I kind of fell into the independent thing. A bunch of people got laid off where I worked. The ones who got jobs helped the others out the best they could. A friend helped me get a contract to finish an app for a company he started working for. That turned into a 3 month contract and then into a 1 year contract. It has been real nice but it can be difficult.
I have a few friends that know what I can do so it helps me a lot. I am also working on some free CF apps to help me show off my skills for future jobs. Plus some of us are putting together a site that will show off the things we can do. Everything form design, Flash, CF, writing, whatever. It's just a place to highlight our skills. Plus it is a lot of fun. :] I think the best thing to do would be get some side jobs and see how you like it. If it works out, then keep getting more jobs until you can go it alone. I know that is easier said than done. Just remember that as long as you have cf-commuity you will never be alone. :) Phillip > > Hi there, > > Just curious as to how many of you are independent consultants versus > full-timers. I'm a full-timer, and have luckily not been one of the > "casualties" over the last couple years. Business is good, however, > building up someone else's company versus my own, with the possibility > of getting laid off, or the company going under any time, makes me > really think about my business/marketing experience, combined with > internet development experience, and whether now is the time to begin > "spreading my wings" toward independent status. Have either of you > recently taken this "leap" into independent status? Perhaps some of you > have found independent status lonely, and have become "wage slaves" > again - if so, what were your experiences? My thoughts are that as > developers, some of us are not as "marketing savvy" as we are > "development savvy", so taking the leap into independent status could be > like tying an anchor onto ones ankles, and jumpping off a cliff into the > storming seas. I'm considering taking that dive, however, want to "soar > like an eagle", keeping an eye out for opportunities, and catching as > many "business development proposals" as are out there, bringing them > back to my perch to build, then deliver. Excuse the cliches....just > feeling a bit entertaining at the moment. Have any of you "soared like > an eagle" lately - if so, what advice can you give to those entertaining > the idea? Have either of you been successful with beginning to spread > your wings by catching evening and weekend gigs - if so, what marketing > strategies do you use? > > Cheers! > Chuck > > ______________________________________________________________________ Your ad could be here. Monies from ads go to support these lists and provide more resources for the community. http://www.fusionauthority.com/ads.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
