Gedy Rivera's Blog

Finally a week with actual spring weather. Time to rock the sandals. #toeweather #neontoes #yayspring [Flickr]

creativegedy — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:48:00 PDT

creativegedy posted a photo:

Work night essentials. #candles #lotion #lipbalm #makea16hourworkdayokay [Flickr]

creativegedy — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:56:35 PDT

creativegedy posted a photo:

Today's dinner. #yum #tacos [Flickr]

creativegedy — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:43:58 PDT

creativegedy posted a photo:

Everything is better with tea. [Flickr]

creativegedy — Tue, 14 May 2013 19:01:46 PDT

creativegedy posted a photo:

The last time that 42 stands in the K's mound. #wewillmissyou #marianorivera #bestcloserever #yankees [Flickr]

creativegedy — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:46:03 PDT

creativegedy posted a photo:

Someone asked: How would you get rid of a pesky client? I provided quotes for projects with revisions, but they are going overboard with changes, want custom illustrations/icons, etc. more time than I estimated and very much a pain. No contract, deliverables already paid.

Fri, 06 May 2011 10:42:00 -0500

Kick them in the throat. Nah just kidding. :-/

I first try to speak with them in a very calm and honest manner. I let them know that I want the best for their project but I feel that we might be going off track and I want to see how we can get back in the game. My goal is to always find out what went wrong and steer the ship back to it’s original course. If that direction is no longer working, then we need to stop and see if the original plan needs adjusting. Usually if that is the case, I have no problem with letting them know that because we’re changing directions or because we’re doing more than what we agreed to do, there will be extra fees. I give them a few days to think it over and in most cases, they agree that it’s best to stay with the old plan.

Even though it’s challenging, it is an important part of our job is to manage a project so that it doesn’t get out of control. Believe it or not, I’ve even heard some of my clients apologize because they had no idea it was happening until I brought it up.

I have also had some clients that are a tad bit more difficult and unfortunately, no matter how I tried to help or bring things back to what we had originally agreed upon, they want to take control and change the course of the project, most of the time, without paying a cent. In that case, even if we’re in the middle of the project and they have already paid, it is up to me to make a decision. Do I want to continue working with someone that has no respect for my time and experience? Do I get that nasty feeling in my stomach at the sight of one of their emails come through my inbox? Is this causing me unneeded stress? Would I rather keep up with their nonsense just for the money? Asking myself these questions helps me determine whether it’s time to let go, not just of the client, but also letting go part of the money they have paid (depending on your agreed terms), etc.

In the end, we have to take control. We’re the “professionals”. Even though we’re web designers and project management might not be what we are best at, these are really good opportunities to grow in that area of our career.

A good way to avoid these predicaments, even though they are bound to happen from time to time, is to be 100% clear with your client from the very beginning. Lay it all on the table. Be honest, no bull crap. They will appreciate it. It is also a good chance for you to see any red flags early on and determine what you want to do at that point without wasting yours or their time.

Ask me anything.

Me & my 86-year old grandma. Isn’t she beautiful?!...

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:01:14 -0500

Me & my 86-year old grandma. Isn’t she beautiful?! (Taken with instagram)

Sharing Secrets in our Community

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:31:29 -0500

I read an article on the Forbes blog called ‘No You Can’t Pick My Brain. It Costs Too Much’ and was really curious to know how the design/developer community feels about this topic?

In a ‘dog-eat-dog’ world, how much can you share before you start giving away the secrets to your success?

We pay for art school, conferences, books, subscriptions & tutorial sites to be able to stay in the game. But in our community, there is a large amount of designers/developers that give a lot of their secrets away for little or no cost at all.

What makes us different from any other industry out there?

Latest dribbble shot - experimenting with shadows/lighting &...

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:40:23 -0500

Latest dribbble shot - experimenting with shadows/lighting & texture http://drbl.in/ZmC #ampersand #et #wood (Taken with Instagram at Home)

Took a pic of these lights right before an employee told me I...

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:09:38 -0500

Took a pic of these lights right before an employee told me I wasn’t allowed to take pictures. :-/ (Taken with Instagram at Forever 21)

Sleepy Kitteh! (Taken with instagram)

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:33:52 -0500

Sleepy Kitteh! (Taken with instagram)

Why Apple is killing it in the tablet market. via @9to5

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:13:00 -0500

Why Apple is killing it in the tablet market.

via @9to5

Featured: Kyle Steed I loved this project from beginning to end....

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:42:48 -0500

Featured: Kyle Steed

I loved this project from beginning to end. A must have, for sure.

If you have an iPhone, you need Instagram. If you have...

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:50:32 -0500

If you have an iPhone, you need Instagram. If you have Instagram, then you need Inkstagram. This takes the app to a whole new level. Photo sharing has now become even more fun.

workersoftheweb:

Inkstagram.com | Finally. Access your @instagram photos on a real rootin’-tootin’ website from @joshink. (thanks Instagram for the newly-launched API!)

Do you watch adventure time?

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 15:43:55 -0500

What’s that? :)

H&FJ Typefaces Join the MoMA Permanent Collection

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:11:38 -0600

WOW! This is amazing.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York has announced the acquisition of four H&FJ type families — HTF Didot, Gotham, Mercury and Retina — for the MoMA permanent collection.

Kids marshmallow test I could watch this all day.

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:21:48 -0600

Kids marshmallow test

I could watch this all day.

Hiatus

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:28:18 -0600

OMG. It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged. Sorry ya’ll. It’s been a crazy few months. Will blog about it soon to give you an update. Some sad stuff but a LOT of exciting stuff. Stay tuned.

FaceTime with a special someone (by Gedy Rivera)

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:33:45 -0500

FaceTime with a special someone (by Gedy Rivera)

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people."

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:07:49 -0500

““Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.””

- Eleanor Roosevelt

This blog post is a call to action. I need your help. For...

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:35:00 -0500

This blog post is a call to action. I need your help.

For the past year, my sister Leilani (@heanvnlyflwr) has been a caregiver to two amazing young men, Mike & Joey Pizzurro.

Mike & Joey have a condition called Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN); a condition so rare that approximately 20 cases in the entire world have been reported. GAN is so rare that there are no medicines to treat the condition, only its symptoms. The Pizzurro’s have been trying to obtain different grants to be able to pay for research so that they can improve the quality of Mike & Joey’s lives as well as to prolong them and eventually find a cure.

I beg of you to take some time every day until the end of the month to text 101885 to 73774 (PEPSI). If you do, and they win, Pepsi will grant them $250,000 for this much needed research.

If you have a facebook account, you can also click here to vote.

Since last year, I have had the privilege of meeting Mike & Joey through Skype video and they are the most amazing human beings you will ever meet. They are both in their 20’s and are full of hope and desire to live every minute of their lives.

Below is a video about them and the condition. I pray that you could help.

Thank you,

Gedy

Mike’s Facebook & Joey’s Facebook

Just bought this beauty through Etsy.

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:47:16 -0500

Just bought this beauty through Etsy.

My Convictions

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 11:16:25 -0500

I had an interesting dream a few days ago. One that really changed my perspective about my faith.

In my dream I was telling someone about Jesus; about who He is and what He did. I remember speaking with such conviction and passion. The type of conviction and faith I have never experienced in real life, I was experiencing it right there, in my dream. It was as if I was a first-hand witness to the things of which I was speaking of.

When I woke up, I was more convinced than I have ever been about who I follow and why. I was in tears, so grateful for the encounter that I had just experienced. It left me hungry, wanting for more, not just to know, but to understand. I don’t know anything about this man, Jesus. I thought I did, but my dream led me to believe otherwise. I have to know more.

See, I was born into a Christian family. I have been told about Jesus my entire life. Sadly I grew up more scared of Him than wanting to know Him. I was constantly told that He didn’t like me because of all the wrong that I did. I thought I could never please Him because I always messed up, and bad. When I was 18, after going through some of the most difficult circumstances I’ve ever had to endure, I was vulnerable enough to open my heart and gave my life to Him, but it wasn’t until I was 25 that I really began to understand who and why.

Just like anything in life, when you want to devote your entire self to something/someone, you have to go after it with passion, with motivation, like you really want it. A few days ago, I thought I was ‘devoted’ to Jesus. I now know that I wasn’t, maybe from lips, but not from my heart. Things have to change. I must go after Him with a relentless spirit, with passion, with all that I am.

Today, I confess, once again: I am convinced. Jesus is the son of God. I will love and follow Him for the rest of my days. I will devote my life to the knowledge of Him.

Is this too cute or what?! thereisapapaya: (via...

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:52:49 -0500

Is this too cute or what?!

thereisapapaya:

(via thethinkingtank)

I believe it was 1998 when this video came out. It was my...

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:19:58 -0500

I believe it was 1998 when this video came out. It was my favorite.

audreyjapburn:

torn /// Natalie Imbruligia