Learning To Say No
Yesterday I was approached to write a 2,000 word article for IBM's developerWorks. As an exercise in learning to say no I said, err, no. Previously I would have said yes without hesitation - merely for the kudos of having my name on there. With a schedule becoming fuller and fuller I had no choice but to decline.
In a way I did it for you guys. Sure, I could probably find the time to write the article, but that time would normally be spent running codestore.net. The money they pay would have been a nice treat as well, compared to doing this for free that is. There's plenty to do around here though. There are rough-cut articles need finishing off and others yet to see the light of day. Before I go running off to developerWorks I need to deliver some of the promises I've made you lot. Something I'm increasingly aware of is my failure to deliver on lots of ideas I suggest.
There were a couple of other reasons I didn't want to do it. Firstly that the subject matter was dubious (maintaining Domino data via Ajax from any third-party solution). Secondly that they (not IBM, by the way, but a third party "content provider") were so adamant about needing to see my CV (resume), which I don't keep an up-to-date version of.
In one of my replies I pointed out that I had been recommended to them and I could show 6 year's worth of in-depth technical articles on this site. Still they wanted to see the CV. So I told them to forget about it, but to keep me on file for future articles. To do that they said they'd have to see my CV. I told them to just forget it. I'm really good at shooting myself in the foot sometimes, just to prove a point.
Next lesson - stop being such a dick about things...
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Maybe they should have explain why they needed you CV.
I think it is only to write the small paragraph "About the author" at the end of the article.
But who does not know you in the Notes world ? :-)
Demanding to see your resume (sorry, CV) is completely stupid. My blog, which pales next to yours, will show ALOT more about me and my skillsets than my resume (oops, CV).
Next time just send them a copy of this:
{Link}
If that is not sufficient for them, you can then say "'Sorry, can't help you.'
First, I guess, don't think [b]YOU[/b] owe [b]US[/b] anything. Quite the reverse. Don't let us keep you from fame and fortune.
Second, your instincts were probably right. If a third party was asking you to write for them on Developer Works, they were probably imminently aware of Codestore and hoping your name would elevate them, a bit like your stint as a "booth babe" at LS 04. Shameless opportunists...
Amazing. Why would anyone care about your CV when they can come here and actually see your work and what you could provide for them. It all seems a bit backwards to me.
Jake, I think you made the right decision here. And although, career-wise, it may be a bit short-sighted not to always have an up-to-date CV, the principle here is that they approached you, so they must know your reputation and contribution to the Domino community. Anyway, if you need the extra cash you could just add some advertising to this site - I am sure many people would be happy to follow click-throughs if they knew you were seeing a cut of the revenue.
tq
Maybe its a field in a database that they need to add you to but can't without having a CV?
Brett, in this case they could have entered "Yes" ... :-)
Lol, that is hilarious, seriously. This site stands out as one of the very best Domino development blogs. Developerworks would be upgrading their website if they simply pointed links to this website.
Heck, they'd be improving it if they'd simply display an RSS list of all the SnTT articles done each week.
A classic example of having processes in place that limit the ability of others to succeed.
Funny that I got the same exact e-mail. Want to trade notes?
;-)
- Julian
instead of asking for CV's they should be doing better software. Take the latter Domino Access for Microsoft Outlook edition... is the worst software I've used in production by them. Yet they have the nerve to sell it. Ask for CV's my arse
jake, just send them the link of your blog as your CV. just for kicks