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I'm not an employee, and didn't exactly get fired -- but I chose a cloud vendor for a client that seemed like the best choice at the time, with what I knew. Th

by reuven 5y ago

I'm not an employee, and didn't exactly get fired -- but I chose a cloud vendor for a client that seemed like the best choice at the time, with what I knew. The client was over-the-moon happy that we had found something to satisfy his needs. After switching, his costs went down dramatically, and his downtime went to zero (from rather high, which is why he brought me in). He was happy to sign a contract with the vendor Then, about two months later, the client got into an accelerator, where they got free AWS credits. Suddenly, my choice didn't seem as good -- mostly because paying nothing is cheaper than paying something. (Never mind that the vendor I had gone with had stellar service, which was one of the reasons we chose them.) The client told the cloud provider that I had been unauthorized to speak on the company's behalf (untrue), that no one had told him we were signing a contract (not true), and tried to wiggle out of the contract (which went nowhere). That didn't go anywhere. So he got angry with me, and canceled our consulting agreement. As it happens, that client was simultaneously trying to figure out how to pay for taxes and pensions, and was getting rid of some other people. So it wasn't a direct cause-and-effect. But it did happen. And this is yet another reason why I've been delighted to get out of the "regular" consulting world, and switch to only doing training.

jokethrowaway 5y ago
Wow, that guy dodged a bullet by not going with aws free credits. After a year he would have ended up being locked in aws and paying tons more.
- reuven 5y ago
  He did go with the AWS free credits. And then spent a long time getting angry with me and trying not to pay me, because I had supposedly cost him so much, and he wanted to dump the other server company. Sigh.
- sofixa 5y ago
  You aren't necessarily locked in AWS just by using it. Less and less so in fact, with the advent of Kubernetes. Even before that, a "classical" app with an autoscaling group or two, load balancer, and managed database aren't something that will take an enormous amount of time to move to another provider. Basically the main complexity would be transferring the data and the cutover, but you get that regardless of provider.
irq 5y ago
> switch to only doing training Tell us more about this transition? Sounds interesting!
- reuven 5y ago
  I've only been doing Python training for a few years now. I've made more money, had more flexibility, and been happier than at any previous time in my consulting career (which started in 1995). Here are two interviews I've given on the subject: - https://devjourney.info/Guests/83-ReuvenLerner.html https://devjourney.info/Guests/83-ReuvenLerner.html - https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/business-freelancing-episode-54-reuven-lerner-selling-training-clients/ https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/business-freelancing-episo... I'm always happy to talk about training. I love it, and recommend that everyone in the consulting world look into it more. I also have a training newsletter, at https://TrainerWeekly.com/ https://TrainerWeekly.com/.
rkagerer 5y ago
The client told the cloud provider that I had been unauthorized to speak on the company's behalf (untrue) Apropos of nothing, it's funny how nearly every single consulting contract I've seen which has been prepared by an attorney on the client side tries to slip in a clause like "you shall not act on our behalf or hold yourself out as having authority to obligate or bind us", when that's actually exactly what they're looking to hire me to do (eg. "Please come manage our projects, employees, customer relationships, vendors, banking relationships, products, research branch" or whatever else the role entails).
- james_in_the_uk 5y ago
  In legal terms, they’re not exactly the same. You are managing the projects etc. as a service being provided under contract. You are not being granted actual authority to act as an agent of the company. The clause they are slipping in actually protects you both. If you are appointed as an agent (expressly or by implication) then you become a fiduciary for them which might give you obligations that aren’t necessary spelled out in the contract. So, this isn’t a clause most well advised people push back on. If they do still need to sign on behalf of the company in some discreet situations they look into getting a limited power of attorney instead. Safer and clearer for both parties. Not legal advice of course. I assume your own attorney would have explained this to you anyway.
doanerock 5y ago
Yaha he sounds pretty bad at business.

by reuven 5y ago

jokethrowaway 5y ago

Wow, that guy dodged a bullet by not going with aws free credits. After a year he would have ended up being locked in aws and paying tons more.

reuven 5y ago
He did go with the AWS free credits. And then spent a long time getting angry with me and trying not to pay me, because I had supposedly cost him so much, and he wanted to dump the other server company. Sigh.
sofixa 5y ago
You aren't necessarily locked in AWS just by using it. Less and less so in fact, with the advent of Kubernetes. Even before that, a "classical" app with an autoscaling group or two, load balancer, and managed database aren't something that will take an enormous amount of time to move to another provider. Basically the main complexity would be transferring the data and the cutover, but you get that regardless of provider.

irq 5y ago

> switch to only doing training Tell us more about this transition? Sounds interesting!

reuven 5y ago
I've only been doing Python training for a few years now. I've made more money, had more flexibility, and been happier than at any previous time in my consulting career (which started in 1995). Here are two interviews I've given on the subject: - https://devjourney.info/Guests/83-ReuvenLerner.html https://devjourney.info/Guests/83-ReuvenLerner.html - https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/business-freelancing-episode-54-reuven-lerner-selling-training-clients/ https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/business-freelancing-episo... I'm always happy to talk about training. I love it, and recommend that everyone in the consulting world look into it more. I also have a training newsletter, at https://TrainerWeekly.com/ https://TrainerWeekly.com/.

rkagerer 5y ago

The client told the cloud provider that I had been unauthorized to speak on the company's behalf (untrue) Apropos of nothing, it's funny how nearly every single consulting contract I've seen which has been prepared by an attorney on the client side tries to slip in a clause like "you shall not act on our behalf or hold yourself out as having authority to obligate or bind us", when that's actually exactly what they're looking to hire me to do (eg. "Please come manage our projects, employees, customer relationships, vendors, banking relationships, products, research branch" or whatever else the role entails).

james_in_the_uk 5y ago
In legal terms, they’re not exactly the same. You are managing the projects etc. as a service being provided under contract. You are not being granted actual authority to act as an agent of the company. The clause they are slipping in actually protects you both. If you are appointed as an agent (expressly or by implication) then you become a fiduciary for them which might give you obligations that aren’t necessary spelled out in the contract. So, this isn’t a clause most well advised people push back on. If they do still need to sign on behalf of the company in some discreet situations they look into getting a limited power of attorney instead. Safer and clearer for both parties. Not legal advice of course. I assume your own attorney would have explained this to you anyway.

doanerock 5y ago

Yaha he sounds pretty bad at business.