I've been creating Web sites for a long time now and it amazes me that so many people still seem to think that the whole thing happens instantly. Maybe it was part of the whole dot com hype, but somewhere along the line, the perception that everything on the Internet is quick and easy came about.
I'm here to tell you that it just ain't so. Work is work. If you've ever updated a 200-page document, that gives you an idea what it's like to update a large web site. Sort of. When something doesn't look right in your word processor, you don't have to delve into an arcane coding language to figure out what went wrong. But when you create a web site, sooner or later, you're going to be looking at HTML.
So anyway, this week I got a great idea. I decided to update the Logical Expressions site with a new "portfolio" page. I decided it would be helpful for people to see a page with my past projects divided up by type: books, brochures, newsletters, marketing materials and so forth. (The results are at http://www.logicalexpressions.com/edportfolio.htm if you are curious.)
Anyway, I set aside some time because I knew it would take a while. I had to make nine or ten new pages along with the page that had the list of links. It also meant I had to do a bunch of scanning and photo editing in Photoshop. And then I had to do some screen captures of web sites and various PowerPoint presentations and manipulate them in Photoshop too.
Then I had to update about 20 more older pages to add links back to the portfolio page. And then upload all the files and graphics to the server. Although I'm faster at it than some people because I know what I'm doing, all these things take time.
While I was busy coding and messing with photos, it got me thinking. Everyone has skills they employ on the job. Whether you're in sales, woodworking, computers, whatever. It doesn't matter. A lot of times, these hard-won skills are not appreciated as they should be.
So the next time your boss or a grumpy client asks you why something "takes so long," maybe the best answer is to explain the details and tell them *exactly* why :-)
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