maybe you want to check out this classic: http://www.tinaja.com/ebooks/ismm.pdf
Thanks for this recommendation; it looks really interesting.
My Journey Starts Here
31–40 of 56 posts
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#32I really doubt whether bootstrapping your own business is a good idea when you are under great financial pressure which will lead to suboptimal decisions. Getting a 9-5 job to build up a healthy financial situation first might be better idea.
Good luck!
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#33You should check out Rob Walling's "Start Small, Stay Small" if you haven't already: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YH9MMI/?tag=dedasys-20 It's a guide to "startups" for the rest of us, where "startup" is something small and bootstrapped that, however, makes money pretty early on, and probably will never grow that large. For me, that book really hit a nerve: I too spent time at a Big Startup, and while I enjoyed the ri…
Hi rwalling, if you're reading this, have you got an update planned for this book?
I wish the Beetlejuice thing worked here on HN like it seems to work on that-news-aggregator-that-shall-not-be-named. :)
rwalling, rwalling, rwalling!
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#34You should check out Rob Walling's "Start Small, Stay Small" if you haven't already: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YH9MMI/?tag=dedasys-20 It's a guide to "startups" for the rest of us, where "startup" is something small and bootstrapped that, however, makes money pretty early on, and probably will never grow that large. For me, that book really hit a nerve: I too spent time at a Big Startup, and while I enjoyed the ri…
Hi rwalling, if you're reading this, have you got an update planned for this book?
He's pretty responsive via email.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#35Good luck mate.
You had the guts of making a hard decision, and you are paying the consequences of the uncertainity it brings.
Over the last years I have been thinking of taking the same route (like many people with a reasonable stable/steady job, but wanting more from life I guess), but I always had the fear finding myself in your current situation, and never took the plunge.
I don't think that you would have any trouble in finding a job with a steady income if things go pear-shaped, but I hope you succeed in finding your own independence.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#36I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but you seem to take a negative tone that may burn some bridges for you. You don't want to burn those people still working at the startup you left or your friend who tried to give you some freelance work but his pipeline dried up.
I didn't mean to have any negative tone, English is not my native language. I'll rephrase that, thanks.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#37Hey 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'…
This is the advice that everybody gives me, but for some reason this is not working for me. I'm not uncomfortable in networking and meeting people. It's a skill I have learned with time and I'm pretty outgoing. I know many people and through some event I organize and conferences I've been, I've gathered a good network. I've been involved in a lot of activities locally and I'm quite known. Still, clients fail to mater…
I don't want to tell you you're doing things wrong. So I'll just share what I did.
6 years ago I was trying to get in to tech. When I would meet people, I had next to nothing to offer them. But I would find out how I could help them and bend over backwards to try to do that.
When I started a business and had no product to sell, I reached out to companies who had the problem we're trying to solve and try to understand the problem space, share things we've learned and try to help them before we even had a product to sell.
I've found that helping others is the best way to build a group of people looking out for you -- whether it's personally or in your business.
Next time you're at a networking event, give it a shot. Make it your goal to help 3 people you meet there.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is the advice that everybody gives me, but for some reason this is not working for me. I'm not uncomfortable in networking and meeting people. It's a skill I have learned with time and I'm pretty outgoing. I know many people and through some event I organize and conferences I've been, I've gathered a good network. I've been involved in a lot of activities locally and I'm quite known. Still, clients fail to mater…
Not knowing anymore about you than you wrote, my gut is that your problem is one of 2 things: 1) You lack a compelling value proposition for your clients. Something like, I'm really good at X, better than anyone, hire me. 2) You don't follow through with clients, finish the job etc. so you don't get referred business. I seem to notice that the HN crowd, and even finance crowd completely ignore marketing. This is a hu…
Thank you for this advice.
It's true, many people completely ignore marketing, and I did for a while. Now I'm learning, I'm getting books on it and try to fix my deficiencies.
I'll write on the blog about it. At the moment I'm reading "Book yourself solid" from Michael Port: http://www.bookyourselfsolid.com
I also have another book I just bought in the pipeline: http://doubleyourfreelancingrate.com/the-blueprint
I'll have a look at the book you recommended, thank you.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#39Hi, 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 initial…
I just checked out codecanyon.net for iOS apps: apparently they're selling for as low as $12 for a whole app. I'd recommend taking a look at Apptopia.com, deals are exclusive but the prices seem much better. (I have no affiliation with them)
Hi cheers for the update I have not heard of apptopia.com looks interesting. With CC the apps remain your property so it depends if you want to start again or sell the same item many times. Some apps on CC have made over $100k p/y.
Re: My Journey Starts Here
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
As I wrote in another comment[1] I simply don't want my name connected through Google to that blog (not yet). I have all the information you mention and it comes out if you Google my real name. I'll send you that info by email. Still, on HN I never managed to generate any lead. I've participated in many posts about freelancers looking for jobs, for example, but never worked. Now I logged out of my account to create t…
It could help if you had some applications that demonstrate your skills and help build up trust with potential clients. I wish you success.