4 ms·

Male, 43, Sydney, 17 Years experience. No degree. Self taught. 2008 - $125k + 20% bonus - Full-time employee 2009 - $80k - Started my own web development com

Male, 43, Sydney, 17 Years experience. No degree. Self taught. 2008 - $125k + 20% bonus - Full-time employee 2009 - $80k - Started my own web development company 2010 - $110k - Built a product 2011 - $132k - Daughter born 2012 - $145k - 2013 - $150k - 2014 - $150k - Son born 2015 - $250k - Hired 1st employee 2016 - $480k - Hired 2nd and 3rd employees

jackgolding 10y ago
As an Aussie do you have any advice on making the inhouse to running your own thing shift? I'm still very young but am earning a very nice wage, I'm afraid my as income gets higher (and responsibilities start flowering) it will be harder to make the jump.
- sydthrow 10y ago
  In my experience to successfully start and run a consulting/web dev company, you need to communicate to decision making business people better than the majority of others in IT, and have a reputation for getting shit done. Your reputation doesn't have to be wide and huge, it's probably more important initially for it to be with the right people. I've found most (if not all) of my work has come via referrals from people high enough to make or influence decisions leaving their old job, and recommending me at the new one when a problem comes up that I helped them solve before. It also helps if you're a nice person, because people don't choose to work with people they don't like. Being nice, having good communication skills, and getting shit done will lift you head and shoulders above other IT companies and IT employees. Some tips: - Good communication takes empathy - Listen more than you talk - Stop talking when people are tuning out. This comes naturally to some people, but it's hard to know if you do it or not. Ask a friend, family or trusted co-worker and practice when in conversation. - Don't use IT acronyms with business people, unless it's unavoidable or you're joking around - Learn about the businesses you serve so you can intelligently talk to them - Know enough about the technology you offer to explain it simply, without condescension - Be good humoured and a little bit fun, but you have to know when to stop or who you can play around with
cylinder 10y ago
Would you share the general type of client you pursue and sign? Major corporation, SME, digital agency? Just curious which type of clients pay enough to achieve a revenue per employee that high.
- sydthrow 10y ago
  Large ASX listed companies, and other medium sized companies. Good to keep them all in similar, if not the same, industry.
  - cylinder 10y ago
    What would you say is the reason (advantage) for keeping them in the same industry?
    - sydthrow 10y ago
      It's not a strict rule, but it seems to smooth the way for me in initial conversations when I know the industry already. It's probably happened more organically for me, as almost all my clients come from referrals by people I've worked with before, and they mainly refer people from similar industries.
      - cylinder 10y ago
        That makes sense. Thanks. I'm looking to develop corporate clients for my professional services business (not tech) so always keen to learn how it's done. Congrats on your success!

jackgolding 10y ago

As an Aussie do you have any advice on making the inhouse to running your own thing shift? I'm still very young but am earning a very nice wage, I'm afraid my as income gets higher (and responsibilities start flowering) it will be harder to make the jump.

sydthrow 10y ago
In my experience to successfully start and run a consulting/web dev company, you need to communicate to decision making business people better than the majority of others in IT, and have a reputation for getting shit done. Your reputation doesn't have to be wide and huge, it's probably more important initially for it to be with the right people. I've found most (if not all) of my work has come via referrals from people high enough to make or influence decisions leaving their old job, and recommending me at the new one when a problem comes up that I helped them solve before. It also helps if you're a nice person, because people don't choose to work with people they don't like. Being nice, having good communication skills, and getting shit done will lift you head and shoulders above other IT companies and IT employees. Some tips: - Good communication takes empathy - Listen more than you talk - Stop talking when people are tuning out. This comes naturally to some people, but it's hard to know if you do it or not. Ask a friend, family or trusted co-worker and practice when in conversation. - Don't use IT acronyms with business people, unless it's unavoidable or you're joking around - Learn about the businesses you serve so you can intelligently talk to them - Know enough about the technology you offer to explain it simply, without condescension - Be good humoured and a little bit fun, but you have to know when to stop or who you can play around with

cylinder 10y ago

Would you share the general type of client you pursue and sign? Major corporation, SME, digital agency? Just curious which type of clients pay enough to achieve a revenue per employee that high.

sydthrow 10y ago
Large ASX listed companies, and other medium sized companies. Good to keep them all in similar, if not the same, industry.
- cylinder 10y ago
  What would you say is the reason (advantage) for keeping them in the same industry?
  - sydthrow 10y ago
    It's not a strict rule, but it seems to smooth the way for me in initial conversations when I know the industry already. It's probably happened more organically for me, as almost all my clients come from referrals by people I've worked with before, and they mainly refer people from similar industries.
    - cylinder 10y ago
      That makes sense. Thanks. I'm looking to develop corporate clients for my professional services business (not tech) so always keen to learn how it's done. Congrats on your success!