Out of action

Hi guys, I'll be out of action for a small while, I promise to be back soon though with some more interviews and some informative posts. Hope you're all well,

Jo.x

Monday Monday

Where do the weekends go???

So today I have a million and one things to do, mainly because all weekend I've been telling myself "I'll do that in a minute". Really, really have to get out of that habit.

A big thanks to Mahesh for his interview last week, and I look forward to posting Stef's interview on Wednesday at some stage. (As early as possible, I promise).

In other news. This week, I've mainly been "tweeting".
Gone are my misconceptions that only the likes of Demi and Stephen Fry are allowed to tweet, and I have to say I'm very impressed at the difference twitter can make to any online business. I must have spent hours reading articles and tips on how Twitter can enhance your business. A big thanks to Doreen, who helped to get me started with her article on making the most of Twitter, and well I think I'm on the way now!

I have to say though, that I'm very conscious of making sure I don't overdo the whole linkage thing, I don't want to make anyone feel like I'm spamming them with links to my blog or my Helium articles, so I'm making a concerted effort to ensure I retweet others posts, engage in discussion and post other tweets that are not work related. 

Ask me again in a month and I'll tell you how much I love it then :)

Back to the grindstone now for a bit I think, as I've a few things to catch up on. But as always I'll be back with an interview during the week.





Until tomorrow.......................

Humble Guy?

Morning all,


So today I'm going to share with you, my chat with Mahesh Walatara. We talked a number of weeks ago on Skype for 1 hour and 40 minutes. To say it was interesting would be an understatement. Unfortunately due to Mahesh's lose tongue and colourful use of language I've had to edit out a lot of the interview. Whilst he is a very entertaining chap, and certainly has strong opinions, his views on race and religion were a bit disturbing if I'm honest so I've decided that I don't want to publish that kind of material on my Blog. Mahesh is aware of the editing and just so you all know, the words on the page you see below are as they were spoken by Mahesh, I have not edited them in the slightest, I've just left out a few of his rants :

So without further a due..... Mahesh Walatara.

Name: Mahesh Walatara

Age: 32 / 34 ??

Location: Sri Lanka

Occupation: Graphic / Logo Designer

When did you first start using oDesk?

In November 2009, some guy mentioned the name on a forum and that’s how I found it.

So tell me Mahesh, is oDesk the only freelance market site you use?

Yeah everything else sucks.

How long did it take to get your first job?

5 weeks.

And tell us about the job.

An average size logo job. It went pretty well, the guy liked my portfolio. When he hired me I was working for just 3 bucks an hour. It took 21 hours total to complete.

Were you happy with that rate?

First job yeah, I was mostly wanted the feedback.

I think that’s the same for a lot of newcomers, would you recommend lowering your rate to get that 1st job so then?

Yeah, lower anyway.

So what rate are you working on now?

$15 most of the time, sometimes go down to $10 when the jobs are dried up.

So, do you freelance full-time now?

Yeah

Did you have much experience in Graphic Design beforehand?

Yeah, I was always a creative fella so it came to me naturally. I did a lot of programming stuff at Uni. in Australia, but never really graphic design, but always had a knack for it

How do you find it? And do you think you’ll continue freelancing?

Good.

I make more money than most of the idiots slaving away in office jobs in my country from working from home, so can’t complain. Only problem is no Office sex L

Would you be surprised if I told you office sex wasn't a common thing?

Yeah at least can get a few phone numbers, no such luck L

Ah well that can be another project for you!

Is Office work in Sri Lanka low paid then?

Yeah mostly, unless you’re the office manager or CEO or something.

What’s the minimum wage there?

Don’t know, don’t care.

Ok, so lets change direction a bit, you spend a lot of time on the forums at oDesk, tell us why Humbleguy is your user name.

Thought it would help me make a good first impression.

Do you think that worked?

Dunno, think the user is not visible till your actually hired or something, didn’t know that, or I'd have gone for something from Star Wars.

You are very opinionated on the forums about hiring the highest bidder etc, you have the stage now, tell us what you really think.

They must be very sure of themselves and their abilities to bid high.

Personally I don’t give a sh*t if some little fella from wherever gets played out, I just surf the forums and put in something cos I am bored.

Do you find the forums on oDesk helpful?

Yes, Jacqui’s a bit too stiff, but overall, ok I guess.

She has a tough job keeping you in check.

She gets paid a lot; she needs to earn it.

Sounds like you’re a bit jealous?

Nah, she looks nice

So tell me about a positive experience you've had working on oDesk, what was your favourite project and why?

Most of them were good, cos its creative stuff so never gets monotonous

Don’t like em buyers who keep asking for the world for $20 fixed job

Does that happen often?

Not anymore, I do apply for $20 jobs now. Earlier happened couple of times

Put up a disclaimer saying lowest bidders are not to be trusted and quality of work will be on par with the pay. That might make some buyers think twice about hiring low bidders.

We both bid low to get our first jobs though didn't we?

Yeah well if u got the talent you'll get hired.

So there is a case for low bids sometimes?

Yeah I guess, but a disclaimer would do good as well, a pop up every time a Buyer tries to hire.

Ok, so tell me a negative experience you've had?

First job I got hired buy Irish con artist from Dublin, he made me do some samples and then said he didn't like em, later he said job was cancelled an he refused to pay. : I contacted customer support and he got suspended. I never got paid. Even if I did he would've left me bad feedback so glad it worked out this way

You’ve mentioned on the forums a few times that you think you should leave bad feedback for a buyer if you think his feedback might be negative, why is that?

Then Jacqui got me banned for 3 weeks cos I was controversial in the forums or some sh*t.

Cos I don’t wanna leave someone good feedback an see they had left me bad, cant stand it

But surely they are entitled to their opinion; feedback should be honest don't you think?

Some just leave u bad to spite u or cos they’re racist or got caught trying to run away or something.

Do you think that if a buyer looks at your profile and sees you have left a lot of negative feedback for others that they will be less inclined to hire you?

No, my portfolio is too impressive J

A Humble guy you are definitely not.

Perfection like me is never humble

Have you any advice for newcomers?

Don’t do free samples, most of the con buyers target noobs to get free samples cos they don’t know any better. Don’t get cocky, Just keep at it and they'll eventually get work. Portfolio is more important than anything else I believe.

What do you do in your spare time besides annoy Jacqui & Doreen on the forums?

Stalking me on the forums, when I completely ignore her.

Outside oDesk, not much usual day to day stuff, eat, sleep get pissed throw rocks the usual

Throw rocks?

Yeah sometimes I throw em back, when I am in a bad mood

Is that a national past time or something?

In this sh*thole of a country that’s what these hopeless cases do

Do you read?

Yeah, used to a lot, lots of sci-fi fantasy horror stuff.

What’s the last book you read?

Last Harry Potter book.

What about music, who do you like to listen to?

Not really sure, Bon Jovi!

Where do you see your career in 5 years?

Hell. Don’t think more than a couple days ahead.

Ok, well what would u like to be doing in a years time then?

Nice Swedish Blonde.

Do you work set hours every day?

Nah, work whenever takes my fancy, most of the time just surf the web.

And how’s business at the moment?

Not good, not much jobs these days, after I set up on me new computer, I hope to get back at it.

Is there anything about oDesk you would change if you had the power?

Yeah Escrow for fixed price work, speed up the payment cycle & take over the bosses’ job.

Okay, some quick fire questions then and I’ll let you get back to surfing.

Favourite Colour: Blue

Star sign:

Dunno,

What date and month were you born?

March 14^th.

That makes you a Pisces.

Whatever

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Move to Switzerland, buy a small log cabin by the side of the Alps and find a nice Swiss milkmaid.

Tell us a joke or something to make us smile:

Dunno L can’t think of any, I’m tired tonight.

Ok, well look I'll leave you to it Mahesh, sorry for keeping you for so long, and thanks for taking the time out.

No worries don’t get run over or anything.

You too, don’t get hit by any rocks now.

A big thank you to Mahesh for taking time out to talk to me. He is as oppinionated as the rest of us, only he has the guts to say what a lot of us are thinking at times, and I commend him for that.

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face every day on the fourms Mahesh, and long may you prevail on oDesk :)

Chat with Mahesh on his PC Forum http://scurvy.proboards.com

Until tomorrow..............

Has the tide turned on oDesk?

Big thanks to Thomas for his interview last week, great speaking with you Thomas and love your attitude to work and life. :)

On another note, my post today is more of a moan than a blog post if I'm honest.

Hands up if you're a bit disheartened with oDesk and the powers that be at the moment. (holds 2 hands up). For any of you who are following this thread on oDesk, I'm guessing you'll agree with me.

Now surprisingly, this morning I had an email in my inbox from Matt Cooper of oDesk, who has asked to speak with me further to understand my situation. While this is all very well, and I do appreciate him getting in touch. I do think at this stage, that understanding is just not going to cut the mustard on this one. oDesk understanding the situation, will, in fairness, mean diddly-squat to those who need the situation remedied.

Are we going to get a solution to this problem? that's the question.

Since when did it become so impossible for someone to put up their hand and say they might have made a mistake. If the powers that be are unwilling to go back to the term 'buyer' then that's fair enough. But surely 'Client' & 'Customer' would be viable options, I mean seriously if there are people out there that get those words mixed up with 'contractor' then the really shouldn't be freelancing at all.
If I'm honest, I don't think there was huge misunderstanding of the word 'buyer' either, "I misunderstood the meaning" is a great way to lie about the fact that you just wanted to advertise yourself to thousands on the job boards.

Agghhh the frustration of this situation is getting to me now, and if oDesk are to blame for putting my plans on hold I won't be a happy camper.

What y'all think?

Anyway enough of the grumps, there'll be another interview up on the blog over the weekend ... and let me tell you this... prepare yourself, it's our love him / hate him Humbleguy.




Until tomorrow........