Whether you are freelance, full time or even just learning; a support network is essential for anyone in web. I am not talking cables and data back up here, even the phone number for apple care. What I am talking about is those people who save you when you are about to commit design suicide, or when that pixel perfect CSS right float seems so far away. A support network in this sense can be friends, colleagues and online communities.
For me, my own network is essential and something that I am becoming more and more grateful of during this leap back into freelance. My network is a two way street and as a result has actually even brought me work. Scratching each others backs in web is really a good hobby and you never know when you will need a favor returned. What it really comes down to is remembering that any network is a two way street. As such, you have to give and take the resources. I like to think of it in terms of a bartering bank. There are times when you end up just taking for a time, but if you just remember the golden rule of giving back you soon find that even your smallest deposit ends up reaping dividends.
As with everyone else, the network grows and ebbs and flows with members. I find that my own has a variety of different levels which I know come in handy for different things. If I ever have any project overflowing or a client comes to me needing something that I am unable to provide; my first port of call is my network. This is my reserve of associates that I know do a sound job and that I can work well with.
I often like to think of my network like some sort of web swiss army knife. I also recognise the importance of my network over any other resource that I have at hand. Bookmarks, websites and books can be regained. However, the support network is something I hold dear and make sure is healthy and maintained. These are the people after all that have given me back my sanity on more than one occasion and I have yet to see a bookmark do that.
My own network sort of evolved randomly, which I think is really the way it happens. Some come from various communities, other work and others just friends. But, without these people at the end of the messenger I know that I would not be doing as well as I am currently. I would like to just take a moment to thank my support network for all their time recently, you know who you are and this is to remind you I am grateful.
I know just how you feel. I’ve been saved by my network a bunch, and it feels great too, especially as a woman, to be able to help others when they need a hand as well.