DIY is not for everyone
Despite being a trend these days, the Do It Yourself concept – referred to as DIY from here on – is nothing new. It’s been around since the Stone Age, ever since people decided to use sticks and rocks as tools and weapons. So, if you think you’re one inch cooler than the next guy, forget it, you’re getting the whole concept wrong.
Who should go for DIY?
There are three types of people that should go for DIY, and three only:
- Industry PROs;
- Industry savvy people;
- Amateurs.
Let see what each of them can achieve through DIY.
Industry PROs & DIY
Clearly, being a professional in the field you’re looking to apply DIY is a major perk. You’ve got what it takes, you have the knowledge, you have the skills and obviously the results are going to be of pro-level.
Industry savvy people & DIY
Being savvy with the online environment – for example – might help you get decent results through DIY. You’ve got the love for it, you’ve got some basic aptitudes, but don’t expect professional results. Such results are achieved through hard years of learning and working. Don’t get me wrong, pro-results can be a reality, but with a lot of time invested and quite a few trial-and-error mishaps.
Amateurs & DIY
If you’re looking to DIY and you know you’re an amateur at it, expect nothing else than amateurish results. Period.
Who should NOT go for DIY
If you’re not in any of the three categories above, then DIY is not for you. If you believe that you can boost your professional image (as a PRO in another field) by doing an amateurish DIY job, you’re wrong. It’s only going to hurt your professional appearance. Get some cash, settle a barter and let a PRO handle it. Do you think that a professional cars salesman (really good at his/her job) can benefit from a poorly executed DIY website? I don’t.
In my experience – and yet I let other people judge the level of my skills – it took me about 11 years to reach my current level of expertise, 11 years of being a web designer and more recently blogger. Where I lacked the formal training for it, I compensated with self-education, reading and lots of trials and errors.
Now, tell me what’s your story with DIY?
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That’s right Alex. Mine is completely DIY to the bone. But just like you said, it’s been “compensated with self-education, reading, lots of trials and errors”, and learning from bloggers like you.:)
Jun, the whole self-education is a tricky thing. Many people fall into the trap of thinking they’re really good at what they are learning. Being good at learning doesn’t necessarily make you good at applying it too. Putting the theory in practice is often a lot harder (if not impossible in some cases). I can learn a lot of theory about painting, but my hands are “too stiff” to be good at it.
In the end, you need to see how well are received the results of self-education. That’s where the trial and error actually kicks in.
I do DIY if I know I can but if not, I turn to professionals and those who really can do it. Expenses would be less if you let professionals do it rather than trying to do it yourself.
that’s why whe should leave some work to the professionals. but how do we know that professionals aren’t from the DIY’s group?