Going Out on Your Own

Most developers spend their entire careers as an employee. Some delve into the world of consulting. Some freelance. But the majority of us cling to the security of a steady paycheck and, in the US, medical benefits. However, the security is illusory. Companies, from the smallest to the largest, have been laying off employees in record numbers. I’ve been laid off several times in my career, and it’s happened to most, if not all, of my developer friends.

The hardest part of losing a job, for me, is the feeling of failing to provide for my family. Sure, I always found something else and never ended up losing a house or being forced to move or not feed my family. But it’s still painful. Financial experts say to have six months of living expenses in savings. But that’s too much to ask, for most people.

So, why not make the leap? Start your own business! This doesn’t mean quitting your job. We’re not talking about getting a hundred thousand dollars in loans, renting out office space, hiring people, and figuring out marketing. I’m talking about starting really small – make a simple product and try to sell it. See if it will grow. If it doesn’t, take everything you learned from it – and your sales rejections – and make something else.

Think of it as a hobby. Plenty of people have expensive hobbies which require special equipment. Musicians, golfers, skiiers, bicyclists – they easily spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on their gear. What are you risking? Hours of your time. Almost free.

It’s only a failure if you don’t learn something. You don’t have to make a lot of money. Hopefully you’ll make some money – enough to fund your other hobbies, or even save towards that six-month’s worth of savings.

The most important things are to actually try and experience the process of creating something and attempting to sell it. Repeat.

I’ve been reading a book called “Million Dollar Weekend.” Despite its rather clickbaity title, it’s actually an excellent resource. Most “self-help” books spend 99% of the pages telling you how great these tips worked for them, and what it did to help a bunch of other (possibly nonexistent) people. You could go throug the entire book and fill half a page with the actual advice. While this book definitely has a little of that flavor, it’s always in the context of practical advice that you can clearly envision working, and easily put into practice right now. So, anyway, maybe give it a look. I don’t do affiliate links, but it’s a new book and easy to find.