[ruffyz]

I've been working for the man for about 4 years now and I'm getting the itch to try to strike it out on my own. I know that I can't be possibly be ready after just 4 years of experience, yet the desire exists. Are there any self employed folks or people who have joined a start up that can share their experience? Anyone else out there who hasn't taken the plunge, but is thinking about it?

My field is software engineering and telecommunications, but really I'm looking for anyone who is willing to share their story.

[Nerfbar]

PM sent.

[rs911t]

Years of experience, while useful, isn't necessary. Do a quick survey of the tech companies in the news these days. You'll find many first timers. Lots of activity today in the DC area. You shouldn't have too much trouble hooking up with a start up. Going alone requires a good direction, dedication and a lot of work (probably incompatible with a LeMons team). Most importantly to need to be able to crash, burn, get up and ask for more.

[Cliff Claven]

you just need to cut the apron strings. scarey at first, but then you'll find you survive. if you work hard and deliver a better product/service than anyone else you'll prosper. you pay your own health insurance and you don't get paid for taking a day off. there is no safety net. you'll have to be self-reliant, surviving on your wits, honing your strengths.

so much easier to sell your sole to the man in return for the steady paycheck with all the benefits and little personal responsibility. they make it easy that way because it's what they want you to do, until the malaise sets in and then they own you. doesn't take long until you're boxed in, they max out your earning, monopolize your time and control your spending and movements, you become the perfect conformed citizen, a little functioning cog in the "great machine," a consumer of over-priced crap products with no original thought of your own.

get out now while you can! take back your life. become an entrepreneur.

[ruffyz]

Originally Posted by Cliff Claven

you just need to cut the apron strings. scarey at first, but then you'll find you survive. if you work hard and deliver a better product/service than anyone else you'll prosper. you pay your own health insurance and you don't get paid for taking a day off. there is no safety net. you'll have to be self-reliant, surviving on your wits, honing your strengths.

so much easier to sell your sole to the man in return for the steady paycheck with all the benefits and little personal responsibility. they make it easy that way because it's what they want you to do, until the malaise sets in and then they own you. doesn't take long until you're boxed in, they max out your earning, monopolize your time and control your spending and movements, you become the perfect conformed citizen, a little functioning cog in the "great machine," a consumer of over-priced crap products with no original thought of your own.

get out now while you can! take back your life. become an entrepreneur.

Also, this ^^

[Parenn911]

Originally Posted by Cliff Claven

you just need to cut the apron strings. scarey at first, but then you'll find you survive. if you work hard and deliver a better product/service than anyone else you'll prosper. you pay your own health insurance and you don't get paid for taking a day off. there is no safety net. you'll have to be self-reliant, surviving on your wits, honing your strengths.

so much easier to sell your sole to the man in return for the steady paycheck with all the benefits and little personal responsibility. they make it easy that way because it's what they want you to do, until the malaise sets in and then they own you. doesn't take long until you're boxed in, they max out your earning, monopolize your time and control your spending and movements, you become the perfect conformed citizen, a little functioning cog in the "great machine," a consumer of over-priced crap products with no original thought of your own.

get out now while you can! take back your life. become an entrepreneur.

Preach on brotherman!! Say it loud!

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by Cliff Claven

you just need to cut the apron strings. scarey at first, but then you'll find you survive. if you work hard and deliver a better product/service than anyone else you'll prosper. you pay your own health insurance and you don't get paid for taking a day off. there is no safety net. you'll have to be self-reliant, surviving on your wits, honing your strengths.

so much easier to sell your sole to the man in return for the steady paycheck with all the benefits and little personal responsibility. they make it easy that way because it's what they want you to do, until the malaise sets in and then they own you. doesn't take long until you're boxed in, they max out your earning, monopolize your time and control your spending and movements, you become the perfect conformed citizen, a little functioning cog in the "great machine," a consumer of over-priced crap products with no original thought of your own.

get out now while you can! take back your life. become an entrepreneur.

I have not had the same outcome. I have been on both sides of the and in between. I have run my own little make things and sell them company, fix things co and worked for a couple of good sizes companys. I have found that you can work for a company and enjoy many positive aspects. In my case I write my own script every day and so long as I am doing a good job I am left to run my team of my own making and do my thing. This holds true as a sole prop too but the risk and added levels of work are far higher. Do good work and be valuable is key to any happy outcome. I strive to do good work and also have the time to go home and do good work there too. "Good" is time for me and the kids and a team at "work" to do my work when I am not there. Totaly unfair in a way but I get the credit when one of my guys does good under my direction. Fair in another way as I trained them all and they work in my system and matrix. I don't have to deal with the lay awake at night crap just the train, tune, act and react aspects of the job. I can take some time away from the day job and spend it at the track or on a river with the kids. Less risk is not something to dismiss when you are also putting your kids future on the table too. In my case I left an entire future track behind in order to secure a stable world for the kids. Might sound like a cop out but it is not. I enjoy my day work and my daily faimly time that is open to be spent as I see fit, not doing paperwork and making calls looking for my money as I used to do as a sole prop. At 4:00 p.m. I am looking at part two of each day. I own part two and it arives paid in full by part one.

YMMV.

[Patrick3000]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

I have not had the same outcome. I have been on both sides of the and in between. I have run my own little make things and sell them company, fix things co and worked for a couple of good sizes companys. I have found that you can work for a company and enjoy many positive aspects. In my case I write my own script every day and so long as I am doing a good job I am left to run my team of my own making and do my thing. This holds true as a sole prop too but the risk and added levels of work are far higher. Do good work and be valuable is key to any happy outcome. I strive to do good work and also have the time to go home and do good work there too. "Good" is time for me and the kids and a team at "work" to do my work when I am not there. Totaly unfair in a way but I get the credit when one of my guys does good under my direction. Fair in another way as I trained them all and they work in my system and matrix. I don't have to deal with the lay awake at night crap just the train, tune, act and react aspects of the job. I can take some time away from the day job and spend it at the track or on a river with the kids. Less risk is not something to dismiss when you are also putting your kids future on the table too. In my case I left an entire future track behind in order to secure a stable world for the kids. Might sound like a cop out but it is not. I enjoy my day work and my daily faimly time that is open to be spent as I see fit, not doing paperwork and making calls looking for my money as I used to do as a sole prop. At 4:00 p.m. I am looking at part two of each day. I own part two and it arives paid in full by part one.

YMMV.

Well said

[Trak Ratt]

^ Wow, makes me want to burn my ID card,

jump the turn style,

flip off the parking guard

and head out for where "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" vill…











or just serf for some entrepreneurial porn!

[GT3]

I never did get a job after college, just started a business. No need to wait - just do it.