Josh Shear

I met with some friends over brunch this weekend to discuss a website. She does handmade knitwear and has a large collection of vintage clothing that she wants to unload; he's money-conscious as they head into retirement, as you'd imagine anyone would responsibly be.

My goal, since they're friends, I want to keep them that way, and I want to make sure that as I do work for them I don't come to resent them for utilizing my time and energy, was to find an affordable solution that really made sense.

So I sold them an Etsy.com shop. Which, of course, is free. They bought brunch, and I'll be over their house for a couple of hours showing them how to set up the Etsy shop while we nibble on stuff, and they're going to have at it for a few months to see how it does for them.

If it doesn't work out over the next five months or so, we'll take another look and they won't have lost anything. I'm sure they'll have questions, and I'm sure I'll spend a few minutes here and there answering emails. But at least for now, they'll have a self-driven solution, and I won't have to feel bad every time I see them that I'm taking money out of their pockets.

How do you sell to people who need your services, but whom you also want in your life?

I put a fair number of proposals out there. Knowing that many come back for negotiation, others come back for long-term discussion, and some just don't come back, it does take a fair bit of planning ahead and organization.

I woke up this morning (August 30) to a query email that said the full text to be proofread was 10,000 words (that's about 40 double-spaced pages, so a large-ish document but not huge), that the site was due to be online September 1, and the entire project had to be completed September 10.

There are two different dates in that email. They are nine days apart, but more importantly, they are between two and 11 days from now. If the deadline is in two days, that's fine – but it makes me think you're very close to hiring me and I want that copy now. It's one thing to want a quick turnaround; it's another to want a rushed job that will read like a rushed job because you didn't give me enough time to do it.

If, on the other hand, you want that job done on September 10, I can wait a couple of days for the copy, and I don't have to worry about pushing a couple of things off – or whether I'm going to take the time out to run to my local coffee shop before it closes at 9 p.m. or whether I'm going to make coffee at the house.

But now I'm stuck emailing back and forth, and if I find out that the deadline is two days, we've had to spend time on basic communication when I could have been actually doing the work.

The moral of this story: If you're hiring a freelancer, know when you need the job done, and communicate that to the person who's going to do the job. It's one of those things that's fundamental to you being happy with the job, and it's one of the things that's fundamental to the freelancer being able to do the job to your satisfaction. Yours isn't the only project that person has in the pipeline – think about what you're paying her and how much you would need to pay your bills – so if your project is to get done on your time line, it's important that you clearly communicate it.

Photo by Martin Kingsley.

Update, 7 a.m.: We learned this morning that the white board resignation was, indeed, a hoax. But because the viral campaign has some actual discussion value, I'm going to leave this post as I wrote it.

You may have seen the series of photos yesterday of "Jenny" quitting her job via white board and email. If not, take some time to scroll through the whole thing.

We might find this an attempt at Internet celebrity. I'm running on the assumption it's not (see note above: it is). I'm also running on the assumption that she'll be out there looking for jobs, and that she's recognizable and Google-able. So. If her resume came across your desk, would you hire her? Some things stand out to me on both sides of the argument.

Pro: Creativity. That's the obvious one. Not only is it a creative resignation, she put some time into it, which bodes well in a project-focused environment.

Con: Self-awareness. My guess is, without knowing the office situation, anybody who's worked with Spencer for several years and has seen his assistants come and go, probably knows there was a pattern of chauvinism, and may have warned her subtly. Either way, she made it two years before she knew where she really stood in her boss's eyes.

Pro: Willingness to learn from the bottom up. Jenny wanted to be a broker, so she came on as a broker's assistant to learn the business. She wasn't so arrogant in her job search to try to start higher than her abilities, and she apparently determined the path she would need to take to get where she wanted to be.

Con: Willingness to let the behavior cycle without her. Rather than go to HR with a harassment claim, Jenny called Spencer out in such a way that she probably can't file a claim now. Which means that anyone who hasn't seen her resignation or who doesn't connect it to her company, or who doesn't necessarily believe a clearly disgruntled employee, will sign on as Spencer's next assistant, and the cycle of chauvinism will continue. Her boss was doing something potentially illegal that will likely affect other people in the future – if she had gone through the proper reporting procedure, she would help others who might work for Spencer. There's a selfishness there I'm not crazy about as a potential employer.

Pro: Strong use of available tools. Spencer put monitoring software on the network. Jenny used it in a way not prescribed by her boss. Two thumbs up.

Con: The wardrobe change. I get that it's the throwing off of the business casual and the throwing on of the casual – the change from from the worker to the customer. Very artsy. But there's something about Jenny shucking the glasses and coming out from behind the white board on the first shot that screams to me, "I'm gonna do the talk show circuit for this!" Not crazy about the move.

I'm glad Jenny got out of a bad situation. I'm also glad that she recognized there were no bridges she needed to worry about burning, so it didn't matter how she did it. Whether or not I'd want her on my team in a work environment would strongly depend on what business I was in and what dynamics I hoped for within my team.

My post on places to bring colleagues and clients got a bunch of reaction on LinkedIn. I said Freedom of Espresso in Franklin Square, Edward Thomas, Alto Cinco, Al's and Burnet Park.

Here was the LinkedIn response. [Note: After I created this post, more comments were added, so they didn't make it. Be sure to check out the Linked Syracuse group for more!]

Links to some of these places:

• Century Club
• Empire
• Kitty Hoynes
• The Mission
• L'Adour
• Dinosaur
• Heid's
• Onondaga Lake Park
• Tin Pan Galley [Warning: Music auto-plays]

My bars to work from were the Blue Tusk, Al's, Empire, the Limerick and Suds.

Bob has some great ideas, too. Not sure how comfortable I'd be bringing my laptop to Dino, but I like Bull & Bear as a spot, and Alto Cinco is a nice spot.

In comments, Greg added Clark's, which I wish had more electricity, but I'm still down.

The brief 5 places... series received a bunch of feedback. Wow! So now we're going to do your takes for the next few days.

My 5 coffee shops to work from were Recess, Kubal, Funk N Waffles, and two Freedom of Espresso stores.

On LinkedIn, Jill hadn't previously heard of Kubal, and Bob pointed out that it's really small. Glenn suggested the Route 57 Starbucks:

Other places that came up in comments:

• Sugarpearl
• Strong Hearts
• Second Story
• Freedom of Espresso's other two locations
• The cafe at Syracuse University's Bird Library

After my post last week about coffee shops to work at in the Syracuse area, Jill asked if I'd write a post about places to bring colleagues and clients:

So here we are.

1. Freedom of Espresso, Franklin Square. OK, this was on my coffee shop list, too, but that makes sense, right? I sort of use it as an office sometimes, and this Freedom store is convenient to downtown, but outside of the bustle. And did I mention there's a hot dog cart across the street at lunch time? Well, when the weather supports it, anyway.

2. Alto Cinco. Alto Cinco, for you non-Spanish speakers out there, translates literally to "high five." If you need another reason to bring a client or colleague, try it yourself first. The atmosphere is cozy (they've avoided expansion though they could easily fill a room three times that size), the food is really good, and if you need a wine recommendation, they're right there for you. Bonus: It's across the street from Recess so you can grab some joe or hot chocolate on your way out. No wifi at the restaurant, but it's a good spot for a meeting anyway.

3. Edward Thomas Cigar. OK, this is kind of a boys' club. As in I'm not really sure they'd know how to react if a woman walked in (any volunteers?). But Edward Thomas's new digs are pretty sweet. Most of the space is now members-only; really a ploy to let people bring in some booze. There's a non-member smoking lounge with a big TV. There's no alcohol allowed and the wifi is weak back there. The rest of the place, however, has a strong wifi signal and members can bring a cocktail and a guest or two. The space includes a large room with a dozen flat panel TVs and leather recliners; computer carrels; a conference room; a poker room; and a more open room with one of those coffee tables with a top that lifts toward you.

4. Al's Wine & Whiskey. Al's made my bars to work from post last week. Pull up one of the couches, or take over the pool table in the back room. If you tip your bartender, s/he might even surrender the back room remote control.

5. Burnet Park. Again, no wifi, but Burnet Park has a zoo, a golf course, a pool, a skating rink, a basketball court and softball fields, in addition to some open space. And if you feel the need for food and drink, both Nibsy's and Coleman's are within a few blocks.

Yesterday we did my favorite coffee shops to work from in the area. Well, it's Friday and you're ready to get your weekend on, so where can you get a good brew while finishing up for the week?

1. The Blue Tusk. OK, so the Tusk is over-priced, has consistently mediocre food and a staff that could care a little more. They have a great beer list, and a back room with two little counters that have electrical outlets and wifi from about six different places. There's almost never anybody back there, and even the bar staff will forget you're back there if you stick around long enough. Just don't get locked in!

2. Al's Wine & Whiskey. You kind of have to sneak around at Al's to snag some electricity, but the food is excellent, as are the happy hour specials. They keep a rotating selection of 20 bottles of wine available for $20 each, and if you don't finish it, they'll give you the rest in a to-go bag (for realz). They also have decent beers and a fair whiskey and fine spirits selection, as far as the local scene goes (check 'em out). The place is comfy, and they managed to get entirely rid of the cigar smell from when they allowed that kind of thing. Just watch out for your mouse – they kept the holes in the counter where the ashtrays were!

3. Empire Brewing. Empire probably gets the two biggest thumbs up for food and drink. But the basement location means poor reception for some cell phones, and there's not much electricity. I'd take the last remaining hour of your laptop battery here and plan to spend a few hours "finishing up."

4. The Limerick. Terrible website aside, the Limerick is much bigger and much cleaner than you remember it. And those two cute little side counters across from the bar? They have lamps on them and electrical outlets below them. I get pretty strong wifi signals there from several different sources, and the place doesn't get crowded until 8ish. You'll also be the only working there (unless I'm there, too).

5. Syracuse Suds Factory. For the last time, no, the Suds Factory does not make soap. They make delicious beer (though, to be honest, not as delicious as Empire). It's got a great hardwood-and-exposed-brick atmosphere, and they're happy to share their wireless password if you show that you're buying while you're working. There's unfortunately only one outlet in the entire place and it's nowhere near the bar. Order some food, though; it's consistently awesome.

photo credit: Mike McCune

Over at Outspoken the other day, Lisa Barone wrote about some etiquette for working at coffee shops. Basically, it's how to grab some focus while not being a jackass to other customers, and, more importantly, to the business you're patronizing.

You should read that post, then come back; I'll tell you my favorite coffee shops to work from in the Syracuse area.

1. Recess Coffee. Recess is tucked in the Westcott neighborhood and is open late. There's free on-street parking within a block, although during the school year it can get tough to find parking since the students who rent in the area are stuck parking on the street. They roast their own coffee, and it's clear they're coffee drinkers, because the coffee's really good. They also have creative hot chocolates that bring a lot of people back. They don't have a ton of electricity, so bring a fully charged laptop. And bring headphones; the music can sometimes get a little loud.

2. Freedom of Espresso, Franklin Square. For me, this is the most comfortable of the Freedom stores to work from (and one of two to make my top five spots in town). It's comfortable, has electricity all the way along one wall, and, with the exception of the fact that without fail someone will make or take a really loud phone call during the day, it's the quietest cafe in town. The wifi is stable, parking is plentiful, and if you need a little inspiration, there's a statue of Benjamin Franklin across the street and the CreekWalk about 50 steps in the other direction. There's also a hot dog cart at lunchtime. Word.

3. Funk 'n' Waffles. Funk has the strongest coffee in town, and really good food. Seriously, where else in town can you get fried chicken & waffles? They have overstuffed chairs, plenty of electricity, very stable wifi...the only thing that makes me shy away from going there is the parking. It's on the SU hill, so you're either going to pay a fortune for parking or walk a mile. It's great for consolidating trips up there, though.

4. Cafe Kubal. Kubal is another place that roasts its own coffee and clearly is run by coffee lovers. They also make brilliant sandwiches. It's open before 8 a.m., which makes it a winner for me, since I like to get going early. There's plenty of free parking, too. Unfortunately, it's tiny, the machines can get loud, and it can get crowded. The electricity per capita is really good, if you can get a seat.

5. Freedom of Espresso, Fayetteville. The only real problem with this Freedom store is the wifi is iffy. They have plenty of large leather chairs, and a long counter space in front of the window that is meant to be workspace – it has electricity for every seat, and a space between the counter and the wall for cables. Plenty of free parking next to the store and in the back.

Tomorrow, it being Friday, we'll get your happy hour on with my favorite bars to work from.

photo credit: Ballistik Coffee Boy