₦airaland Forum

I received an email today:

Hey Myles,

Was just hanging out with ***** this weekend and he mentioned your programming expertise and the fact that you might be taking time off in the coming month. I am resigning from my job in the next week to work on a startup idea for [insert description of app here]. I have effectively no programming experience and have been looking for a programmer to work with me on this project. If this is something you'd be interested in - or if you know someone who would have an interest in working on this kind of project - please let me know. You can also contact me on my cell: (*** *** ****). Thanks a lot man, *****.

My response

Hi *****, Great to hear from you - I hope all is well.
Your project sounds exciting, and I'm always glad to discover that people I know are feeling entrepreneurial. The world needs more of this attitude.
While ***** is correct that I have some programming experience and am not working for the next few weeks, I really can't afford to take on a project like this. I already have too much to get done and not enough time - I'm sorry.
Here are some thoughts however:
- The reality is that I get 3 or 4 emails per week similar to this one. In the current tech environment, any programmer worth their salt and known to be somewhat available is also getting these emails.
- If you want to snag a developer you're going to have to bring some value to the table. The developer is going to be asking himself, "why do I need you to execute this idea?" I could just build it myself..
- So, either you need to:

Have some way to pay the developer.
Have an impressive track record of expertise / success in the relevant industry.
Have considerable technical skills.
Have considerable design skills.

I don't want to dishearten you. I really look forward to seeing your app on the front-page of techcrunch : )
Good luck,
Myles

This kind of idea is the reason why programmers(especially, freelancers) get broke.
Source - http://blog.mkrecny.com/entry/23/

hi,

Let us know more details about your app. may be we can help you out.

sigmainfo: hi,

Let us know more details about your app. may be we can help you out.

I appreciate your offer but you seems to miss the gist in this story.

interesting piece

Rude, uncalled for response

He should have stopped after the second paragraph