Thank HN: 7 months ago, I asked for help. Now I've got 5 employees.

In random order:

Employees watch what you do very carefully. Their behavior is strongly influenced by yours.

Having several conservative ways to make small amounts of money if necessary is good.

Emotional stability is an important skill. The ability to dampen both optimism and anxiety is something that comes with experience, I think. Multiple backup plans help with the latter.

It is relatively easy to siphon off pieces of business when the market is large. Profitable competition tells me that I can probably find buyers, so long as I can think of a twist.

Being a generally friendly, helpful person, even to people who you think have nothing to offer you in return, is good for business. I'm a much friendlier person now than I was when I started. I've also found being friendly and helpful just makes me happy.

Not only my financial situation changed, but also the way I view the world. Just 400 days before now, $25 is my monthly money pocket that I get from my parents and it should cover all my expenses (except clothes, food and obviously housing).

Now I have my own Internet subscription ($30 a month) and also I just purchased a VPS and a couple of SaaS service. I did bought my Nokia feature phone ($150) also myself and this little netbook I'm typing from ($400). That in 300 days or so, and by the end of this year, I'm planning on buying a Sony Z series, 23'' monitor and a smartphone.

I have 3 years browsing and reading the Internet, but it's only in the last year that I started making money out of it (not browsing! the internet). This wouldn't be done without Hacker News. I should also mention that my English was revamped considerably and ... okay, lot of things actually.

Thanks HN! You didn't give me money but you did teach me how to make it and also LIVE happy.