice lawyers can be a total waste of money in this arena. While I agree with the general principle in the blog, it may not be sufficient for this instance.

]]> By: Eater http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14222 Eater Tue, 21 Feb 2006 06:29:26 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14222 LOL obviously you haven't dealt with professionals that charge $2,000 a day for your time. I don't blame him for asking you to be brief. Advice is never free, nor should you expect it to be. LOL obviously you haven’t dealt with professionals that charge $2,000 a day for your time. I don’t blame him for asking you to be brief. Advice is never free, nor should you expect it to be.

]]> By: dhecker http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14103 dhecker Sat, 18 Feb 2006 00:41:11 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14103 Don't be so sure. I know a lot of professionals who are gruff, and give off the "I'm too successful to deal with you" vibe - it turns out, some of them are just gruff! Don’t be so sure. I know a lot of professionals who are gruff, and give off the “I’m too successful to deal with you” vibe - it turns out, some of them are just gruff!

]]> By: optimus_prime http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14098 optimus_prime Fri, 17 Feb 2006 22:06:49 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14098 Yeah I'm guessing the lawyer that was gruff was probably worried that you'd be wasting his time for a small job or just using him to get free information. This brings me to a question I've long debated. Of course everyone has probably been told at one time or another to treat their $1,000 clients the same as their $100,000 clients because you never know when the $1,000 might refer you to a huge client or give you a huge job. At the same time, I can see how it would make sense to just focus on the "higher probability" clients rather than risk wasting time on the "small fish". How do you draw the line between these two scenarios? Yeah I’m guessing the lawyer that was gruff was probably worried that you’d be wasting his time for a small job or just using him to get free information. This brings me to a question I’ve long debated. Of course everyone has probably been told at one time or another to treat their $1,000 clients the same as their $100,000 clients because you never know when the $1,000 might refer you to a huge client or give you a huge job. At the same time, I can see how it would make sense to just focus on the “higher probability” clients rather than risk wasting time on the “small fish”. How do you draw the line between these two scenarios?

]]> By: deronsizemore http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14080 deronsizemore Fri, 17 Feb 2006 14:45:17 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/17/two-professionals-in-initial-phone-screen-and-why-one-came-up-short/#comment-14080 I'm sure the one that was "gruff" already is swimming in money anyway, so that's why he didn't really care to hear your situation. People like that don't like to listen for something they may or may not get paid for. I’m sure the one that was “gruff” already is swimming in money anyway, so that’s why he didn’t really care to hear your situation. People like that don’t like to listen for something they may or may not get paid for.

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