Entrepreneurship

[John Uhri]

I've been a freelance software developers for 2.5 years. When I started out on my own in 2006, I set a three phased approach:

1. Subcontracted software development - I would work for consulting companies (as I had for the previous 7 or so years) as a subcontractor on-site for clients.
2. Freelance Software Development - build a base of clients and develop projects for them. This would be done off-site from the client so I could maintain better use of my time and eliminate commuting.
3. Independent Software Development - disconnecting income and time spent is the holy grail of entrepreneurs. For a software developer, that means creating a software product to sell or an online service.

I've moved through the first two phases within the first two years, but the third had, until recently, eluded me. I just couldn't come up with a good idea I thought would sell. But I have now.

As I shift gears to go into a part-time role in #3, I've been inspired by a number of entrepreneurial posts recently. I thought I'd share those posts and what they meant to me:


First, at the PartnerUp blog, they ask Are you ready for Entrepreteurship? Are you passionate? Do you have knowledge and skills? Do you know what it takes? Are you risk adverse? These are all questions asked at the ParterUp blog if you are about to embark on the start-up path.

@BrianShin at Hungry Yet Humble suggests there are 5 classes of Entrepreneurs. I'm primarily a Class 2 (Lifestyle Entrepreneur) with some Class 3 (Problem Solver) in me. (hat tip: @ARobinsonIII)

Lorraine Ball of Roundpeg posted a video called Past Failure is No Indicator of Future Success. It is a great story about her son learning to jump from the high dive, and a great analogy for businesses. Lorraine reminds me that fear is mostly in our heads, and as entrepreneurs we need to get over that. And sometimes it takes more than one try.

Software developer Joel Spolsky writes How Hard Could It Be?: Start-up Static (in his monthly Inc. article) about how start-ups are like shortwave radio... you have to fiddle with the dials until you hit the station. It's interesting to think about the number of things there are that can be tweaked along the road to success, and how something insignificant can change the entire game.

Yu-kai Chou posted Want a real life? Be an Entrepreneur. The video "The Call of the Entrepreneur" is awesome. My favorite quote from the video is Hong Kong Entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, who said

"Taking a risk is actually dashing into hope. You're just dashing into the future and hoping it is that is going to be better."

Yu-kai Chou's also said,

"The best time to start a business just passed. The second best time to start a business is NOW."

I'm excited to build something that will solve a need and can't wait to get started!