4 ms·

This was a nice short read. However, I'd like to see something between this and The Four Steps to the Epiphany. Something that held out its hand, so that I coul

This was a nice short read. However, I'd like to see something between this and The Four Steps to the Epiphany. Something that held out its hand, so that I could grab it that would lead me step by step to: 1. Find out what in the hell I'm good at, love doing, and should be doing. Every book and website I read about this leads me to believe that I'm "creative". We'll that's great, but I don't know how to turn that into a business. I've read plenty of "you can do it" but there isn't a lot of "this is what you specifically should be doing because I know you- seriously". 2. Help me get my ass off the couch with a plan. A plan that leads me the way a morbidly obese person could be inspired to start doing small exercises like barely sitting up, but eventually actually get in shape. Not just a book on getting a business plan together. If I wanted one of those, I could spit 20 feet and find one. I mean a plan step-by-step of what I need to do to go from making X at company A to making X on my own, with a limited amount of time making x * 0.75 or x * 0.50. 3. Tell me whether I really need an LLC or just business insurance. Tell me the laws for doing business in my state, in my country, with other states, with other countries. Do I need a VAT id? What is the difference between a quote and contract of work that I'd need to do business with the U.S. government vs. a small company in Germany vs. a small company in Australia? All of these details, but in a really friendly language. I know there are groups that support entrepreneurs and startups, but most of them don't support them to go international from day one, and they are more geared to evaluate and provide funding so VC's can invest and reap dividends. I have been approached by people around the world that want to pay me for my product or services, but can't because they can't tell me what I'm supposed to be doing. That's the kind of shit I want to know. I love reading these hopeful posts. But even the most informative don't touch the surface, and the ones that go too far into depth miss the practical stuff. I know it isn't easy. It sounds like I want everything wrapped in a golden ribbon. Well, I'm getting paid pretty well full-time and though I've always wanted to take the jump, spending years reading about others that have done what I want to do (kind of- if I knew exactly what it was), has gotten me nowhere. Magical information and assistance like this just doesn't seem to exist.

vlokshin 14y ago
"Magical information and assistance like this just doesn't seem to exist." Agreed, but that's why the majority of the world ends up living life as a cog. None of this shit is easy, and no one is going to handhold you through the process. If that's your expectation, you're simply not cut out for this. But... you did mention a Steve Blank book, which makes me think all hope is not lost :) I'd recommend: 1. Read "The startup owners manual" by Steve Blank, or at least skim the parts that seem interesting to you 2. Learn to follow the pomodoro technique religiously. This changed my "get shit done" ability dramatically -- sounds like that may be a hump you're having some trouble getting over. In detail to 2, the thing I love most about the pomodoro technique is that it forces you to break down a task to <25 mins. Let's take one of your points: "3. Tell me whether I really need an LLC or just business insurance. Tell me the laws for doing business in my state, in my country, with other states, with other countries. Do I need a VAT id? What is the difference between a quote and contract of work that I'd need to do business with the U.S. government vs. a small company in Germany vs. a small company in Australia? All of these details, but in a really friendly language." You're never going to figure that out on your own if that's the approach. That's a BIG, complicated question with a lot of factors to consider. Either you have the money to pay someone to figure it out for you, or break down something you can actually go do your research about. Assume, test, analyze, grind, repeat.
- Volpe 14y ago
  I like your response and tone. And the article. But: > Agreed, but that's why the majority of the world ends up living life as a cog. This to me, amounts to: You are a failure (cog) if you don't do your own thing and "follow your dreams". I don't agree with anything in that statement. I would ask readers to really think about why "following dreams" is important. Is it related to happiness? What if skills and dreams are completely out of reach from each other? Is it really just going to set someone up for failure/depression etc. As I say, I like the sentiment, but feel there is little analysis to the thought.
  - vlokshin 14y ago
    You're right, and it should be just "follow your dreams". Doing your own thing has a lot less to do with it, and just happens to be a part of my dream. Also, I'm not exactly "doing my own thing" -- I'm simply getting to work with a team that's a lot better at making our collective "dreams" a reality as compared to our respective previous situations. Sorry for the 1-sidedness -- and you're right about there not being much analysis to the thought. This was a more personal, than logical, post so please take it as only such.
  - hakaaaaak 14y ago
    > What if skills and dreams are completely out of reach from each other? That is right on. Every time I list the things that are important to me that I love and/or would love to do they don't match up with my skills or they won't make me any money, with the exception of the generic "start your own business", so I'm doing what I don't really like all that much to be able to have a business, which I do love. It probably isn't a terribly great idea. But, I'm excited.
  - Wista 14y ago
    Depends on your "governing values" (Covey), You are a cog, but your values lie with Family, then cog is a means to end not an end in itself?
- hakaaaaak 14y ago
  Thanks for the advice! > If that's your expectation, you're simply not cut out for this. I'm identifying a need. I know plenty of people like myself. The problem is not motivation. The problem is that by the time that most of us are old enough to recognize that we could do it on our own, we're also smart enough to realize that even if we knew all of the rules, the chances are 100% that our family has to sacrifice and chances are even with all of the knowledge, failure is frequent. I want to minimize failure. I would pay someone to have this info. Something focused on selling support for previously free open-source products with established international customer base, and converting from 6 figure salary with great benefits to working from home at same salary within a year at most. I'm the only wage earner and we have bills to pay. I'm not being a wuss. It is just something I want to do, but have no idea how to pull off. Many would say either "don't do it" or "start slow and see how it goes". I'm trying the latter right now, but I still have no fucking clue how to handle the practical stuff. I need to know the applicable laws, have the connections, and I'm not attractive to VC's or angels at all in my own estimate.
orangethirty 14y ago
I could help you with that. Been doing it for myself for years.
- hakaaaaak 14y ago
  Have you been residing in the U.S. doing independent contractor work and selling support for your open-source projects from the U.S. to other U.S. states, Germany, Australia, G.B., etc.? If so, let me know, and I'll definitely send you something. It would be terrific to have help! I'm more interested at the moment in just basic things like the legalities of dealing with these states, if I really need something to help with the various sales, etc. taxes and what kind of plan to get or whether I can farm that out via some reputable e-commerce solution that handles these things already, how to make contracts and quotes for these companies. How to translate "work for hire" and "you are not paying me for copyright for code I write in this open source project". Whether I need to be incorporated to do business with them. I know LLC is primarily to write off taxes, and that I'm fairly sure that I need business insurance, because I don't want to lose my life savings in a lawsuit. Basically, I need an accountant with lots of U.S./Int'l experience, an international lawfirm, a psychoanalyst, a friend with similar experience, and a few advisors.
  - orangethirty 14y ago
    Yes, I do work as a freelancer. I also help others monetize and/or market their business/projects. But I'm not an accountant.

vlokshin 14y ago

"Magical information and assistance like this just doesn't seem to exist." Agreed, but that's why the majority of the world ends up living life as a cog. None of this shit is easy, and no one is going to handhold you through the process. If that's your expectation, you're simply not cut out for this. But... you did mention a Steve Blank book, which makes me think all hope is not lost :) I'd recommend: 1. Read "The startup owners manual" by Steve Blank, or at least skim the parts that seem interesting to you 2. Learn to follow the pomodoro technique religiously. This changed my "get shit done" ability dramatically -- sounds like that may be a hump you're having some trouble getting over. In detail to 2, the thing I love most about the pomodoro technique is that it forces you to break down a task to <25 mins. Let's take one of your points: "3. Tell me whether I really need an LLC or just business insurance. Tell me the laws for doing business in my state, in my country, with other states, with other countries. Do I need a VAT id? What is the difference between a quote and contract of work that I'd need to do business with the U.S. government vs. a small company in Germany vs. a small company in Australia? All of these details, but in a really friendly language." You're never going to figure that out on your own if that's the approach. That's a BIG, complicated question with a lot of factors to consider. Either you have the money to pay someone to figure it out for you, or break down something you can actually go do your research about. Assume, test, analyze, grind, repeat.

Volpe 14y ago
I like your response and tone. And the article. But: > Agreed, but that's why the majority of the world ends up living life as a cog. This to me, amounts to: You are a failure (cog) if you don't do your own thing and "follow your dreams". I don't agree with anything in that statement. I would ask readers to really think about why "following dreams" is important. Is it related to happiness? What if skills and dreams are completely out of reach from each other? Is it really just going to set someone up for failure/depression etc. As I say, I like the sentiment, but feel there is little analysis to the thought.
- vlokshin 14y ago
  You're right, and it should be just "follow your dreams". Doing your own thing has a lot less to do with it, and just happens to be a part of my dream. Also, I'm not exactly "doing my own thing" -- I'm simply getting to work with a team that's a lot better at making our collective "dreams" a reality as compared to our respective previous situations. Sorry for the 1-sidedness -- and you're right about there not being much analysis to the thought. This was a more personal, than logical, post so please take it as only such.
- hakaaaaak 14y ago
  > What if skills and dreams are completely out of reach from each other? That is right on. Every time I list the things that are important to me that I love and/or would love to do they don't match up with my skills or they won't make me any money, with the exception of the generic "start your own business", so I'm doing what I don't really like all that much to be able to have a business, which I do love. It probably isn't a terribly great idea. But, I'm excited.
- Wista 14y ago
  Depends on your "governing values" (Covey), You are a cog, but your values lie with Family, then cog is a means to end not an end in itself?
hakaaaaak 14y ago
Thanks for the advice! > If that's your expectation, you're simply not cut out for this. I'm identifying a need. I know plenty of people like myself. The problem is not motivation. The problem is that by the time that most of us are old enough to recognize that we could do it on our own, we're also smart enough to realize that even if we knew all of the rules, the chances are 100% that our family has to sacrifice and chances are even with all of the knowledge, failure is frequent. I want to minimize failure. I would pay someone to have this info. Something focused on selling support for previously free open-source products with established international customer base, and converting from 6 figure salary with great benefits to working from home at same salary within a year at most. I'm the only wage earner and we have bills to pay. I'm not being a wuss. It is just something I want to do, but have no idea how to pull off. Many would say either "don't do it" or "start slow and see how it goes". I'm trying the latter right now, but I still have no fucking clue how to handle the practical stuff. I need to know the applicable laws, have the connections, and I'm not attractive to VC's or angels at all in my own estimate.

orangethirty 14y ago

I could help you with that. Been doing it for myself for years.

hakaaaaak 14y ago
Have you been residing in the U.S. doing independent contractor work and selling support for your open-source projects from the U.S. to other U.S. states, Germany, Australia, G.B., etc.? If so, let me know, and I'll definitely send you something. It would be terrific to have help! I'm more interested at the moment in just basic things like the legalities of dealing with these states, if I really need something to help with the various sales, etc. taxes and what kind of plan to get or whether I can farm that out via some reputable e-commerce solution that handles these things already, how to make contracts and quotes for these companies. How to translate "work for hire" and "you are not paying me for copyright for code I write in this open source project". Whether I need to be incorporated to do business with them. I know LLC is primarily to write off taxes, and that I'm fairly sure that I need business insurance, because I don't want to lose my life savings in a lawsuit. Basically, I need an accountant with lots of U.S./Int'l experience, an international lawfirm, a psychoanalyst, a friend with similar experience, and a few advisors.
- orangethirty 14y ago
  Yes, I do work as a freelancer. I also help others monetize and/or market their business/projects. But I'm not an accountant.