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"Mostly, I was growing tired of implementing <some old-school technology> to solve <some generic enterprise problem>. I’m a builder at heart, and I wanted to co

"Mostly, I was growing tired of implementing <some old-school technology> to solve <some generic enterprise problem>. I’m a builder at heart, and I wanted to contribute to Creating a Thing" Consulting offers a great balance between personal freedom, and cash flow, and that to me is one of its greatest strengths. You get the small team comraderie too, as you mentioned. With a startup, if you can build that product, yes, then a startup is ideal. But that's extremely tough. For me, I'm willing to sacrifice a small piece of my freedom in exchange for that cash flow.

dkador 14y ago
Everybody's different on that front. We all have to figure out how much we're willing to sacrifice something, be it "freedom", interest in work, happiness, time, etc. for our paycheck. I think the interesting thing is that people's view here definitely changes over time. My corporate job for five and a half years after college offered amazing cash flow and other perks and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing anything. But eventually I felt like the pace at which I was learning slowed down too much and I knew I needed to make a change. With the nest egg I had built up over the years, I knew I could quit without sacrificing a ton. Starting Keen was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Do you think your opinion will change in the next five years?
cageface 14y ago
At my last job I was making way more money than I could realistically spend, but there was no way I could go half-time and get those precious hours back for other things. Consulting gives me that freedom, which I appreciate more and more as the years go by.
- wetzler 14y ago
  That is awesome that you made the jump from enterprise to working for yourself (or at least being able to set your own work pace). Are you independent or do you work with a firm? I think my consulting firm had some flexible work options. I know one person who worked only 4 days per week. But I don't think I ever saw anyone go half-time. That's a great option you have.
  - cageface 14y ago
    I'm indie right now. I spent the last year trying to make a living selling my own iOS apps and not making much money. But it looks like the freelance iOS market is pretty good so I'm shifting my focus to contracting.

dkador 14y ago

Everybody's different on that front. We all have to figure out how much we're willing to sacrifice something, be it "freedom", interest in work, happiness, time, etc. for our paycheck. I think the interesting thing is that people's view here definitely changes over time. My corporate job for five and a half years after college offered amazing cash flow and other perks and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing anything. But eventually I felt like the pace at which I was learning slowed down too much and I knew I needed to make a change. With the nest egg I had built up over the years, I knew I could quit without sacrificing a ton. Starting Keen was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Do you think your opinion will change in the next five years?

cageface 14y ago

At my last job I was making way more money than I could realistically spend, but there was no way I could go half-time and get those precious hours back for other things. Consulting gives me that freedom, which I appreciate more and more as the years go by.

wetzler 14y ago
That is awesome that you made the jump from enterprise to working for yourself (or at least being able to set your own work pace). Are you independent or do you work with a firm? I think my consulting firm had some flexible work options. I know one person who worked only 4 days per week. But I don't think I ever saw anyone go half-time. That's a great option you have.
- cageface 14y ago
  I'm indie right now. I spent the last year trying to make a living selling my own iOS apps and not making much money. But it looks like the freelance iOS market is pretty good so I'm shifting my focus to contracting.