Kevin Hicks 🚢

6-figure part-time freelancer while working a 9-5. Sharing how to become a better dev 💻, getting & keeping clients 💼, & build in public 🔧. DM's open 📨

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

I made this "My Year of Uncomfortable"

A year of doing things that I am scared to do. Already checking things off

• R̶e̶c̶o̶r̶d̶ ̶v̶i̶d̶e̶o̶s̶
• H̵o̵s̵t̵ ̵a̵ ̵s̵p̵a̵c̵e̵
• Release a book
• Make a game
• Podcast
• Make a course
• YouTube

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Good morning to everyone except those that say others are not developers just cause they work with a language they don't like

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Something every dev should do:

Work in multiple languages & frameworks

You will have more options to solve problems & know when something is actually a good idea instead of just something you like cause its the only way you know.

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Find your passion and pursue it.

It will be hard, and you will be challenged.

But it will be worth it.

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@brandymedia Yea I haven't worked on an app yet where I haven't had to do custom code with Cashier.

How did you like working with Spark?

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@Ethan_Mick That is a good ratio.

I used to be the other way but it makes it so hard to actually retain what you learn when you don't execute.

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Do developers always need to have expert knowledge of the tools they use?

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@mleitz1 I've seen too many microservices that also have tech debt.

It's everywhere 🫠

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Unpopular Opinion: Most tech debt is actually good for the business

There is good and bad tech debt just like there is good and bad debt with money

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@DishitDevasia Kids will do that haha.

My wake up time moved up a good 2 hours from my daughter but now she is starting to sleep longer some days so I'm getting it back to myself

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@DishitDevasia 😅

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@nilsgramckau Great goal.

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Good morning.

It's the start of a new week.

What is your goal for the week?

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@Ethan_Mick @letsencrypt @Cloudflare I mostly use LetsEncrypt, but mostly because using Laravel Forge for a lot of projects and built right in.

I have Cloudflare on the others not through Forge

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@margomulvihill Many things designers may care about people won't and some times it can be even hurt getting regular users to use your design

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@markoschmitt I'm working on finishing my guide for finding freelance clients & getting ready to start a new service for authors this week

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@DishitDevasia Yea.

Sometimes we just need to waste time and do nothing to relax

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

@markoschmitt I plan mine at the end of the day Friday.

It's a nice way to wrap up the week and the reward is to go enjoy my Friday night and start the weekend.

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

Checklist for a happy client:

✔️ Understand their business & goals
✔️ Complete milestones on time
✔️ Keep the client updated with the method & frequency they want
✔️Address issues immediately
✔️Have tough conversations when needed
✔️Do a high-quality job every time

[Kevin Hicks 🚢 @KevinHicksSW]

What is your favorite tool to use as a dev?