Reblogged from Going Solo
Apr 19, 2010 | CommentsBig News in Brief
I am now officially a freelance developer. I’ve been developing mostly for the web for almost 10 years (wow, I don’t feel that old…), and I see this as an opportunity to push myself in new and interesting ways. So: if you’re looking for a developer to help with a Ruby, iPhone or web project, please get in contact!
Now, if you want more insight into my reasons and hopes, read on.
Background
I’ve been contemplating going out on my own for almost 3 years. I’ve asked a lot of hard questions of myself, read a ton and tried to pursue opportunities that would help my goal of one day running my own business. The experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met have led me to be able to finally pull the trigger. The list of people that I can thank is just too long, so here’s a big THANK YOU to everybody - you know who you are - that I’ve met that has encouraged me along the way.
Why Did I Jump?
To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself. - Soren Kierkegaard
I’m (relatively) young and want to live a life without many regrets. There are opportunities before me that can only be pursued if I take this step. And, almost above all, I think this is part of the journey of discovering exactly who I am. So, here’s to being willing to dare.
Make Meaning
The causation of great organizations is the desire to make meaning. - Guy Kawasaki
Guy’s sentiment resonates with me on a deep level. Of course I want (and need!) to make money as a freelancer, but a more overarching goal is to make meaning with what I pursue. I want this goal to guide my interactions with clients, future products that I build and any business decisions that I need to make. I will be pushing to answer questions like “Am I making the world a better place with this software?” and “Am I helping to increase people’s quality of life?”.
Freedom
Freedom means choosing your burden. - Hephzibah Menuhin
Something about having a “normal 9-5” job has always rubbed me in interesting ways, but the biggest longing I’ve had is for freedom. Freedom to make my own decisions, pursue any opportunity that seems right, succeed big, and fail big. I have some ideas for how I can have a more flexible work schedule, both with time and place, and I’m anxious to see if I can actually make it happen!
Give Back
It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it. - Albert Einstein
I love open source software. I love products like GitHub that encourage the creation of more open source software. Open source software has been a big part of my career, and one of my hopes as a freelancer is to take time each week to give back to the open source community in whatever way I can.
In The End
With this new adventure, I will either succeed or fail (or probably have some weird mix of both), but it is my adventure to take. One day I may find myself working for another company not my own, but I believe I will be a better employee for the path I am walking. This is the path I must walk.
Cheers!
Reblogged from ![avocadosalad:
Ash and Lightning Above an Icelandic Volcano
Explanation: Why did the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland create so much ash? Although the large ash plume was not unparalleled in its abundance, its location was particularly noticeable because it drifted across such well populated areas. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano in southern Iceland began erupting on March 20, with a second eruption starting under the center of small glacier on April 14. Neither eruption was unusually powerful. The second eruption, however, melted a large amount of glacial ice which then cooled and fragmented lava into gritty glass particles that were carried up with the rising volcanic plume. Pictured above two days ago, lightning bolts illuminate ash pouring out of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. [via]
WHOA.](http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l13z1jIdDo1qzrjrto1_250.jpg)
