I decided to start a consultancy instead of going into the startup world. For me, it was an easy decision.
I enjoy working with clients, and have been fortunate enough to cultivate a great client base. The clients I work with are involved in various public-interest areas. To me this is much more motivating and fulfilling than 98% of startup ideas. (That said, the other 2% are breathtaking).
The income side is quite nice. I'm consistently pulling down $30-$50k monthly. Much of what I don't spend gets invested and generates additional investment income. I have another muse business that I put some time into and I also invest in the businesses of a few friends.
Better still is that I took no outside money. I have complete control over the company and our decision-making.
I can be honest with the people around me about how things are going. I don't need to keep up appearances that "we're crushing it". When things are challenging I can share that with the people around me. I have an incredible group of mentors and people who provide support in various ways.
I have control over my time. I work a lot of hours, usually in the range of 70-90/week, but it's all of my own choosing. Nobody pressures me to pull all-nighters, or do death marches for deadlines. I can take time off during the days. It's great to be able to go for a hike or our for a drive on a Tuesday afternoon. I usually start my workday around noon, take a break in the evening and do another block of work in the night.
This lifestyle is much more compatible with having a fulfilling personal life. I'm able to spend more time with my family and friends, and really be present for the people that I care about when they need me. Dating and relationships are orders-of-magnitude easier.
I'm able to personally capture the value that I create. No fractional equity wing-and-a-prayer. No hoping that my work gets recognized come bonus time.
I have complete location independence. I was in 20 countries in 2012. So far this year (mid-august), I've been in 11. I'm writing this from São Paulo.
One of the most amusing things to me is that I still get contacted by recruiters telling me about "exciting opportunities" at "well-funded" startups with "competitive salaries" and such benefits as foosball tables and free snacks.
I have many friends in the startup scene. Once in a blue moon, I consult for startups. Mainly in the healthcare and knowledge management spaces. I respect the game, the hustle, and particularly the challenge of building something new and breaking into the market. I'm a big fan of Eric Ries, Steve Blank, and HN. I also find that many of the insights from lean startup, customer development thinking are equally applicable or adaptable to the world of consulting.
Maybe some day, I'll get the infection of a startup idea so inspiring that I decide to drop everything to pursue it. So far, I seem to be well-immunized against that.
If you think someone else's idea is a good idea, there's nothing shameful about working for "someone else's dream." Your motivation in anything you do should be that you are doing something that will make the world a better place, whether or not it was "your idea."
If you think someone has a great idea that you want to happen, then join in. Your motivation shouldn't be making yourself famous.
It's a good question. For me, right now, the thing holding me back is the risk. With a wife, a mortgage, and a baby on the way, leaving a well-paying "safe" job is a somewhat scary prospect. It wouldn't be impossible, but I haven't gathered the courage to make that jump yet.
I continue to work on side-projects, hoping to build enough momentum to reduce the risk to the point where making the jump seems reasonable.
I work for a startup myself and I am really enjoying it. It is a really great place to work.
Moreover, I am working on some projects on healthcare but it is difficult to find folks really interested in this field where I live (Oslo).
I got a lot of good ideas for apps and startups. I have worked as a programmer for $150,000/year jobs and have multiple degrees. In 2003 I became disabled and too sick to work.
I want to get back into working again, but I have this rare mental illness called schizoaffective disorder and it is misunderstood and has elements like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I am also 45 years old now, and too old for anyone to seriously consider for a startup.
I can write apps, but I am all by myself. No help, no support, no funding, and living on a shoestring budget. I have no criminal history no drug abuse, I don't even smoke or drink alcohol. I try to live a clean life so I can recover and get healthier.
My local area, Saint Louis, has a startup community I have tried to join many times and been rejected for being mentally ill or too old. They claim to accept everyone, but that is not true. I've been programming since I was 12 on a Commodore 64, self taught. I've taken many classes on programming and also read countless books and know about 37 different programming languages, most of which are no longer used, but I can convert code from say COBOL into modern languages. I know Classic Visual BASIC for example, and there are still business apps in VB6 out there. Because I learned FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, ADA, COBOL, C Language, 8088 Assembly, etc I know the root languages that modern languages are based on. It is much like knowing Latin and Greek to help with learning European languages better. It allowed me to learn C++, Java, Python, Ruby, Javascript, and many others. VB.Net was just VB6 modified with Java like syntax, and C# is basically Microsoft taking features from Java after they got sued over J++/J#.
I used to develop Windows CE, Blackberry, PalmOS, etc apps before Apple had the iPhone and before Android, Inc was formed in 2003. But those are obsolete.
I so much want to develop business apps for Linux and smartphones, but I know developing for Windows first is where you earn the bulk of your money. Apple has people thinking that business apps are creative content apps, but when I talk about business apps I mean apps that run a business with accounting, inventory, ledgers, accounts payable, accounts receivable, stuff that runs a business and does HR tracking of employees, and can be modified to suit a business' process like a glove and not a COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) solution that is inflexible.
I mean yeah, create free and open source business apps to help a small business run their business without paying tens of thousands of dollars for a Windows Server (Use Linux and save money) and then tens of thousands of dollars for the MS-Office license to use Sharepoint and other proprietary stuff. I want to use OpenOffice/LibreOffice and have apps that can run on Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Android, iOS and can use a MySQL Database instead of MS-SQL Server, etc.
Unlike most startups I can write a working business plan, I have prior business experience (I ran two small business PC repair shops that also did database and software work) I have over 25+ years of real world experience, and of course a computer and business degree with a 3.91 GPA.
My mental illness has some things in common with asperger's syndrome like low social skills, so it is hard for me to network and make friends. It is hard to get social clues or jokes sometimes, so people discriminate against me for that.
Sorry about your illness.
You seem to have lots of experience in this field and you should start working on some business apps for Linux and smartphone. You can also write a business plans and that's great.
In your life, you should focus on things that you are in control, such as your desire and goals.
You can't do much about things that you don't have control like people's opinions.
Start building, show what you are doing and probably, this people at Saint Louis will change their attitude. If they don't, you should not care at all. Some people will not understand how you feel until they get in the same your situation some day. Smile them back and try harder in what you love to do.
Have a great day!
P.S:Join some events like Startup Weekend, pitch your ideas or join other teams. It is a easier way to improve your social skills.
I am sorry to hear about your problem, and hope it will get better soon. I would suggest you to develop one of your ideas as a web app and start from there. The point of doing it as a web app is that it's cheaper to reach customers, and, hey, on internet nobody knows that you're a dog.
Hey man, sorry to hear about your illness. I know someone with schizophrenia and man it is a seriously sad and misunderstood disease. I don't have much to offer, but I was hoping just reaching out to give you a big Internet hug might brighten your day.
I tried that but treated it as a project and it didn't work.
Now I'm working in a uni project but I'm not happy in the job... too much bureocracy, and I don't get to write much software, which is what I thought I was going to do here...
I just graduated from college and got a very well paying job that has me using technologies relevant to my interests and thus, future startup ideas. The plan is to save up a lot of money and then boot strap my own company in a year or so.
I used to have the same sort of plan (there's something inherently attractive about it, prob something related to human psychology, not sure). Looking back though, I wish I had done more exploration while I had steady money coming in. Are you opposed to starting part-time on an idea right now?
I've gone through periods where I'm not working on a startup.
A lot of it had to do with having new babies and simply not having the energy to hold down a six figure day job and a work on something else after hours.
benzesandbetter|12 years ago
I enjoy working with clients, and have been fortunate enough to cultivate a great client base. The clients I work with are involved in various public-interest areas. To me this is much more motivating and fulfilling than 98% of startup ideas. (That said, the other 2% are breathtaking).
The income side is quite nice. I'm consistently pulling down $30-$50k monthly. Much of what I don't spend gets invested and generates additional investment income. I have another muse business that I put some time into and I also invest in the businesses of a few friends.
Better still is that I took no outside money. I have complete control over the company and our decision-making.
I can be honest with the people around me about how things are going. I don't need to keep up appearances that "we're crushing it". When things are challenging I can share that with the people around me. I have an incredible group of mentors and people who provide support in various ways.
I have control over my time. I work a lot of hours, usually in the range of 70-90/week, but it's all of my own choosing. Nobody pressures me to pull all-nighters, or do death marches for deadlines. I can take time off during the days. It's great to be able to go for a hike or our for a drive on a Tuesday afternoon. I usually start my workday around noon, take a break in the evening and do another block of work in the night.
This lifestyle is much more compatible with having a fulfilling personal life. I'm able to spend more time with my family and friends, and really be present for the people that I care about when they need me. Dating and relationships are orders-of-magnitude easier.
I'm able to personally capture the value that I create. No fractional equity wing-and-a-prayer. No hoping that my work gets recognized come bonus time.
I have complete location independence. I was in 20 countries in 2012. So far this year (mid-august), I've been in 11. I'm writing this from São Paulo.
One of the most amusing things to me is that I still get contacted by recruiters telling me about "exciting opportunities" at "well-funded" startups with "competitive salaries" and such benefits as foosball tables and free snacks.
I have many friends in the startup scene. Once in a blue moon, I consult for startups. Mainly in the healthcare and knowledge management spaces. I respect the game, the hustle, and particularly the challenge of building something new and breaking into the market. I'm a big fan of Eric Ries, Steve Blank, and HN. I also find that many of the insights from lean startup, customer development thinking are equally applicable or adaptable to the world of consulting.
Maybe some day, I'll get the infection of a startup idea so inspiring that I decide to drop everything to pursue it. So far, I seem to be well-immunized against that.
gschiller|12 years ago
Would you mind giving me a point by point summary?
atsaloli|12 years ago
bpodgursky|12 years ago
If you think someone has a great idea that you want to happen, then join in. Your motivation shouldn't be making yourself famous.
codegeek|12 years ago
-----------
Too lazy to try and get out of comfort zone
Reasons I tell others
---------------------
- Family obligations (wife and kids)
- "Secure" "high" paying job
- No time
- No great revolutionary idea. If an idea does come, it gets shot down a few mins/hours/days later. Get worried that it is not the best idea. Next...
kohanz|12 years ago
I continue to work on side-projects, hoping to build enough momentum to reduce the risk to the point where making the jump seems reasonable.
dome82|12 years ago
chc|12 years ago
JRFuentes7|12 years ago
oziegler|12 years ago
On my exchange, hopefully to a tier 1 US university, I hope to find people who inspire me and my future cofounder.
I am a business guy and have started two social business projects already, but I want to open an Internet start-up after my studies.
If someone here (Developers) is looking for an idea and a cofounder, write me.
orionblastar|12 years ago
I want to get back into working again, but I have this rare mental illness called schizoaffective disorder and it is misunderstood and has elements like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I am also 45 years old now, and too old for anyone to seriously consider for a startup.
I can write apps, but I am all by myself. No help, no support, no funding, and living on a shoestring budget. I have no criminal history no drug abuse, I don't even smoke or drink alcohol. I try to live a clean life so I can recover and get healthier.
My local area, Saint Louis, has a startup community I have tried to join many times and been rejected for being mentally ill or too old. They claim to accept everyone, but that is not true. I've been programming since I was 12 on a Commodore 64, self taught. I've taken many classes on programming and also read countless books and know about 37 different programming languages, most of which are no longer used, but I can convert code from say COBOL into modern languages. I know Classic Visual BASIC for example, and there are still business apps in VB6 out there. Because I learned FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, ADA, COBOL, C Language, 8088 Assembly, etc I know the root languages that modern languages are based on. It is much like knowing Latin and Greek to help with learning European languages better. It allowed me to learn C++, Java, Python, Ruby, Javascript, and many others. VB.Net was just VB6 modified with Java like syntax, and C# is basically Microsoft taking features from Java after they got sued over J++/J#.
I used to develop Windows CE, Blackberry, PalmOS, etc apps before Apple had the iPhone and before Android, Inc was formed in 2003. But those are obsolete.
I so much want to develop business apps for Linux and smartphones, but I know developing for Windows first is where you earn the bulk of your money. Apple has people thinking that business apps are creative content apps, but when I talk about business apps I mean apps that run a business with accounting, inventory, ledgers, accounts payable, accounts receivable, stuff that runs a business and does HR tracking of employees, and can be modified to suit a business' process like a glove and not a COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) solution that is inflexible.
I mean yeah, create free and open source business apps to help a small business run their business without paying tens of thousands of dollars for a Windows Server (Use Linux and save money) and then tens of thousands of dollars for the MS-Office license to use Sharepoint and other proprietary stuff. I want to use OpenOffice/LibreOffice and have apps that can run on Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Android, iOS and can use a MySQL Database instead of MS-SQL Server, etc.
Unlike most startups I can write a working business plan, I have prior business experience (I ran two small business PC repair shops that also did database and software work) I have over 25+ years of real world experience, and of course a computer and business degree with a 3.91 GPA.
My mental illness has some things in common with asperger's syndrome like low social skills, so it is hard for me to network and make friends. It is hard to get social clues or jokes sometimes, so people discriminate against me for that.
dome82|12 years ago
In your life, you should focus on things that you are in control, such as your desire and goals. You can't do much about things that you don't have control like people's opinions.
Start building, show what you are doing and probably, this people at Saint Louis will change their attitude. If they don't, you should not care at all. Some people will not understand how you feel until they get in the same your situation some day. Smile them back and try harder in what you love to do.
Have a great day!
P.S:Join some events like Startup Weekend, pitch your ideas or join other teams. It is a easier way to improve your social skills.
S4M|12 years ago
davidjnelson|12 years ago
swah|12 years ago
Now I'm working in a uni project but I'm not happy in the job... too much bureocracy, and I don't get to write much software, which is what I thought I was going to do here...
yolesaber|12 years ago
franl|12 years ago
Zergy|12 years ago
My issue has been I don't know enough about the world to know where and can apply my skills to solve problems.
hkarthik|12 years ago
A lot of it had to do with having new babies and simply not having the energy to hold down a six figure day job and a work on something else after hours.
gemma|12 years ago
linux_devil|12 years ago
sideproject|12 years ago
http://sideprojectors.com
neep|12 years ago
Spoom|12 years ago
redman8|12 years ago
linux_devil|12 years ago
davidjnelson|12 years ago
mindcrime|12 years ago
I am.
slogsdon|12 years ago
vidoofy2|12 years ago
AznHisoka|12 years ago