5 ms·
Just for the sake of variety, I started off as a promising young software developer but let idealism and thirst for adventure get in the way :) Besides loving t
by dpau 8y ago
Just for the sake of variety, I started off as a promising young software developer but let idealism and thirst for adventure get in the way :) Besides loving to code, having skills in high demand has allowed me to travel and explore the world for the past 20 years.
1997-1998 - $32k - Programmer for State government
1998-1999 - $86k - Consultant, Phoenix & NYC
2000-2004 - $32k - Software developer for NGO, Amsterdam
2004-2006 - $28k - Developer & Network Admin throughout Asia for NGO
2006-2007 - $14k - Independent remote software consultant while studying Mandarin full-time in Beijing
2007-2008 - $10k - Manager of ceramics studio in Jingdezhen, China
2008-2017 - $14k - Studio Ceramicist in Jingdezhen, part-time remote developer
2018 - $38k - Part-time remote software consulting while pursuing an MFA, Alfred, NY
- chillacy 8y agoSounds like a lot of fun stories. Do you have any regrets?
- abledon 8y agotheres a cost for everything we do in life. we all have same rate of passing us by time just the choice how to spend energy in that time.
- dpau 8y agodefinitely not! but the trade-off, of course, is that you'll most likely always be poor, never own a house, and never retire (not that i'd want to)
- dasanman 8y agoYou are living my dream my man
- aj_g 8y agothis is the life I want. do you have a more detailed write-up on your life anywhere?
- dpau 8y agoif u want to try it out, there are lots of opportunities in the non-profit sector for IT people: https://www.idealist.org/en/?functions=TECHNOLOGY_IT&type=JOB https://www.idealist.org/en/?functions=TECHNOLOGY_IT&type=JO... you can also check the websites of organizations you are interested in working with, for example amnesty has a "technology and human rights team": https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/technologist-technology-advisor----hong-kong-2603/2630/description/ https://careers.amnesty.org/vacancy/technologist-technology-...
- jtfairbank 8y agoAs someone who cares more about adventure than $$$ and just founded my own NGO, mad respect. 2014: -$10k - Founded a startup. 2015: $35k - Moved to SV, raised a small seed. 2016: $54k - Running my startup in SV. 2017: $60k - Remote contracting from Scotland. 2018: $25k - Remote contracting. Founded an NGO in Europe, almost all of my contracting money goes to supporting my work with that. 2019: $20k - Remote contracting + full time on my NGO. Living in Serbia to stay close to the action.
- fifnir 8y agoAny good link on how NGOs work/how to start on in Europe? Are there unified E.U. rules about it or does it change from country to country ?
- jtfairbank 8y agoDon't have links on hand, but it changes from country to country. We started ours in Sweden, where my cofounder is from. It was pretty easy compared to the 503(C) process in the US: create a governing document, put together a board, hold your first meeting, apply for organization status, apply for charity status. Happy to talk more if you want- my email is in my profile.
- qes 8y agoWhile I haven't lived in China and Amsterdam, I haven't exactly deprived myself of experiences, and I'll make your 20 years worth of income this year, and last, and next. Good for you, but I can't imagine risking my options for the later portion of my life like that.