maybe you want to check out this classic: http://www.tinaja.com/ebooks/ismm.pdf
My Journey Starts Here
11–20 of 56 posts
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#12[deleted]
Thank you very much for your great comment. My first objective is indeed to find some clients. I'm reading some books on it and I read the same advice you summed in your first two points. How do you manage 4 clients at a time? Did you agree to work on the projects part time or you are working longer hours to cover them? I'll try the other options you mentioned. Thanks a lot for the tips. EDIT: I wonder why the parent…
My first objective is indeed to find some clients.
You don't tell us who are, what you do, what you have done. Start with those things on your HN profile or blog, and finding clients will become much easier. As a freelancer, building your personal brand is your number one job. I'd love to help, but until I know more about you and what you are capable of, it's extremely difficult.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#13I wish you luck in your journey.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#14You are not alone, if you go and check the real world (excluding the software dev. freelancers), you'll find that a lot of people are indeed facing the same issue. I stumbled on some doctors forum, and there is stories of how hard it is to get a medical business running (apart from the financial cost for it).
It's not easy (It's not supposed to be), but if someone else did it, you can do it too. Maybe you won't get popular, but you'll be able to have a nice revenue and lifestyle from it.
9-5 job is not my cup of tea. I like the idea of a product, and selling it to customers (if there is lots of support, you can outsource it). Passive income is cool; and if it is stable, it'll give you peace of mind. I'm in the process of achieving financial freedom through products, maybe in a couple of years I'll be doing just high-level consulting.
/rant/
My only advice is: persistence.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#15Hi, thanks for sharing your story and I'm sure many people have been in the same situation sometime on their journey setting up a startup, I know I have.
It's hard to get up when you get knocked down and at the same time trying to balance finances. A way to make some cash on the side is to build small compact iOS apps and sell them on Codecanyon.net no selling experience required. It might not make you 1000's initially but they do sell and it will help your finances. Look at setting a goal in producing 1-2 apps a week so keep them simple but well featured.
You might even end up working on a new idea by doing this and before you know it end up with a successful business.
BTW email me you skills / work on iOS as I might well have some work for you.
Good luck,
Steve
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#16Hey there, sounds like what you're lacking in your current situation is a network. It becomes easier when you have other people looking out for your interests.
Towards the end of last year, we (a company of 3 in new york) were running low on investor cash and started looking for consulting gigs to cover our burn. We didn't end up going that route, but every gig we had lined up was through a word of mouth referral.
I'm not totally comfortable networking and meeting lots of people (sounds like you aren't either?). I'd encourage you to get out there and do what you can locally, but also hang out in the right places online where iOS work tends to appear. Some iOS people who do contract work can probably point you in that direction.
Good luck!
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#17good luck and i wish you from the deepest of my heart that you make it.
I see myself in your story - with few corrections it can actually be my own: expat, recovering from a breakup, left permanent jobs to pursue freelancing while waiting to find my purpuse ...
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#18Is the point of staying anonymous to not have your blog help your business in any way? I found you here, I may have some iOS work in the near future that I could see if you'd be interested in but I can't use a nameless entity.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#19I know how you feel. I am in the same situation. Sorta. Good clients are hard to come by and I am running out of them. But I am not sure if I want to join someone elses startup or do my own. I'm not much of an entrepreneur as I am a hacker. But the problem with most other companies is that they are not run like the way I would want to run them. Which brings me back to the point where I might just be happy running my…
"But the problem with most other companies is that they are not run like the way I would want to run them."
It might just be that companies need to run a certain way to, you know, keep running?
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#20Is the point of staying anonymous to not have your blog help your business in any way? I found you here, I may have some iOS work in the near future that I could see if you'd be interested in but I can't use a nameless entity.
The reason is that I simply don't want people that Google my name to find that blog, which my reflect negatively on my professional image.
I can be contacted at info@bootstrappingmybusiness.com and I can provide plenty of real life information (personal info, company website, blog, LinkedIn profile, references, etc.).
I see you have an email address in your HN profile. I'll write you there.