Ask HN: Would adding this to my website scare clients away? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Would adding this to my website scare clients away?

skitch.com

2 pointswojt_eu5 comments

If I were the potential client, yes. Not because I would want a contractor to work over hours but because I would want a contractor to be commited.

For me what "No over-hours" on a front page means is that you're the lazy kind. It means that not working is more important to you than doing things right.

Again, I'm not going to expect a contractor to work over-hours, at least not without paying. And I understand separating work from personal life. I'm the first one asking for that. It's very important that anyone who work have a great life balance. It makes better people, better work quality, better work environment.

What are you trying to achieve by putting this on your front-page ? Or actually, putting it anywhere on your website ?

Preventing client from getting advantage of you ? Then maybe the way to go is to say no when the problem arise. Contracts should protect you...

If you're not doing over hours it's fine, but discuss it when you come to the details. You actually probably know how to approach a customer more than me as you seem to have way more experience.

It's like when you started dating your wife (I presume you have a wife since you seen to have a kid). First time you saw her, did you say "Ok we're going to date, but 'NO <put something here you that don't like in other people>'. She wouldn't want to hear it.

What do you think ?

As for dating I would, for instance, definitely want to know very soon that she's a rock singer and travels with her band for months. I got your point though.

Ideally the message would be: "He has a life outside the internet but in the morning he's excited to get in front of his computer to build stuff. He also doesn't do side-projects so my contract will get his full focus and attention. He's got a family so he's probably won't work for sweat-equity only. We have to arrange some work schedule because he won't be available round the clock, but during those working hours he's really pushing hard to get things done." So now I just have to find a witty way to say that.

You're probably right it might not be the best idea to start with "caveats" (-:

I think rather than put something like that up and have all sorts of assumptions come to mind, it is better to address these after you've had a chance to open up a dialog among yourself and the potential client. This way you guys can have a proper discussion with all the proper expectations on both sides rather than have all sorts of misunderstanding or misconceptions.

In your example, dating a rock star who's away for months at a time is something you certainly want to know, but having that on her dating profile without giving yourself the opportunity to get to know her by making your own assumptions or to see if this might even work in some other capacity is leaving stuff off the table that in end might have been doable. Just saying.

Let's say the labels are gone... Do you think that simply posting a picture of you with your child on your professional home page could also trigger warning light in the visitors? The only think I could think if is "Not again, there's too much of this on Facebook already."

Its hard to say. Some might take it as not professional. Others may not care. Some will think its cool. In my personal opinion, I wouldn't post it at all. But that's me. I mean realistically, is there a business reason to? You should ask yourself that and quantify it as such.

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