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The main consequences are if that most of your new work will probably come from references through past clients, so if you regularly screw up, you probably won'
by swombat 16y ago
The main consequences are if that most of your new work will probably come from references through past clients, so if you regularly screw up, you probably won't be able to generate as much work.
However, I think you're asking the wrong question. Don't ask "What happens if I deliver a crappy product?"
Instead, ask "How can I make absolutely certain that I will deliver a product that the client is pleased about?"
You won't get it right all the time, especially not at the beginning, but you'll find that in general that's most to do with your ability to manage client expectations than with your coding skills, so don't worry about delivering a crappy product - instead worry about managing client expectations so they're never negatively surprised by what you deliver.
- sliverstorm 16y ago> worry about managing client expectations so they're never negatively surprised by what you deliver. In short (to be blunt): Don't promise what you can't deliver.
- swombat 16y agoWell, it's more subtle than that. Even if you never over-promise, your client could still get the wrong idea. The hard work in consulting often not in actually doing the work, but in finding the leads, turning them into clients, and then managing the process so that the client ends up happy at the end of it.
- JangoSteve 16y agoNormally I'd agree with this, but in the context of the OP's worries, I'd say this is the exact sentiment (perhaps taken too literally) that is paralyzing them with fear, uncertainty, and doubt. perhaps a better takeaway is to learn to deliver what you promise (and learn to promise what you know you can learn to deliver). Either way, you can often land the project (at a slightly lower rate) by being upfront with the client about the fact that it will be a learning process for you. Which comes full circle to properly managing client expectations.
- kbaribeau 16y agoAbsolutely. I love to tell people that the hardest parts about writing software have nothing to do with code. It all has to do with communication.