If you are any good, I think you're better off developing a network or looking for customers than spending too much time over-polishing your skills. Patrick Mc

If you are any good, I think you're better off developing a network or looking for customers than spending too much time over-polishing your skills. Patrick McKenzie's advice is good, see: http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ http://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-pro... And I've also read some really good advice here on HN. My own personal experience: Based on what I believed to be an unmet need/new opportunity, I built a pretty small project. With help from the university I graduated from, I got contacts with the local business community, and now I have more leads (not yet customers) than I have time (I'm currently full-time employed). Businessmen were really kind and gave me 15 minutes to listen to their needs and pitch my product. We over-estimate the difficulty of securing a meeting (that's not the same as securing a sale though).