top 10 misconceptions of software freelancing

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top 10 misconceptions of software freelancing john hann @unscriptable Saturday, November 13, 2010

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Page 1: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”top 10 misconceptions

of software freelancing

john hann@unscriptable

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 2: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

who wants to make $$$$$$$$?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 3: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

who wants to make

$$$$$$$$?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 4: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

go back and get your mba and follow the

advice of these books

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 5: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 6: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

that’s what i did*!

*except for the mba part

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 7: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

revenues > $100k/mo

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2$11,000 $16,000

$30,000$47,000

$63,000$79,000

$103,000

$161,000

revenue profit

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 8: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

sales cramming the pipeline

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q20.5

1 1.2

333.5

5

6

project durationnew projects per month

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 9: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

it kinda sucked

the money was good, really good. :) but i wasn’t 100% happy.

i wanted to code!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 10: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

but i wasn’t going to give up the money

:(

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 11: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

luckily, the 2001-2003 recession hit

Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2

$23,000

-$4,000-$16,000 -$16,000

$127,000

$79,000

$54,000$37,000

revenue profit

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 12: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

it was a painful period of debt

repayment and layoffs

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 13: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 14: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

but in 2004, something magical

happened(besides paying off my business debts)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 15: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

i became passionate* about javascript

*a.k.a. “obsessed”

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 16: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

i was also no longer a consultant, nor a

contractor

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 17: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

i was finally a software freelancer

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 18: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

but i had a lot of unlearning to do

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 19: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

8 years running a consulting firm did

not prepare me to be a freelancer

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 20: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

i had a few delusions… and got tons of bad advice

from others

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 21: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

bad advice is like herpes

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 22: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

top 10* misconceptions of

software freelancing*in no particular order

IMHO YMMV RTFM BBQ ROFL

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 23: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”the first order of business is to fill

your pipeline

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 24: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

what they preach

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 25: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

reality check:clients aren’t going to

wait for you

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 26: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

there is no pipeline

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 27: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

you’ve got to get out there and find clients(and stay out there)

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 28: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”recruiters are a cheap and easy alternative to

marketing myself

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 29: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

recruiter != careercoach

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 30: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

you must be in control.

plot your own career path

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 31: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

otherwise you’re just a career contractor*

*oxymoron. contracting can not be a career

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 32: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”it’s ok to start out at a low rate to get

a great client

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 33: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

$$ –> $$$ ?

how are you gonna justify this?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 34: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

fluctuating rates strain the client

relationship

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 35: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

always start out high and let the client

negotiate a good deal

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 36: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

walk away if the client can’t agree to

yourminimum rate

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 37: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”you need to find a client that’ll hire

you full-time for 3+ years

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 38: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 39: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

it’s “free”-lancing!don’t chain yourself

to a client

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 40: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

skills stagnation + revenue stagnation–––––––––––––––––––

career death

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 41: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i need to learn [popular skill*] cuz that’s where

the jobs are* asp.net, java, etc.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 42: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

java

asp.net

node.js

jQuerydojo

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 43: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

java

asp.net

node.js

recruiters

collegegrads

unemployed

jQuery

clueless

dojo

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 44: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

indeed.com

java, asp.net – mature marketsSaturday, November 13, 2010

Page 45: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

indeed.com

dojo, jQuery – expanding marketsSaturday, November 13, 2010

Page 46: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

indeed.com

node.js – nascent market?Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 47: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”the more skills i put on my resumé,

the more marketable i'll be

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 48: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

Jane Duzitall

Core Skills:

XHTML, HTML5, CSS2.1, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, Dojo, Prototype, Scriptaculous, Sproutcore, Mootols, Mochikit, ASP, ASP.Net, VB, VB.Net, C#, C, C++, 80x86 Assembler, Ruby, Rails, JSP, Java, Spring, Sprong, SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, Firebird, Postgres, Berkeley, MongoDB, CouchDB

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 49: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

andy the one-manbandy kenny g

which one’s getting the high-paying gigs?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 50: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

andy the one-manbandy kenny g

which one’s getting the high-paying gigs?

XSaturday, November 13, 2010

Page 51: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

which one’s got clients calling him?

andy the one-manbandy kenny g

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 52: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

which one’s got clients calling him?

andy the one-manbandy kenny g

✓Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 53: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

experienced clients seek specialists

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 54: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”one-man bands do better during

recessions

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 55: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

which one’s still making a buck?

andy the one-manbandy kenny g

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 56: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

which one’s still making a buck?

?andy the one-man

bandy kenny g

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 57: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

which one’s still making a buck?

? ?andy the one-man

bandy kenny g

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 58: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

a) goes hungry

b) takes a long vacation

c) reduces her rate

d) lays low until the market recovers

e) none of the above

what’s a specialist do in a recession?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 59: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

a) goes hungry

b) takes a long vacation

c) reduces her rate

d) lays low until the market recovers

e) none of the above

what’s a specialist do in a recession?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 60: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

what’s a specialist do in a recession?

lives off her nest egg

taps her long list of happy clients

finds creative ways to provide value

networks and travels more than ever

contributes more heavily to oss and blogs

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 61: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i need more experience to get the good clients

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 62: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

awesome clients seek passion

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 63: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

awesome clients seek passion

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 64: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

but where do they look?

the internetz, duh!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 65: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

experiment, tinker,blog, contribute

create an online presence.demonstrate your passion.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 66: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

github is your resumé

your blog is your marketing site

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 67: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

open source software projects need your

brainand awesome clients love oss

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 68: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i should fire the bottom 20%* of my clients every

year*80/20 rule, a.k.a. the “Pareto Principle”

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 69: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

yes and no

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 70: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

define “bottom”

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 71: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

define “bottom”

a) not interesting (not your passion)

b) high stress

c) no leverage (no references, not bloggable)

d) small $$$

e) all of the above

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 72: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

define “bottom”

a) not interesting (not your passion)

b) high stress

c) no leverage (no references, not bloggable)

d) small $$$

e) all of the above

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 73: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

pursue the most exciting, most bloggable gigs

no matter how smalllow stress is good, too

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 74: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

even better:eject the bottom 20% of your resumé every

yearcuz your resumé sucks, dude

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 75: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

everything on your resumé should sell

your value and your passion

ditch everything else

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 76: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i'm gonna moonlight b/c full-time freelancing is

too risky

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 77: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

some things that are riskier than freelancing

relying on others for your paycheck

not managing your own career

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 78: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

1) find an expanding niche you can be passionate about2) experiment, tinker, blog, contribute3) get out there / get noticed (meetups, social networks, online communities)4) avoid the easy path (recruiters, job sites)5) watch for your next passion

jump in with both feet

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 79: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

or not…

1) find a simple, part-time gig

2) obsessively over-deliver

3) get a reference (put it online)

4) blog about what you did (think value)

5) repeat, aiming for a better gig / rate

6) quit your lame-ass job when you score an awesome gig / rate

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 80: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i’m going to learn how to freelance

from a “top 10” list

bonus misconception

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 81: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

“ ”i’m going to learn how to freelance

from a “top 10” list

bonus misconception

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 82: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

go create your own strategy

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 83: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

questions?

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Page 84: Top 10 Misconceptions of Software Freelancing

vital tools

github.com

twitter.com

quora.com

stackoverflow.com

groups.google.com

lanyrd.com

meetup.com

indeed.com

linkedin.com

irc & mail lists

Saturday, November 13, 2010