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The Best Email I've Ever Received
- ajj 16y agoThere is no satisfaction like adding value to someone's life through your work.
- lunaru 16y agoBeing able to build a successful company based on that model is probably even more satisfying.
- bnoordhuis 16y agoI understand your sentiment but it's not all about the money.
- tdst436 16y agoThe company is rewarding more because of the scale than the money. For me at least, money past what's required to take care of my family is all gravy.
- tomjen3 16y agoProperly not, but as long as the money isn't negative then a company that helps people does so time and time again - which must be better than only doing it once right?
- delano 16y agoBuilding a successful company isn't all about money.
- zedshaw 16y agoYou know, I think it's difficult to have students who pay you these days. Even at a university I think students aren't interested in doing the work and just want to get their degree. It's kind of sad because I'd love to just train the next generation of programmers, but it frankly seems so annoying and not worth it.
- tkahn6 16y agoreally change my families living conditions and quality of life Does this mean he was able to get a job with his Python skills?
- scorpion032 16y agoOtherwise, he got a little bit of Zed's attitude that changed his mental state.
- omaranto 16y agoYes and one good enough to improve the living conditions for his several families, apparently.
- zedshaw 16y agoHe emailed me more details. Basically, he's a system administrator who learned Python through my book, and actually just an early version of it. He hadn't been able to learn programming before. He then wrote some software at his company that got him enough of a raise that he could move his family out of a bad neighborhood and buy a house. He then got a promotion and has been on the up ever since. This is why I liked it so much. When I tell system administrators they have to learn to code, I really mean it will help them. Hopefully my book can do that for even more of them (and others).
- tkahn6 16y agoI'm not very religious, but within Judaic law, teaching someone a skill which allows them to better their financial situation is considered the highest level of charity. It comes from Leviticus 25:35 וכי-ימוך אחיך, ומטה ידו עמך--והחזקת בו, גר ותושב וחי עמך "And if thy brother is of lesser means than you, you shall strengthen the stranger and the dweller in your midst and live with him, [so that he no longer be in need]"
- cemetric 16y agoFinding my way to your book, nice way to learn Python, thanks!
- jacquesm 16y agoBeing on the receiving end of one of Zeds emails is not a comparable experience.
- pradocchia 16y agoThe two of you should definitely go out for a beer. Good times!
- Mod_daniel 16y agoMost of what you have to say here I find myself agreeing with with a smile and nod. But I wish you would just let this one go. He may not be the easiest person in the world to argue with, but his work and that book specifically are excellent. I also emailed him thanking him for sharing his work and got a prompt, sincere reply. I've been to your site and seen your thorough and organized postings on freelancing and I've read each one. And not having sent a thank you via email( my apologies), here's an honest one now; Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge in an articulate and interesting way. It helps the late bloomers among us find our path. That being said I just want to scream when I log on and the first comment on this post is pure snark from someone who should seemingly be above that. C'mon man, for some who is so clearly motivated by empathy and understanding in the comments they leave here I would hope you could just let. shit. go.
- jacquesm 16y agoIt's something that bothers me because Zed is actively out to destroy people at times and anybody that criticizes Zed or his work can expect being on the receiving end of a rant that would make you blush from your ears to your toes, and would make you wonder if you shouldn't have used an alias all along instead of your real name online. So, far from snark it is an expression of frustration that Zed gets to play mr. Hyde on one day and mr. Jekkyl the next, and that he apparently is encouraged in this. Check out his motivation for writing the book that this email is about, he wrote it to get back at someone who made a living from his python book and gave it away for free because of that. Such negativity.
- virinvictus 16y agoIt is a great introduction to Python, so I'm happy Zed is getting some positive feedback. Way to go, Zed.
- pmichaud 16y agoYeah, that's the cool thing about my business too. I get e-mail all the time about how people were on the brink, and now their life is turned around. It's awesome.
- takrupp 16y agoI too used your book to get started in Python. It was a great introductory lesson, and definitely my learning style. Thank you! Going to try Python for Fun this month (http://openbookproject.net/py4fun/index.html http://openbookproject.net/py4fun/index.html) to get a bit more advanced and pick up Learning Python (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-Powerful-Object-Oriented-Programming/dp/0596158068/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IQCH5A5AIF344&colid=1Q57C3U55EHX2 http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Python-Powerful-Object-Orient...), unless anyone else has any other better suggestions?
- zedshaw 16y agoAwesome. I posted a whole bunch more lessons, so not sure when you stopped reading LPTHW but try grabbing it again. Learning Python is a great book, and it's huge so you'll have tons of things to work on. I haven't heard of python 4 fun before.
- slowpoison 16y agoHow come Zed uses temporal nouns ("today") but there's nary a timestamp on his blog posts!?
- stcredzero 16y agoI'll be at Antidote in Houston tonight for the informal Learn Python The Hard Way Tuesday. No big deal. We just sit there going through Zed's book and if you get stumped, I help you figure out the answer. You can also try this userid on Skype or at yahoo by email. Tonight, I may be preoccupied by someone from okcupid.
- mdg 16y ago>Tonight, I may be preoccupied by someone from okcupid. Like a date? Or someone who works there?
- stcredzero 16y agoNeither.