5 ms·

Have you tried the indie software thing like this guy? How has that been going? I feel like I have enough saved now that even if I can't get corporate work an

by novok 3y ago

Have you tried the indie software thing like this guy? How has that been going? I feel like I have enough saved now that even if I can't get corporate work anymore due to age (which I kind of doubt due to the age of people I've worked with in FANG, and the fact I'm already pretty much a manager of managers, which tends to run older) that I would be pretty happy doing the indie thing too.

ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
I'm working on apps for nonprofits that can't afford people of my caliber. I don't charge for my work, but take it every bit as seriously, as if I were. It's actually part of the satisfaction that I get from the work. Keeps me busy and up-to-date, and is extremely gratifying. I'm getting ready to release an app that is a top-to-bottom system, involving a couple of servers that I wrote, along with a fairly robust native iOS frontend. Works a charm. I've enjoyed it. Of course, I have to keep my scope humble, but I've always been able to punch above my weight, so it's working out.
- groby_b 3y ago
  FWIW: For your non-profit work, I'd recommend charging full price as donation if your tax jurisdiction allows this.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
    Sadly, it does not. We're not allowed to declare "sweat equity." If I was able to declare it, I'd never pay a dime in taxes. I have heard that Steve Kamen, who wrote the "I Love New York" jingle, gave full rights to the state, and never has to pay state taxes. I haven't found anything that corroborates this, but it could very well be true. The work I do, is for a demographic that tends to be ignored. I doubt there's any tax breaks, headed my way.
    - jahewson 3y ago
      You might be able to donate the copyright. That’s worth basically as much as the labor.
- fragmede 3y ago
  Do you invoice them anyway and zero out your fee, or just do the work for free and don't invoice them?
  - ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
    I don't invoice them. The outfit is really small. I am an officer of the 501(c)(3), though. I've found that most non-tech folks don't have any idea how much it costs to have real talent working for them (or even crap talent). I don't feel like arguing about it. I can't declare it, so it's not worth the agita.
    - FireBeyond 3y ago
      I had an org in NYC offer me a Director of Product role ... for $90K.

by novok 3y ago

ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago

I'm working on apps for nonprofits that can't afford people of my caliber. I don't charge for my work, but take it every bit as seriously, as if I were. It's actually part of the satisfaction that I get from the work. Keeps me busy and up-to-date, and is extremely gratifying. I'm getting ready to release an app that is a top-to-bottom system, involving a couple of servers that I wrote, along with a fairly robust native iOS frontend. Works a charm. I've enjoyed it. Of course, I have to keep my scope humble, but I've always been able to punch above my weight, so it's working out.

groby_b 3y ago
FWIW: For your non-profit work, I'd recommend charging full price as donation if your tax jurisdiction allows this.
- ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
  Sadly, it does not. We're not allowed to declare "sweat equity." If I was able to declare it, I'd never pay a dime in taxes. I have heard that Steve Kamen, who wrote the "I Love New York" jingle, gave full rights to the state, and never has to pay state taxes. I haven't found anything that corroborates this, but it could very well be true. The work I do, is for a demographic that tends to be ignored. I doubt there's any tax breaks, headed my way.
  - jahewson 3y ago
    You might be able to donate the copyright. That’s worth basically as much as the labor.
fragmede 3y ago
Do you invoice them anyway and zero out your fee, or just do the work for free and don't invoice them?
- ChrisMarshallNY 3y ago
  I don't invoice them. The outfit is really small. I am an officer of the 501(c)(3), though. I've found that most non-tech folks don't have any idea how much it costs to have real talent working for them (or even crap talent). I don't feel like arguing about it. I can't declare it, so it's not worth the agita.
  - FireBeyond 3y ago
    I had an org in NYC offer me a Director of Product role ... for $90K.