I was an employee, not a contractor. Over the 8 years I worked there, probably about half my time was spent on open source contributions: not just coding but a

I was an employee, not a contractor. Over the 8 years I worked there, probably about half my time was spent on open source contributions: not just coding but also community management and such. Before I got hired by this company, I did consulting for a handful of clients, but I personally prefer the stability of reporting to one boss. It was my personal "business plan" you could say to get hired. And it worked! :) The project was moderately successful over its twelve-year lifespan but has now completed its arc. While a certain amount of marketing is necessary to get people's attention, for a long-term relationship like this, value is ultimately imperative.