How I went from programming to consulting (2012) • Hacker News Board

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#71

Post by infinity0 » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:18 PM UTC

scrimpton wrote: post #26

This is by a wide margin the most bourgeois shit I've heard on here apart from the constant cryptocurrency posts. "Make disgusting amounts of money by doing nothing instead of your actual job!"

I think there's lots of useful things to learn from the article, though I do agree that this:

> A necessary collorary to this: the principals of a technical consultancy do very well for themselves. I don't know if that is a secret but it certainly isn't well appreciated: nobody says Occupy Boutique Rails Consultancies, but the principals of them do end up in the 1%.

is not great for society and I'm highly skeptical that it's necessary. However I can see that it would be hard to do things differently -

This type of high-level admin stuff is a simple way to make an organisation efficient, and it's unclear how best to achieve the same level of efficiency whilst simultaneously not allowing the principals the power to centralise reward to themselves as well.

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#72

Post by putnam » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:19 PM UTC

mathgeek wrote: post #60

an_account wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you get your start freelancing?

Not OP, but the answer to this is almost always "network with people who will pay you to freelance." This assumes you already have the skills/knowledge worth paying a freelancer for.

Do you personally have the skills/knowledge worth paying for if you classified yourself as a freelancer?

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#73

Post by Xc43 » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:19 PM UTC

fiatpandas wrote: post #63

scrimpton wrote: post #26

This is by a wide margin the most bourgeois shit I've heard on here apart from the constant cryptocurrency posts. "Make disgusting amounts of money by doing nothing instead of your actual job!"

You’ll probably find your comment downvoted because you expressed yourself using language which isn’t kosher in the HN community, and you aren’t praising the writing of HNs most well known and well liked member, but I generally agree with your sentiment. I felt gross and kind of disappointed while reading the article. I need more time to think deeply about why that is and communicate it in an effective way.

... Welcome to life? If you want to be sheltered, work for someone who will value your work and reward you accordingly.

Otherwise, prepare to deal with the cold truth that many businesses are out there for themselves exclusively.

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#74

Post by kirubakaran » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:19 PM UTC

dominotw wrote: post #56

kirubakaran wrote: post #13

A relevant side note: If you're getting into consulting, here are my suggestions for writing a good Statement of Work https://kirubakaran.com/blog/consulting-sow/

How do you go about finding clients? I see an outline here https://kirubakaran.com/blog/consulting-outline/ Curious if you have any recommendations.

In retrospect, I have to say that making friends has been the most significant bit in this regard. I didn't make those friends with the ulterior motive of getting more work of course. Though I used to be painfully introverted, I'm a friendly person and I made friends sort of organically, through my roommates etc. The great thing about loving programming is, when you talk about your mutual interests with your programmer friends, though you're just hanging out and having fun, it is also naturally a "work meeting".

That's probably not a very useful answer, but that's how I got most of my clients, who then referred me to their friends etc.

If I were new in a city, I'd find a way to accelerate that by going out more and meeting new people doing activities I enjoy. One of my friends made a lot of connections at the climbing gym, for example, and he got a few consulting contracts that way. The conversations for him were as simple as "What do you do?" "I'm a software consultant" "Oh, we need someone to do x at our startup. Do you know about that?" "Sure, let's talk more".

I'm sure there are other ways to jump start your connections... make something shareworthy and posting it on HN, for example.

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#75

Post by mikeokner » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:19 PM UTC

scrimpton wrote: post #26

This is by a wide margin the most bourgeois shit I've heard on here apart from the constant cryptocurrency posts. "Make disgusting amounts of money by doing nothing instead of your actual job!"

> Thomas: I got at least $15,000 of value out of this conversation.

How is literally providing tens of thousands of dollars of value "doing nothing?" That's far more productive than your average web developer quibbling over how many pixels wide to make a button.

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#76

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:19 PM UTC

kleiba wrote: post #57

To this day, I'm still not quite clear about what a consultant actually does. I mean, beyond some vague idea ("goes to some company, talks with people, gives some recommendation"). I'd really love for someone to give some example or describe in a tangible way what the work of a consultant entails, what skills one typically needs and actually employs, what a typical gig looks like from beginning to end and so on. If a…

[deleted]

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#77

Post by tomcam » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:20 PM UTC

zdw wrote: post #17

Step 1: Be popular/famous enough that people know your name. Step 2: Be good/accurate enough at opining in ways that make sense. Most people won't have either 1 or 2 going for them. There's one more thing - charging a lot is how to signal value, which is a a huge thing. I know a guy who used to manage an A-list rock band (everyone knows their songs) who went into consulting, and started out lowballing people, for $1k…

So he became instantly popular with no previous effort? Or is it remotely possible that he actually spent time blogging on topics that his audience found compelling?

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#78

Post by putnam » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:20 PM UTC

infinity0 wrote: post #71

scrimpton wrote: post #26

This is by a wide margin the most bourgeois shit I've heard on here apart from the constant cryptocurrency posts. "Make disgusting amounts of money by doing nothing instead of your actual job!"

I think there's lots of useful things to learn from the article, though I do agree that this: > A necessary collorary to this: the principals of a technical consultancy do very well for themselves. I don't know if that is a secret but it certainly isn't well appreciated: nobody says Occupy Boutique Rails Consultancies, but the principals of them do end up in the 1%. is not great for society and I'm highly skeptical t…

What would be the solution you would propose?

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#79

Post by mathattack » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:21 PM UTC

putnam wrote: post #62

mathattack wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. I've had friendly conversations turn into paid consulting work because, "Then we will pay more attention."

What do you think new freelancers and consultants get stuck on that limits their success?

The key is to have people you've worked with who can bring you in to their org and vouch for you.

Re: How I went from programming to consulting (2012)

#80

Post by valuearb » Sat, Dec 23, 2017, 4:21 PM UTC

maxxxxx wrote: post #29

matte_black wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does talk to a CEO in their own language even mean? That he knows typical MBA jargon and concepts? Anybody can learn to talk and think like a CEO by picking up a few DIY MBA books. You have likely misjudged his actual skill.

I don't have the ability to meet a CEO at a convention, strike up a conversation and keep them interested. This is not only about knowing MBA jargon. It's about manners and other things. In corporations you see the same thing. Some guys meet the big VP and make a lasting impression while most others don't. This is not about skills or knowledge but about the way you talk and behave.

No it’s about experience, skills and knowledge. If you were a VP at a prominent company, that says you know what you are talking about. The CEO or VPs at a smaller company automatically view you as a peer, or superior.

Actually knowing what you are talking about is the key to making the business last.