My Dad’s side of the family is construction and I’ve found growing up on job sites has given me two great advantages:

1. No fear of heights. Running accross rooftops – that are only framed – doesn’t allow that “option”.

2. Major advantages for web development. So many of the same issues come up it’s almost scary. I guess when you think about it building a web site is conceptualy similar to building a building. You need to plan first, have a strng foundation, know how to work with customers (in both fields your word is who you are), solicit referals, develop word-of-mouth marketing, use the right tools, adhere to standards (clear navigation, accessable to handicapped, etc.), have some design sense (construction workers don’t like to talk about this but they use it constantly), have an understanding of space and geometry, deal with subcontractors, write contracts, keep timelines… It goes on and on.

When I encounter a real problem I often find myself wondering what my father or grandfather would do if they were in the same spot with one of their projects.