The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#1

Post by mooreds » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 3:44 PM UTC

The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)
dabit3.medium.com

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#2

Post by astuyvenberg » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 4:26 PM UTC

I concur with a lot of what Nader has laid out here. Specialization + Content are keys to unlocking much higher pricing power.

Getting started is tricky, but my most profitable side work has been workshops and lunch-and-learns, which is beneficial as I can re-use a lot of the same content between engagements.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#3

Post by n4bz0r » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:09 PM UTC

An off-topic question:

> When a client Googles your name, who is she more likely to seek out?

> she

Can someone elaborate the benefits/goals of using the feminine pronoun here?

If "he" isn't (for some reason) acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, wouldn't "they" be a better fit?

I fail to see how gender flipping is a step towards reduction of sexism if that's the goal.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#4

Post by ehnto » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:19 PM UTC

astuyvenberg wrote: post #2

I concur with a lot of what Nader has laid out here. Specialization + Content are keys to unlocking much higher pricing power. Getting started is tricky, but my most profitable side work has been workshops and lunch-and-learns, which is beneficial as I can re-use a lot of the same content between engagements.

We started with lunch-and-learns, but eventually moved to beer-and-briefings.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#5

Post by fsloth » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:29 PM UTC

ehnto wrote: post #4

astuyvenberg wrote: post #2

I concur with a lot of what Nader has laid out here. Specialization + Content are keys to unlocking much higher pricing power. Getting started is tricky, but my most profitable side work has been workshops and lunch-and-learns, which is beneficial as I can re-use a lot of the same content between engagements.

We started with lunch-and-learns, but eventually moved to beer-and-briefings.

Can you elaborate critical difference between -learn and -briefing or does it just rhyme better :) ?

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#6

Post by bavell » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:30 PM UTC

n4bz0r wrote: post #3

An off-topic question: > When a client Googles your name, who is she more likely to seek out? > she Can someone elaborate the benefits/goals of using the feminine pronoun here? If "he" isn't (for some reason) acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, wouldn't "they" be a better fit? I fail to see how gender flipping is a step towards reduction of sexism if that's the goal.

I wouldn't read too far into it, probably just casual use of language instead of trying to push an agenda...

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#7

Post by fsloth » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:31 PM UTC

n4bz0r wrote: post #3

An off-topic question: > When a client Googles your name, who is she more likely to seek out? > she Can someone elaborate the benefits/goals of using the feminine pronoun here? If "he" isn't (for some reason) acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, wouldn't "they" be a better fit? I fail to see how gender flipping is a step towards reduction of sexism if that's the goal.

Everything does not need to be made part of culture wars.

Why would using she be any different than he? It's like Alice and Bob of oh so many quantum thought experiments but without Bob. If there is only one protagonist you have to go 50/50.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#8

Post by _dwt » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:35 PM UTC

n4bz0r wrote: post #3

An off-topic question: > When a client Googles your name, who is she more likely to seek out? > she Can someone elaborate the benefits/goals of using the feminine pronoun here? If "he" isn't (for some reason) acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, wouldn't "they" be a better fit? I fail to see how gender flipping is a step towards reduction of sexism if that's the goal.

"Back in the day", some of us used to deliberately alternate pronouns for these sorts of hypothetical people. The idea was to help nudge people toward perceiving "gender-atypical" occupations/situations/etc. as normal: "The programmer opens her text editor...".

Since then the world has changed quite rapidly when it comes to norms around writing, pronouns, and gender, so perhaps "they" fills the same role for younger writers.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#9

Post by n4bz0r » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:36 PM UTC

bavell wrote: post #6

n4bz0r wrote: post #3

An off-topic question: > When a client Googles your name, who is she more likely to seek out? > she Can someone elaborate the benefits/goals of using the feminine pronoun here? If "he" isn't (for some reason) acceptable as a gender-neutral pronoun, wouldn't "they" be a better fit? I fail to see how gender flipping is a step towards reduction of sexism if that's the goal.

I wouldn't read too far into it, probably just casual use of language instead of trying to push an agenda...

> I wouldn't read too far into it

I realize how my initial comment might sound bitter as the topic is quite controversial, but I'm more curious than anything.

Seeing such "unusual" placement of pronouns a few times in a short period of time made me wonder what's the deal.

Re: The Prosperous Software Consultant (2018)

#10

Post by _dwt » Wed, Jun 23, 2021, 5:40 PM UTC

One great thing about offering training and workshops is that, especially if you can partner with another company to handle the sales, marketing, online platform, etc., online courses built from this material make a great first "product" to start transitioning from a purely service-based (get paid for your time) business to one with some sources of recurring revenue (get paid for work you've already done).