Update: I expanded a bit on this as well.

I love to plug other developers, even for work that I could do. One of my favourite things to do is to help others succeed, and not just in development.

Over the years I’ve taught beginners skills in:

  1. Whitewater Kayaking
  2. Rock Climbing
  3. Cycling
  4. General Business

I taught beginners in kayaking after dropping 40 foot waterfalls on the weekend. I taught them because it often felt more fulfilling to see someone get their first roll, than it did for me to throw myself off a waterfall.

I taught kids (literally high school students) rock climbing locally. The day I got my first 5.12a climb, so did one of my students. I was way happier that she did it than I was that I did it.

Plugging Another Business

A number of years back (which makes it decades in internet time) I recommended someone else as a great designer. At the time, I certainly needed the work but so did they. I distinctly remember getting chastised by another Twitter user with something to the effect of:

Why would you say that someone else does good work, they are your competitor? Just sell yourself.

On the surface that sounds like sound advice. I am in ‘competition’ for work with many of the people I talk to online and offline. In theory we are trying to get the same clients so we can pay our bills.

The reality is that every time I have plugged someone, or sent them work I’ve got something in return. Some day they have work that they just can’t do, and the first person they look to as a referral is me.

Not only is there some financial benefit at some point, there is a benefit to me personally right away. I just feel great when I can give work to someone else. Helping them out becomes the highlight of my working week.

If you’re not plugging other’s, you should be. It’s not going to affect your business in any bad way. It’s going to turn around and give back to you.

photo credit: Kalexanderson via photopin cc

3 responses to “You Should be Plugging other Developers”

  1. John Saddington Avatar

    love. this.

    It’s crazy how much crap I personally get (not just corporately) around WP Daily since it’s our full-time business to promote others… and yet we still get hounded (daily, go figure) about if we’re doing it “right” or “wrong” – the only winner on the internet is… the internet. everyone else is a pure outright loser.

    🙂

    1. Curtis McHale Avatar
      Curtis McHale

      Someone is always going to think you’re doing it wrong. The ‘best’ part is often they are doing nothing. I’d admit that there are items on WP Daily that I think are ‘wrong’ but it’s not my business, so why do I even get a say. If it’s ‘wrong’ enough I’ll write about it, otherwise it’s simply not how I would do it.

      Doing something in a different way from me, does not make it wrong.

  2. Greg Wallace Avatar

    I grew my last company by getting to know my competitors and would recommend doing the same to everyone. They in turn passed on some of the best opportunities via collaborative projects. You will always have your own niche skills or client experience which you will be able to help others with and vice versa.