Self-Devpt. Nuggets™

Are you struggling to make progress towards a valued personal or business goal?

Does it feel like you don’t have enough of the things you need to succeed?

This article narrates a true story that illustrates the fact that sometimes NOTHING, other than a lack of adequate conviction, can hold you back, if you really set your mind to it.

You will learn how having a firm conviction, and acting on it with unwavering faith and enthusiasm can (magically) open doors leading to the opportunities you seek, until you achieve success.

Discovering The Business Of Webdesign As A Struggling Startup

When I first picked up the November 2003 issue of a glossy covered professional webdesign magazine from Rotciv’s table, little did I know that less than 3 months later, I would be earning substantial income providing formal webdesign services to clients.

It all began with a casual comment I made to Rotciv as I flipped through the mag’s thick pages, at the back of which the publishers had included a “How To” CDROM with sample designs, free software etc for use by readers.

He had accumulated multiple editions of the magazine in his office as the subscriptions arrived, but never gotten round to doing anything with them.

From reading through the one in my hand, I discovered that the tutorials, exercises and resources in it were authored by world class webdesign professionals in different areas of specialisation.

My interest was instantly aroused, because I knew that studying the techniques used by such highly paid experts, was bound to set one’s work apart.

Another reason I got interested was that my Excel-VB driven custom software development business was still in it’s infancy at the time. I was struggling to find prospects willing to consider my unusual spreadsheet automation service in my local market.

I have since successfully carved a unique marketplace niche for myself as a provider of custom Excel solutions, but back then, it was a hard sell.

In contrast to my Excel automation service, the business of webdesign was one that appealed to a large segment of the population.

Just thinking about it as I sat there, I knew I could find clients readily, if I could become reasonably proficient in webdesign. And that would mean badly needed income would come my way.

So, I said “You know Rotciv, I’m sure if I studied the collection you have here over a few weeks to a month, I’d be able to build a decent professional website for clients. Infact I’m sure I could build one for your Communications company.”

He replied saying “You really think you can learn enough within one month to be able to build a professional website, and even get paying clients?”

“I don’t see why not” I said. “These tutorials and the accompanying resource CDs are packed with easy-to-follow practical examples and illustrations. Any serious minded person who is not lazy, should have no problem doing so.”

And Rotciv responded:

“Well then, if you’re that convinced, why not go ahead and do it. The mags have been lying around for months anyway, and I’ve never really had the time to read them.

It would be great if you put them to some use – and even better if you can deliver a usable website for my company in the process.

That’s actually been on my mind a while, but I’ve not had the funds to do anything about it. Your idea gives me an opportunity to get something decent online for free!”

Learning Webdesign Via Self-Tutoring

And so between November and December 2003, I diligently spent every bit of free time I could find reading and practising tutorials from multiple issues of the webdesign magazine.

Sometimes I worked round the clock over the weekend for 48 consecutive hours. Most times, I stopped only to take my meals or have my bath. The rest of the time, I simply buried myself in the tutorials.

I gradually gained proficiency in the use of Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, as well as Adobe Photoshop.

Then I went online to learn about adding web contact forms powered by CGI scripts. I studied free tutorials provided by developers on how to upload my completed website files using FTP tools like CuteFTP etc. I also learnt to install CGI scripts on servers, use CHMODing to set file permissions etc.

Getting Ready To Find Clients

By the second week of January 2004, I felt reasonably convinced I knew enough to do a decent job of building a functional website for a paying client.

So I Googled to learn how to market my services to find my first few clients.

One article recommended offering to do a free job, to get some experience handling a real life project under my belt.

The idea appealed to me.

I had yet to work on a real life server on a paid hosting account. The closest I’d gone was in using Yahoo!’S free Geocities and some ad sponsored free hosting service providers. These had limitations in terms of what I could do, especially at the server end.

My First Client Projects

So I went out in search of a willing non-paying client, and found one in Ikeja under a week.

Two weeks later the completed site was up.

The client ran a professional UK exams coaching clinic. And he made weekly TV appearances on a local show as a consultant.

I suggested that he have the website’s URL appear on screen below his name whenever he came on air, so viewers would see it. He agreed.

Within a few weeks, he’d begun getting web form enquiries like I’d (enthusiastically) told him would happen. He gladly provided the testimonial I requested.

Armed with that, and with promotional flyers referring to the TV show featuring the first website I’d built, I went hunting for paid clients.

As I searched, I still made out time to study more to improve my new skills. I already saw aspects of the work I’d done on the first website, that I needed to improve on.

Rotciv had become quite enthused about getting his own site up as well, by this time. However he chose to first test my work on his Geocities free hosting account.

Like I did for my first project, I again used an adapted version of Michel Fortin’s webdesign and content copywriting questionnaire to extract the essential information I needed from Rotciv. Again, things went well.

Working in this manner would later prove quite effective in delivering to the client’s satisfaction, while avoiding the dreaded scope creep

By mid february, I won two projects – each for N100,000.00 (about $800 USD at the time).

A Setback: I Lose Access To The Laptop I Borrowed

All this while, I’d been using a borrowed laptop, just like the magazines I’d been studying.

Unfortunately, about one week after I began work on both projects, the laptop’s owner demanded for its return!

I was devastated that despite my appeals, he did not budge. But after thinking it over, I became convinced that I could find an alternative.

One of my two new clients was a PC assembly and repairs service provider. I told him the challenge I was facing, and proposed that he use my remaining balance of N50,000.00 to build me a desktop PC I could use to finish his website.

He agreed, and I went on to finish both jobs – using my newly built PC!

Before the end of 2004, I successfully won and completed another two projects.

And I was also able to put up my own first website (on Geocities), for marketing my Excel software.

Once again, my demonstrated enthusiasm, conviction and self-confidence won over one of my webdesign clients. And he hired me to build a custom Excel application for his company.

At that point, I “tasted blood”!

I immediately began exploring ways to use my website to cost effectively find buyers for my Excel solutions.

Today, my conviction and persistence has helped me establish a tested and proven Web Marketing System to cost-effectively promote my work.

This has repeatedly helped me win buyers for my Excel-VB software and other products and services I offer.

Final Words: A Firm Conviction Can Save You!

I’ve definitely come a long way since that fateful day in November 2003. Without a firm conviction about my ideas, and my abilities, I would probably never have made it this far.

No one I knew could really vouch for me in any way back then. They had yet to see me do those things to be sure themselves.

I alone knew what I was capable of.

Sometimes that’s all you need to make things happen for you i.e a firm conviction that you can do it!

In my case it was ALL I had at the time I was starting out. I had no money, and no computer!

Today, many who know me readily vouch for me. Some even give their unsolicited endorsements and recommendations in professional business circles we belong e.g LinkedIn.com.

Without my acting persistently based on my convictions over the past years, none of that would be happening today.

Adopt a similar approach as you work towards achieving your own valued goals, and you’ll be amazed at the results you get!