Post by thread:[OT] resources for going solo?

Been there. If 7AM-9PM six days a week is flexible, then yes, it's flexible. Uncle Sam will steal more of your paycheck percentage-wise than before. If you like dealing with customers who won't pay, you'll have a lot of fun. Andy Not trying to scare/discourage you, just being realistic. Jim Hartmann <spam_OUTJim_HartmannTakeThisOuTSILENTKNIGHT.COM> on 03/28/2000 11:20:05 AM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <.....PICLISTKILLspam@spam@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> To: PICLISTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES) Subject: [OT] resources for going solo? Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? Thanks, Jim

On Tue, 28 Mar 2000 09:36:12 -0800, you wrote: {Quote hidden}>Jim Hartmann <PICLISTspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > >> Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping >> out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? > > Jim: > > I'm sure that there are lots of books on the subject, but I > haven't read any, so I can't recommend one. > >> Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > -Andy > > >=== Andrew Warren - @spam@fastfwdKILLspamix.netcom.com >=== Fast Forward Engineering - San Diego, California >=== http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499 Yeah that flexible hours thing is just what you tell your wife so she will show some enthusiasm for your plan! The really big picture always escapes mine (I hope she doesn't learn how to use Deja news!) Dave Duley

1: Don't quit your day job until you have a lot of work on the side. Consultant work will build slowly, as your reputation takes a year or two to build. 2: You MUST be able to decisively conclude projects. If you tend to drift on in hours tinkering until it is optimally perfect, you will bury yourself in back work. 3: Most failures occur because one cannot either: Estimate hours accurately Deal with people diplomatically and arrive at agreements Manage your own time efficiently so that you finish things 4: You can choose any hours you like, as long as you work 12 per day. (at first) 5: Try to choose a special skill. If you perform anything for anyone, you might find that you do not have strong appeal or cannot command higher pay. 6: Decide how long you want to do it. Most people do not have the high energy to do it for more than a decade. You should plan to gracefully exit at some point to a regular position. Being a principle in a startup is a common out. 7: If maried, make sure your marriage will survive OK. It is not worth ditching your spouse. Chris Eddy Jim Hartmann wrote: > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping out > and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? Are flexible hours > and schedule a realized advantage?

Add my Amen to Chris's comments. One resource that I have watched grow is the magazine MIDNIGHT ENGINEER edited and published by Bill Gates (Not THE B.G.) Also includes PC JOURNAL and Robotics under one cover. Lots of practical "I've been there" type information. I'm finding item six to be very true. I've played entrepreneur for 20+ years now. And its getting OLD. Really would like to have a 9-4 type job with all the perks, and have some time for me for a change. Figure I've got about a year left on my own. Then that principle in a IPO sounds really attractive. Kelly At 12:14 PM 3/28/00 -0500, you wrote: >1: Don't quit your day job until you have a lot of work on the side. >Consultant work will build slowly, as your reputation takes a year or two to >build. > >2: You MUST be able to decisively conclude projects. If you tend to drift >on in hours tinkering until it is optimally perfect, you will bury yourself in {Quote hidden}>back work. > >3: Most failures occur because one cannot either: > Estimate hours accurately > Deal with people diplomatically and arrive at agreements > Manage your own time efficiently so that you finish things > >4: You can choose any hours you like, as long as you work 12 per day. (at >first) > >5: Try to choose a special skill. If you perform anything for anyone, you >might find that you do not have strong appeal or cannot command higher pay. > >6: Decide how long you want to do it. Most people do not have the high >energy to do it for more than a decade. You should plan to gracefully exit at {Quote hidden}>some point to a regular position. Being a principle in a startup is a common >out. > >7: If maried, make sure your marriage will survive OK. It is not worth >ditching your spouse. > >Chris Eddy > >Jim Hartmann wrote: > >> Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping out >> and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? Are flexible hours >> and schedule a realized advantage? > > William K. Borsum, P.E. -- OEM Dataloggers and Instrumentation Systems <KILLspamborsumKILLspamdascor.com> & <http://www.dascor.com>San Diego, California, USA

I am fortuate. I have my own niche market manufacturing company (# on employees: me, part time) that is quickly growing. Hope to quit my "normal" job sometime early next year and go full time. My fiance works already as an electronic assembler. We already have it worked out that when I get busy enough to hire someone, she will quit her job and we will do the business together as husband and wife. I know what some of you are already going to say, as much as you love your wife you wouldn't want to spend all day with her. Luckily my engineering lab/office is seperate than the production benchs. Can easily regulate the time we spend (or don't spend) around each other. My last relationship failed cause she didn't WANT to work on things together but she was jeleous cause I was doing things without her. A no-win situation. Summery: 1) Have a very understanding woman, or 2) Have a woman willing to help/share, or 3) Make sure your business lawyer handles divorces also. Tony Nixon wrote: {Quote hidden}> Chris Eddy wrote: > > > 7: If maried, make sure your marriage will survive OK. It is not worth > > ditching your spouse. > > Or your family ditching you. > > I have to agree whole heartedly on this one. > > I was just about to pack up and leave most of what I was doing and the > PIClist and disappear into oblivion because a short time ago I paid that > price for doing too much work for too long. > > Work is fine, but family must take precedence 'always'. > > I condsider myself real lucky at the moment because after rearranging my > priorities, things may work out. > > -- > Best regards > > Tony > > http://www.picnpoke.com > spamBeGonesalesspamBeGonepicnpoke.com

> ** Original Subject: RE: [OT] resources for going solo? > ** Original Sender: Brian Kraut <TakeThisOuTengaltEraseMEspam_OUTEARTHLINK.NET> > ** Original Date: 29 Mar 2000 00:00:55 -0000 > ** Original Message follows... > > > > Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > > > -Andy > > > > As long as the way you like to schedule your 80(conservative) hours agrees > with your customers, suppliers, and family if you still have one. Yep, my fiancee left me for a time because of the whole fiasco of privateering. One man can only do so much, then if he is lucky he gets to sleep. Rob Download NeoPlanet at http://www.neoplanet.com

Jim, "DO WHAT YOU LOVE, The Money Will Follow". I don't remember the author, but she wrote a couple of books about "finding your ideal niche" and there are some first person entrepreneurial accounts. Bottom line is, take your time to prepare the transition. Get all your ducks in a row because you can probably afford to do this only once. Be very sure you LOVE what you're gonna do, cause you'll have little time for anything else. Don't do it for the money!! BTW all companies need sales and accounting. In a one man shop a lot of time is taken up doing sales, accounting, and management. If you HATE that stuff think about a partnership. Have a great day, and GOOD LUCK, Dan Andrew Warren wrote: {Quote hidden}> Jim Hartmann <RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > > > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping > > out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? > > Jim: > > I'm sure that there are lots of books on the subject, but I > haven't read any, so I can't recommend one. > > > Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > -Andy > > === Andrew Warren - fastfwdEraseME.....ix.netcom.com > === Fast Forward Engineering - San Diego, California > === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499 -- Daniel Hart Embedded System Design Engineer NBS Technologies, Inc. (Card Technology Corp.) 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA +1 201 845 7373 x183 EraseMEdhartnbstech.com

Good point! I would never go out on my own again unless I had somebody to: A) meet people and sell them on my services B) take care of the accounting C) badger customers for payment D) screen phone calls Andy Daniel Hart <RemoveMEdhartEraseMEEraseMENBSTECH.COM> on 03/29/2000 08:19:42 AM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <RemoveMEPICLISTspam_OUTKILLspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> To: RemoveMEPICLISTTakeThisOuTspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES) Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? Jim, "DO WHAT YOU LOVE, The Money Will Follow". I don't remember the author, but she wrote a couple of books about "finding your ideal niche" and there are some first person entrepreneurial accounts. Bottom line is, take your time to prepare the transition. Get all your ducks in a row because you can probably afford to do this only once. Be very sure you LOVE what you're gonna do, cause you'll have little time for anything else. Don't do it for the money!! BTW all companies need sales and accounting. In a one man shop a lot of time is taken up doing sales, accounting, and management. If you HATE that stuff think about a partnership. Have a great day, and GOOD LUCK, Dan Andrew Warren wrote: {Quote hidden}> Jim Hartmann <EraseMEPICLISTspamspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > > > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping > > out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? > > Jim: > > I'm sure that there are lots of books on the subject, but I > haven't read any, so I can't recommend one. > > > Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > -Andy > > === Andrew Warren - RemoveMEfastfwdKILLspamix.netcom.com > === Fast Forward Engineering - San Diego, California > === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499 -- Daniel Hart Embedded System Design Engineer NBS Technologies, Inc. (Card Technology Corp.) 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA +1 201 845 7373 x183 dhartSTOPspamspam_OUTnbstech.com

Sounds like a recipe for a contract or outsourcing firm. Maybe that would be more suitable for me... Andrew Kunz <spamBeGoneakunzSTOPspamEraseMETDIPOWER.COM>STOPspamEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU> on 03/29/2000 07:40:52 AM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <KILLspamPICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU> Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list <EraseMEPICLISTEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU> To: @spam@PICLIST@spam@spam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? Good point! I would never go out on my own again unless I had somebody to: A) meet people and sell them on my services B) take care of the accounting C) badger customers for payment D) screen phone calls Andy Daniel Hart <spamBeGonedhartKILLspamNBSTECH.COM> on 03/29/2000 08:19:42 AM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <.....PICLISTspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> To: TakeThisOuTPICLIST.....TakeThisOuTMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES) Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? Jim, "DO WHAT YOU LOVE, The Money Will Follow". I don't remember the author, but she wrote a couple of books about "finding your ideal niche" and there are some first person entrepreneurial accounts. Bottom line is, take your time to prepare the transition. Get all your ducks in a row because you can probably afford to do this only once. Be very sure you LOVE what you're gonna do, cause you'll have little time for anything else. Don't do it for the money!! BTW all companies need sales and accounting. In a one man shop a lot of time is taken up doing sales, accounting, and management. If you HATE that stuff think about a partnership. Have a great day, and GOOD LUCK, Dan Andrew Warren wrote: {Quote hidden}> Jim Hartmann <TakeThisOuTPICLISTKILLspamspamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > > > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping > > out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? > > Jim: > > I'm sure that there are lots of books on the subject, but I > haven't read any, so I can't recommend one. > > > Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > -Andy > > === Andrew Warren - .....fastfwdRemoveMEix.netcom.com > === Fast Forward Engineering - San Diego, California > === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499 -- Daniel Hart Embedded System Design Engineer NBS Technologies, Inc. (Card Technology Corp.) 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA +1 201 845 7373 x183 RemoveMEdhartspamBeGonenbstech.com

As much fun as working on 'tronics can be, the damn things are hard and usually cold at night ain't they? I've done about 500 things to seriously screw up my relationship with my wife and family, but I've been very lucky to be married to a "mental health professional" so when she says I'm being nutty, I have no choice but to listen. <GRIN> Really, its just that my wife is very patient and I've always made the choice to change and grow in a way that keeps us together. I'm five years clean and sober, for example. I'm one year clean and... unstressed? from being a workaholic and that just as nearly cost me my family as the Irish Coffee and Baileys. Working too hard is not good. I've needed to do some consulting lately to pay unexpected bills (slab homes do get ground termites) but its been with my wife's agreement. When she says the bills are paid (she pays them as I can't stand to see my money leave <GRIN>) I will cut back again. The best approach, I think is to wait until you can do something in a few hours that grows cheaply and is agreed upon, managed, and worked by your entire family. Still looking.... maybe the techref will get to the point that I can sell ads or content. The wife is rapidly getting internet addicted <GRIN>. Maybe I'll produce something that will become popular but still not time consuming, like my Scenix SX SMT prototyping adapter. I'll wait until it works out. If it doesn't, I'll still have an old woman and some kids to keep me busy. --- James Newton spamBeGonejamesnewton@spam@spam_OUTgeocities.com 1-619-652-0593 http://techref.massmind.org NEW! FINALLY A REAL NAME! Members can add private/public comments/pages ($0 TANSTAAFL web hosting) {Original Message removed}

If you partner you can control the agency fees. If you contract you have no way to know what the shop is getting unless you stipulate it in your contract (fat chance). Contractors can also lose a lot of opportunity to write off business expenses, and usually work for a single client (which is inherently unstable). Jim Hartmann wrote: {Quote hidden}> Sounds like a recipe for a contract or outsourcing firm. Maybe that would > be more suitable for me... > > Andrew Kunz <TakeThisOuTakunzspamTDIPOWER.COM>spamMITVMA.MIT.EDU> on 03/29/2000 07:40:52 AM > > Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list > <PICLISTEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU> > > Sent by: pic microcontroller discussion list <RemoveMEPICLISTEraseMEspam_OUTMITVMA.MIT.EDU> > > To: @spam@PICLISTRemoveMEEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU > cc: > Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? > > Good point! I would never go out on my own again unless I had somebody to: > > A) meet people and sell them on my services > B) take care of the accounting > C) badger customers for payment > D) screen phone calls > > Andy > > Daniel Hart <EraseMEdhart@spam@NBSTECH.COM> on 03/29/2000 08:19:42 AM > > Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list > <@spam@PICLISTspam_OUT.....MITVMA.MIT.EDU> > > To: spamBeGonePICLISTEraseMEMITVMA.MIT.EDU > > cc: (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES) > > Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? > > Jim, > "DO WHAT YOU LOVE, The Money Will Follow". I don't remember the author, but > she > wrote a couple of > books about "finding your ideal niche" and there are some first person > entrepreneurial accounts. > Bottom line is, take your time to prepare the transition. Get all your > ducks in > a row because you > can probably afford to do this only once. Be very sure you LOVE what you're > gonna do, cause you'll > have little time for anything else. Don't do it for the money!! > BTW all companies need sales and accounting. In a one man shop a lot of > time is > taken up doing > sales, accounting, and management. If you HATE that stuff think about a > partnership. > Have a great day, and GOOD LUCK, > Dan > > Andrew Warren wrote: > > > Jim Hartmann <PICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU> wrote: > > > > > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping > > > out and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? > > > > Jim: > > > > I'm sure that there are lots of books on the subject, but I > > haven't read any, so I can't recommend one. > > > > > Are flexible hours and schedule a realized advantage? > > > > Well, um, yeah... When you run your own business, you can > > schedule your 80-hour weeks any way you like. > > > > -Andy > > > > === Andrew Warren - RemoveMEfastfwd@spam@spamBeGoneix.netcom.com > > === Fast Forward Engineering - San Diego, California > > === http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2499 > > -- > > Daniel Hart > Embedded System Design Engineer > NBS Technologies, Inc. (Card Technology Corp.) > 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA > +1 201 845 7373 x183 .....dhart@spam@EraseMEnbstech.com -- Daniel Hart Embedded System Design Engineer NBS Technologies, Inc. (Card Technology Corp.) 70 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652, USA +1 201 845 7373 x183 .....dhartRemoveMEnbstech.com

Andrew wrote, >Good point! I would never go out on my own again unless I had somebody to: > > A) meet people and sell them on my services > B) take care of the accounting > C) badger customers for payment > D) screen phone calls > >Andy I am astounded at the response to this thread, Tony and James's responses have struck a cord here, about 2.5 years ago I took a part time job to finance development work, big hours followed as did a firm and emotional ultimatum from wife, now I am full time on contract for six months and angling for permanent. It seems that what is needed is a company that provides the infrasructure Andy mentions and farms out the work. So much talent appears to be not getting used to do what it does best. I would be better off giving half my hourly rate to a management company than trying to manage these issues myself. I have argued for many years that the tech input is the most valuable part of a project but I am now prepared to conceed that the management component is more valuable that the techo. Cheers Glen

Sounds like you've gained a certain respect for the pointer haired type <G> Andy Glen Torr <.....glentorrSTOPspam@spam@OZEMAIL.COM.AU> on 03/29/2000 03:41:52 PM Please respond to pic microcontroller discussion list <PICLISTEraseME@spam@MITVMA.MIT.EDU> To: RemoveMEPICLISTspamBeGoneMITVMA.MIT.EDU cc: (bcc: Andrew Kunz/TDI_NOTES) Subject: Re: [OT] resources for going solo? Andrew wrote, >Good point! I would never go out on my own again unless I had somebody to: > > A) meet people and sell them on my services > B) take care of the accounting > C) badger customers for payment > D) screen phone calls > >Andy I am astounded at the response to this thread, Tony and James's responses have struck a cord here, about 2.5 years ago I took a part time job to finance development work, big hours followed as did a firm and emotional ultimatum from wife, now I am full time on contract for six months and angling for permanent. It seems that what is needed is a company that provides the infrasructure Andy mentions and farms out the work. So much talent appears to be not getting used to do what it does best. I would be better off giving half my hourly rate to a management company than trying to manage these issues myself. I have argued for many years that the tech input is the most valuable part of a project but I am now prepared to conceed that the management component is more valuable that the techo. Cheers Glen

My experience has been that temp's are people who are unemployable at regular jobs, the skilled but unwanted. I would not recommend them. Now, before all the temps on the list jump down my neck, I'm sure there are exceptions; this is just my experience. Kinko's and the like are a better option for some work, and the wife (or husband or partner) is best! College kids are an idea, but I have no experience with that. Midnight engineering had a series of articles on this subject some time ago. I'll see if they are laying in plain site if anyone wants. --- James Newton spamBeGonejamesnewtonKILLspam@spam@geocities.com 1-619-652-0593 http://techref.massmind.org NEW! FINALLY A REAL NAME! Members can add private/public comments/pages ($0 TANSTAAFL web hosting) {Original Message removed}

Andy wrote: >Sounds like you've gained a certain respect for the pointer haired type > Glen wrote: > >I have argued for many years that the tech input is the most valuable part >of a project but I am now prepared to conceed that the management component >is more valuable that the techo. > Ahhhh ... "more valuable" ... invidious comparisons. So, let's try to summarize this. If we have a company of nothing but Dilberts, we have product, but probably a lot of wheel spinning and non-optimal revenue, too. If we have a company of pointy-hair types only, we have no product and no revenue, but we're dynamite at conducting strategic meetings [and we're well motivated too, I might add]. Oh, I left out the marketing types. If we have a company of only these guys, we have no product and no organization and no revenue, but everyone knows our name. Hey, it works. Most of the latest internet IPOs do it the last way. Who needs engineers? [and ditto for managers]. cheers, - G. A. Custer

> Jim Hartmann wrote: > > > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping out > > and tuning in" to the independent consulting business? Are flexible hours > > and schedule a realized advantage? There are only two reasons that someone will hire a consultant. 1) There is a labor shortage 2) You have specialized skills. Specialized skills will generally pay more for shorter period of time. If you have specialized skills they will not last if they are needed by the industry so you need to invest in developing new skills that will be needed. Someone told me as I was starting Byte Craft that as a consultant expect to do a Master's project every 6 months. The hours have been long at times very long. We focused on doing what we enjoyed and changing the delivery model from one on one consulting to distributed consulting. (Software tools development and publishing) It not the money it is the "There is a little bit of me in there", feeling you get in seeing the results. It is getting up in the morning after fours sleep and looking forward to the day that makes it all worth while. Would I do it again? Sure would. Walter Banks