I was hoping to get to work on my uncle’s restaurant rebranding today. He’s been asking me to redo the website and is willing to pay me but I also know his business is hurting in this economy so I resolved to do it all pro bono to help him out. He and my aunt have worked their asses off at that place for over 20 years and should probably retire. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards for the near future so if I can somehow help them get more business, maybe they can hire extra hands.
The problem is that their website is just one part of what they really need. I must be a design snob but I can’t just put a pretty face on their website. Evaluating their assets leaves me to think that they need a whole rebranding. I just think that it helps to be able to hand out a business card and have it visually look similar to your website and other collateral.
It’s going to be a lot of work and is already daunting. The hardest part will be selling this idea to my uncle who isn’t design or tech savvy. He won’t understand why he can’t just get by with a site refresh and keep using everything he’s got so far.
Unfortunately my day got eaten up by the app that Vic and I have been working on. We already released a NYC version and Vic is working on one for Vancouver because of the upcoming Winter Olympics, which I think is a brilliant move. I thought it’d just be a slight visual refresh so wasn’t anticipating much work. However, the whole interface ended up changing so all other things on my To-Do list got the shaft. It’s all for the best though because the interface will be ten times better and can be updated for the NYC version afterwards.
It all works out anyway because I was stuck in the apartment all afternoon waiting for the plumber. I set up an appointment block between 1 and 3pm, so the plumber was naturally late. In fact, 3:15 rolls around and I call to check in and the plumber wasn’t even aware he was supposed to show up.
I swear, incompetence is so rampant in the world today. Which is mind-boggling to me because I and most people I know stress doing a good job and treating the customer with great care. In fact, that’s almost a downfall of the New York work culture because we’re always killing ourselves to meet our clients’ demands. Yet anytime I want or need something, I get a half-assed effort or a bitchy attitude.
Okay, now I sound like an old man. And what’s with the kids today and their crappy music??!
Daily Panic Level: Normal
Financial Outlook: Spending has been minimal lately
Job Scorecard (Interviews – Freelance Work – Freelance Busts): 8 – 8 – 39 (I got a job offer in Austin, does that count?)
Last Night’s Meal: Braised halibut with fennel, shallot and mushrooms
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