The basics of running business can be learned. And as programming skills are currently really sought after compared to almost any other skills, the only business skills you need to learn is basic sales skills and asking for more money.
The only strategy you need to understand is "follow the money". Always try to understand how critical the project is to customer's core money making activities. If the project is an experimental iPhone app for promotional purposes, the budget is likely to be constrained.
For some odd reason, asking for more money seem to be really hard for many developers. We seem to have some internal mental critic saying that "You are not worth it". You can read stories from HN of people who have to get drunk to be able to send a bill to the customer. I remember how I kept postponing sending my first 100€/h bill to customer because I had these looming thoughts that it was somehow unfair. Despite that the customer was a huge organization making millions a month, and my work had helped them enormously.
The only strategy you need to understand is "follow the money". Always try to understand how critical the project is to customer's core money making activities. If the project is an experimental iPhone app for promotional purposes, the budget is likely to be constrained.
For some odd reason, asking for more money seem to be really hard for many developers. We seem to have some internal mental critic saying that "You are not worth it". You can read stories from HN of people who have to get drunk to be able to send a bill to the customer. I remember how I kept postponing sending my first 100€/h bill to customer because I had these looming thoughts that it was somehow unfair. Despite that the customer was a huge organization making millions a month, and my work had helped them enormously.