Sep 17, 2004 05:31 pm Congratulations. Power to the people. I mean uh, go get em. I'd put money that word of mouth and your keen work will keep you busy.
I did it, I'm goin' solo...
Posted on Sep 17, 2004 05:26 pm
dbmasters
Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002
Well, most of you prolly know I got layed off from my job last week...well, after some calling, soul searching and talking to my wife...I decided to do it on my own. Contracting for a living. I have my first contract starting Monday, I visited the client site today, got an understanding of their problem and am now going to be there for at least two months to fix it.
In my research and based on the calls I have been getting the last 10 days or so, there is no shortage of contracts out there to be had, so I am gonna give it a go for a year and see how it pans out.
It might be kind of fun going from place to place to put out fires. I will get a lot of experience on different situations, different systems and such, so it could be interesting and a great learning experience. Plus, as a contractor you get paid a hell of a lot more than a full time employee, but I must now get my own insurance and retirement plan...
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Sep 17, 2004 05:31 pm Congratulations. Power to the people. I mean uh, go get em. I'd put money that word of mouth and your keen work will keep you busy.
Sep 17, 2004 05:36 pm awesome, maybe that sacking was a good thing in a way?
congrats dude, im really pleased for ya...
Sep 17, 2004 06:40 pm it'll prolly grow into a good ongoing company of some kind via word of mouth, just like HRC has. maybe you've got the touch, db. who knows where it leads
Sep 17, 2004 06:57 pm dB Congratulations...
I did also got 'sacked' by a major corporaion once. And a week later which happened to be Sept 11th 2001 I had an interview that day @ 2:30. It was (at the time) what I dreamed of doing and the firing turned out to be the best thing for me at the time. It hasn't been bad. Unfortunately my real passion lies in audio engineering/producing which is why I love coming here. I think you'll be alright. Every situation no matter how (crappy) it may be...always seems to work itself out. Good Luck!
Sep 17, 2004 08:12 pm Thanks for the well wishes and confidence, fellas. It's gonna prove to be an interesting venture me thinks.
Sep 17, 2004 10:30 pm Great dB ! Do you feel a little bit better now that you have something lined up ? I know being out of work can sometimes be a little worrysome.
I'm happy for ya bro. It feels good to do your own thing !
Sep 18, 2004 07:43 am I dunno, I think I am actually more nervous...getting a cellphone today so I can be in touch since I'll be changing locations a lot, not always having a personal line, I am getting business cards made...gotta get a collection of good reference books for my briefcase for the current job, gotta get new insurance...sheesh...
Sep 18, 2004 11:57 am It's scary, but you might enjoy not having the higher ups to answer too. Kind of a have gun will travel, except it's more of a have computer brain will travel.
Sep 18, 2004 12:27 pm Good Luck, dB!
Sep 18, 2004 12:29 pm Good luck man. Contracting is good money but sometimes can be overwhelming. I did it for a couple of years after I got out of school. Set you up with a couple of clients and you'll be set!
Sep 18, 2004 12:32 pm Well, I gots my cell phone, I am just now ready to order business cards, I have my first contract and am in the process of negotiating my second (which is very long-term, part-time, which will be nice to have if other stuff dries up for a days or weeks). Next week while I am working my wife is going to sort out the insurance issues. I have my Excel worksheet set up for tracking hours/mileage (I can deduct mileage from my taxes now and the cell phone and broadband costs too) site and contracting firm for tax accountability...
Now, do I stay dB Masters Multimedia or change it to something like dB Masters Technologies...eh, I think I'll stick with Multimedia...
Sep 18, 2004 12:46 pm The best tip I can give you about health insurance is don't admit to any preexisting conditions. I mean it Db they will deny you coverage. Lie, lie, lie change doctors if you have to inorder to delete any prevoius health history that might have preexisting conditions. I know so many people that want to buy and can afford health care, but the Ins, company won't sell it to them because of some lame preexisting condition.
my vote is:
Db Masters
Have computer brain will travel :)
Sep 18, 2004 12:59 pm Yeah, true...on the upside the whole family is pretty healthy so there are no pre-existing issues...none of us smoke, so it's all good.
Sep 18, 2004 03:34 pm I think multimedia sounds good. Multi gives it that feel like you can handle a wide variety of problems. Sounds like things are comin' together for you, great to hear...Good Luck !
It sucks when you have to lie to get health coverage. The whole things a scam. Ridiculous !
Sep 18, 2004 03:40 pm Well, thanks to scumbags like John Edwards, who made his millions suing medical doctors and institutions with bogus lawsuits, health costs are now out of reach of the average man.
But, yep, they are looking out for the middle class...uh huh...suuuuure.
Thanks wrmach, I am gonna stick with Multimedia.
Sep 18, 2004 04:49 pm Insurance is the one thing that you pay for that you are afraid to use. They basically ask for you to lie. "Well, yes my current situation has been going on for a while. So you only cover me if it just now happened??" They ask you to lie.
Anyway, you are only your way to something better dB. If you can make it on your own and be successful, that's what we all sort of want. Now, you have the chance to really do it.
Sep 18, 2004 06:40 pm Yeah, my dad always enjoyed machining and building machines, engineering them and such. He ended up making a pretty darn good living for himself doing just that. I have always thought that was totally cool, to be able to make a living at something you honestly enjoy. I respect that.
Even working for yourself though, you still have customers, which means you still will deal with a-holes and stuff. The big difference is if you tell them off and loose a customer, it's only your fault, and it affects nobody but you so you can't get chewed out for it. :-)
Sep 18, 2004 09:34 pm Congratz on the choice!
there's doctors in this area who are denying all insurace coverage... but they only charge $50 per visit and material expences...so it makes it up especially when the average deductable is $100 :) Just because a system is in place doesn't mean you use it I suppose. You may be able to negotiate a better doctors rate if they know they don't have to deal with insurance :)
My dad started doing his own handyman service for home remodeling, car, and small engine repair... he does pretty well... there's no shortage of work especially in these crappy houses they build now :)
If you dug up a 2 month contract already you should do pretty well. They'll probably be calling back in a year for upgrades, etc. Plus referrals. example... my dad got a contract to refinish a wood floor, then their car breaks down so he does that... now the daughter is opening a hair salon so we do that... yeah it's a bit stressful not knowing where the money comes from for the next few months but you make a hell of a lot more when it does come in... and you just learn to make budgets and advertise. The only problems we have had is with incompetent competition... lost a $5000 painting contract to some guys who said they could paint (and tape off) an entire house for $700 which included the cost of paint... obviously they did a really crappy job...but thats the owners problem. We'll probably get hired to fix it. But there's no point at selling yourself into starvation.
Sep 19, 2004 11:05 pm Db, my heart felt congradulations and best wishes! I truely believe you will do well. If there is anything I can offer in the way of past experience or even just an ear, please feel free! I would truely love to see you do well.
Sep 20, 2004 12:18 am Best of luck dB, I'm sure you'll do well! :)
Dan
Sep 20, 2004 04:20 am Hey dB...congrats...sounds like you're beginning a trouble shooting/consulting business...
Albert Einstein said 'try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.' Well, I think you've already done that.
I am also self-employed. All the best with your venture.
BM
Sep 20, 2004 01:05 pm Way to GO, dB.
I too was released from the 'working for someone else' world. I'm now working self-employed on a long term contract. Seems that if your decent in your product, you'll have them adding things to your list all the time. It's worked for me; i've been here for over 1.5 yr now, and still going.
Good luck
Sep 20, 2004 03:15 pm Thanks all, and Walt, I just may need to hit you up for some advise...right now I seem to have all my stuff in order, but I am sure I missed something...
Sep 21, 2004 10:25 am Hey dB
Just back and spied this thread...good news man. I reckon you'll dae well for sure.
There is nothing to stop you. The good thing is, as you say, you've nothing to lose and no-one to look out for in terms of work i.e. youre in charge so its down to you.
Some folk would find it daunting..however, as someone pointed oot, if you are good at what you do (which yi obviously are) then others will see this and you will become successful so...
Good luck with it dude...I reckon you'll dae very nicely indeed. All the best.
Coco.
Sep 22, 2004 10:28 am Man, I didn't catch this thread, but a Huge Congrats to you DB! That is awesome news about working for yourself like that. I wish you the best man. :)
Charlie
Sep 24, 2004 01:01 am wow. gone for a couple days studying and i see this. hope the new job prospect works out man. sounds like it should be just fine.
just dont take any crap from anyone. =P
Sep 24, 2004 02:02 am Good luck with it dude! Hey now you can claim like absolutely everything against tax... I know a guy who has two small teeny little doggies and he claims all their costs (food/vet/etc) as 'security'. :D
Sep 24, 2004 04:47 am Ditto all the other peeps, db... bets of luck!
Out of bad things come opportunities which would otherwise be missed. Sock it to em.
Sep 24, 2004 07:08 am Thanks again, guys, it's great to hear all this support.
I have an appointment with my tax guy in a couple weeks to talk about deductions, record keeping, incorporating dB Masters and much more...so, after that, I'm golden.
I'm soooo stoked. dB Masters, my little home business of many years, is now my full-time job.
Wow...I don't know if I even believe it...
Sep 24, 2004 07:51 am Everyone else does dB.
Congrats again and all the best.
Cheers,
BM
Sep 26, 2004 09:57 pm Gotta agree on keeping the multimedia part of the title. That says a big mouthfull really.
And indeed, I agree with all the well wishers, you will do just fine. You have been my guru for many years, and still are for that matter.
I wouldn't have gotten this far without the kind of help you bring to the table.
Noize
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