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Issue 9.5

COLUMN

Be a Real Studio Superhero

Tips on rescuing your clients

Issue: 9.5 (July/August 2011)
Author Bio: Bob is the owner of BKeeney Software. In addition to providing REAL Studio consulting, he provides REAL Studio training videos (currently over 30 hours worth), and sells software to consumers and developers alike. He is the founder of the Association of REALbasic Professionals and serves as its Treasurer.
Article Description: No description available.
Article Length (in bytes): 5,583
Starting Page Number: 72
Article Number: 9510
Related Link(s): None

Excerpt of article text...

I've never been a huge fan of superhero stories with maybe the exception of Batman (who never really had a super power) but I've followed some stories on and off over the years. Most superheroes acquire their super power by way of a freak accident or mutation. Few of them get their powers by deciding what they want to do and spending years doing it (again, Batman might be the exception). Similarly, few developers become good overnight—it takes years of work.

Like many developers I've met over the years, the comic book superheroes don't really know what their true potential is. They start by doing simple things and as their confidence grows they get better at what they do. You, as a developer, should be the same way.

Most superheroes have their normal 'real-word' life and then their superhero persona. Their real-world life is full of drama and strife and they doubt themselves in many of the things they do. That sounds like a lot of developers I know.

However, when the superhero dons their costume they are more confident or at least more adventurous. As a developer, there's nothing different when you're out there being a superhero for your clients. Sure, you're just a programmer, but you're doing something that they can't (or won't) do and isn't that the true definition of being a hero?

I don't know about you, but I'm never comfortable telling people that I'm a great programmer. Perhaps it's my Midwest upbringing or perhaps it's because I have an electrical engineering background rather than a formalized software development background. I also know developers that are way better (or is that confident?) at software development then I am.

My clients, however, keep coming back for more work so we must be doing something right. Every now and then we get a request for referrals and I ask current and former clients if they wouldn't mind getting contacted for their comments about me and my staff. I'm always overwhelmed at the generosity of kind words. It is a thrill and humbling all at the same time.

...End of Excerpt. Please purchase the magazine to read the full article.