Getting side projects
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Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
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Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
Craig List is full of people that want you to work for free and Job boards are full of "consulting companies" that want to take 20% to 30% off the top while offering no real value. What they both lead to is a rate that is significantly less than you would command in full-time position with the same requirements. Probably the easiest way to score "extra" income is to negotiate a non-exempt salary. To really compete in the freelance market you need to attend events and hand out a lot of business cards. It also doesn't hurt to have your personal company get on the approved vendor list for the medium to large companies in the area so you can solicit them directly. Direct rates from a company are usually perfectly inline with what you should be charging.
Need a C# Consultant? I'm available.
Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. -- Ernest Hemingway -
Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
Being the dad of a 7-week old should be enough side work! Marc
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Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
Networking. Networking. Networking. Oh, and do more networking. That's the way to start. Errm - may I suggest that you have a look at my first article on Going Solo[^] (and there onto the others in the series).
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
Kind of depends on where you live. I found a small freebie(free to consumers) paper I could put an ad in for about half the price of the daily local paper and it returned me quite a bit of work. Some bigger stores have bulletin boards you can post a little card on. They're usually found on the wall near the hallway to the bathrooms. Tell everyone you know and, this is only my opinion, but stay away from Craig's List or at the very least be really careful. Some people have gotten scammed and even hurt by less than honest people. Good luck and congrats on the newborn.
My Blog: http://cynicalclots.blogspot.com
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Being the dad of a 7-week old should be enough side work! Marc
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It is. I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row for when the newborn stuff eases off a bit (like when she starts sleeping through the night).
gantww wrote:
(like when she starts sleeping through the night).
Is this your first child? When? How about "if". ;) Frankly, the newborn stuff doesn't ease off until you trundle them off to school, say in about 4 years. By then your brain has been so infantized to do anything more than work in a day care or code in VB. :rolleyes: Marc
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gantww wrote:
(like when she starts sleeping through the night).
Is this your first child? When? How about "if". ;) Frankly, the newborn stuff doesn't ease off until you trundle them off to school, say in about 4 years. By then your brain has been so infantized to do anything more than work in a day care or code in VB. :rolleyes: Marc
What he doesn't know is ... even if the child starts sleeping nights ... he won't get sleep for at least the next,oh ... 20 + years ... ;)
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL -
What he doesn't know is ... even if the child starts sleeping nights ... he won't get sleep for at least the next,oh ... 20 + years ... ;)
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLOh come now, it's not that bad. Number one is sleeping like a trooper. Number two, well we'll see come October :)
I'm largely language agnostic
After a while they all bug me :doh:
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gantww wrote:
(like when she starts sleeping through the night).
Is this your first child? When? How about "if". ;) Frankly, the newborn stuff doesn't ease off until you trundle them off to school, say in about 4 years. By then your brain has been so infantized to do anything more than work in a day care or code in VB. :rolleyes: Marc
Sorry, I know I'm getting offtopic, but there honestly is no reason why you should not expect your newborn to sleep through the night from about 10 weeks, or earlier if you are lucky/want to. I have 2 kids (3 and 1) and they both slept through the night from 8 weeks. Set a feed/wake/sleep routine for your newborn, about 3 hours is best at first, then lengthen it to 4 hours overnight from about 4 weeks or so. Note its feed-wake-sleep, not feed-sleep-wake. Gives them a chance to get wind out and have a play and be ready to sleep when its time. If your baby cries, let it. It will sleep. Newborns don't know *how* to go to sleep. If you keep picking it up for a cuddle when it is crying and supposed to be sleeping, then it won't learn how to settle itself. We would give the baby up to 10 minutes of screaming, then go in and give them a pat and talk gently to them _without_ picking them up. If they stop crying, then start again, the 10 minute clock starts again. Trust me, once the baby doesn't need your help to go to sleep, your life will be 10x easier. We read babywise, found it good but others find it a bit hardcore.
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Sorry, I know I'm getting offtopic, but there honestly is no reason why you should not expect your newborn to sleep through the night from about 10 weeks, or earlier if you are lucky/want to. I have 2 kids (3 and 1) and they both slept through the night from 8 weeks. Set a feed/wake/sleep routine for your newborn, about 3 hours is best at first, then lengthen it to 4 hours overnight from about 4 weeks or so. Note its feed-wake-sleep, not feed-sleep-wake. Gives them a chance to get wind out and have a play and be ready to sleep when its time. If your baby cries, let it. It will sleep. Newborns don't know *how* to go to sleep. If you keep picking it up for a cuddle when it is crying and supposed to be sleeping, then it won't learn how to settle itself. We would give the baby up to 10 minutes of screaming, then go in and give them a pat and talk gently to them _without_ picking them up. If they stop crying, then start again, the 10 minute clock starts again. Trust me, once the baby doesn't need your help to go to sleep, your life will be 10x easier. We read babywise, found it good but others find it a bit hardcore.
What he says!! Babywise ROCKS! 8 weeks and my daughter was sleeping through the night and she continues to sleep very well to this day (5 years old). :)
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Kind of depends on where you live. I found a small freebie(free to consumers) paper I could put an ad in for about half the price of the daily local paper and it returned me quite a bit of work. Some bigger stores have bulletin boards you can post a little card on. They're usually found on the wall near the hallway to the bathrooms. Tell everyone you know and, this is only my opinion, but stay away from Craig's List or at the very least be really careful. Some people have gotten scammed and even hurt by less than honest people. Good luck and congrats on the newborn.
My Blog: http://cynicalclots.blogspot.com
Dirk Higbee wrote:
Some bigger stores have bulletin boards you can post a little card on. They're usually found on the wall near the hallway to the bathrooms. Tell everyone you know and, this is only my opinion, but stay away from Craig's List or at the very least be really careful. Some people have gotten scammed and even hurt by less than honest people.
Pssst. Hey buddy, wanna see buy some great code? Meet me in the hall down by the bathrooms. Seriously, ask everyone and then ask all their friends. Word of mouth is by far the best advertising. As far as children, if I had known how much fun grandchildren are, I'd have had grandkids rather than kids. So far there are 15 and 2 more on the way and we slept fine every night. ;P
The PetroNerd
Walt Fair, Jr. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Sorry, I know I'm getting offtopic, but there honestly is no reason why you should not expect your newborn to sleep through the night from about 10 weeks, or earlier if you are lucky/want to. I have 2 kids (3 and 1) and they both slept through the night from 8 weeks. Set a feed/wake/sleep routine for your newborn, about 3 hours is best at first, then lengthen it to 4 hours overnight from about 4 weeks or so. Note its feed-wake-sleep, not feed-sleep-wake. Gives them a chance to get wind out and have a play and be ready to sleep when its time. If your baby cries, let it. It will sleep. Newborns don't know *how* to go to sleep. If you keep picking it up for a cuddle when it is crying and supposed to be sleeping, then it won't learn how to settle itself. We would give the baby up to 10 minutes of screaming, then go in and give them a pat and talk gently to them _without_ picking them up. If they stop crying, then start again, the 10 minute clock starts again. Trust me, once the baby doesn't need your help to go to sleep, your life will be 10x easier. We read babywise, found it good but others find it a bit hardcore.
Perhaps my girls (twins) are just evil then. They're 3 and they still don't sleep. Well now it's more a problem with getting them to stop running around their bedroom at bedtime and not waking me up at 5am :laugh:
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Hello all, I've recently become a father (7 weeks tomorrow). At the moment, I'm not seeking any side work, but plan to do so soon, as I'd like to start saving for some needed home renovations and the like. Now, I've gotten side work in the past, but it was at random and mostly came about due to word of mouth. Now I would like to do it intentionally. Where should I start? Any reading materials you would recommend, etc. would be most appreciated. If you pulled it off successfully and are getting regular side work (or went to full time contract work), how did you go about it? I'm interested in hearing the replies. Thanks, Will Gant
Word of mouth is good if you know alot of people, or have the time to network. If not try these sites: http://www.topcoder.com http://www.odesk.com http://www.elance.com Good luck with the little one! ~SyntaxC4()
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Word of mouth is good if you know alot of people, or have the time to network. If not try these sites: http://www.topcoder.com http://www.odesk.com http://www.elance.com Good luck with the little one! ~SyntaxC4()
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Dirk Higbee wrote:
Some bigger stores have bulletin boards you can post a little card on. They're usually found on the wall near the hallway to the bathrooms. Tell everyone you know and, this is only my opinion, but stay away from Craig's List or at the very least be really careful. Some people have gotten scammed and even hurt by less than honest people.
Pssst. Hey buddy, wanna see buy some great code? Meet me in the hall down by the bathrooms. Seriously, ask everyone and then ask all their friends. Word of mouth is by far the best advertising. As far as children, if I had known how much fun grandchildren are, I'd have had grandkids rather than kids. So far there are 15 and 2 more on the way and we slept fine every night. ;P
The PetroNerd
Walt Fair, Jr. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
Thanks Walt, you made my day. I'll be laughing through the day thinking about what you said, kids versus grandkids and how well you sleep at night. I have a 4 years old boy myself and now I understand his grandfather. Pierre Boucher 'Bien souvent on se rend coupable en négligeant d'agir, et non pas seulement en agissant.' - Marc Aurèle, empereur et philosophe romain.
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What he doesn't know is ... even if the child starts sleeping nights ... he won't get sleep for at least the next,oh ... 20 + years ... ;)
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTLHahahahah! I love this! Everyone complaining about their child not sleeping through the night. Try triplets!.. in fact, try 15 week EARLY TRIPLETS... They didn't sleep through the night for at least 10 months and we STILL take turns getting up with at least one a night. Time for side work? What is that? Good luck and you just keep living in your dream world. I agree.. MAYBE in 20 years when they've all moved out of the house.
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Sorry, I know I'm getting offtopic, but there honestly is no reason why you should not expect your newborn to sleep through the night from about 10 weeks, or earlier if you are lucky/want to. I have 2 kids (3 and 1) and they both slept through the night from 8 weeks. Set a feed/wake/sleep routine for your newborn, about 3 hours is best at first, then lengthen it to 4 hours overnight from about 4 weeks or so. Note its feed-wake-sleep, not feed-sleep-wake. Gives them a chance to get wind out and have a play and be ready to sleep when its time. If your baby cries, let it. It will sleep. Newborns don't know *how* to go to sleep. If you keep picking it up for a cuddle when it is crying and supposed to be sleeping, then it won't learn how to settle itself. We would give the baby up to 10 minutes of screaming, then go in and give them a pat and talk gently to them _without_ picking them up. If they stop crying, then start again, the 10 minute clock starts again. Trust me, once the baby doesn't need your help to go to sleep, your life will be 10x easier. We read babywise, found it good but others find it a bit hardcore.