[AccessD] Burn-out

John,

I am sure part of your edge is the fact you know your stuff and can be contactable locally and respond quickly.  Small business generally like that and need to feel supported by someone who understands their business and is around long term for them - They don't have the time or desire to re-explain the problem AGAIN to whomever they get at the support call centre.  They want to talk to the same person who already has a good understanding of their day to day requirements and knows how to respond appropriately and promptly.

Cost is important of course, - most small businesses don't have deep pockets, but I feel you should never aim to be the cheapest, rather the best value for money for your client.

In your market I suspect many of your clients have figured out that you ARE the best value for their $ given the level of expertise and speed of response they get from you.  A few quality ongoing relationships with clients if better than many one off gigs anyday.

Cheers
Darryl.



-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
Sent: Wednesday, 1 February 2012 2:37 AM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] Burn-out

I too am a one man show.  I have always focused on very small business, as in 100 person or less. 
What I find is that these small businesses are:

1) Hard to find
2) Easy to get into once found
3) Easy to work with
4) Pay well enough to make it worthwhile.
5) Won't even consider overseas IT.

John W. Colby
Colby Consulting

Reality is what refuses to go away
when you do not believe in it

On 1/31/2012 9:55 AM, Mark Simms wrote:
> Very profound Shamil...and your experience with the busted development 
> teams is quite a tell with regards to the recent problems in the industry.
> The Freedom aspect is interesting: in my current case, I've two 
> work-at-home-office contracts....which does provide for some 
> freedom....er at least "flexibility" i.e. working at 3 am to spend 
> time AM to work-out at the gym, etc.
> When I was on remote contract, it really stunk: no flexibility, long 
> commute, lots of stress, lowered my health...I put on 10 lbs ! Of 
> course, I had little time to work-out....which I think is essential for this stressful business.
>
> Lately, I'm been getting some ridiculous offers to work at remote 
> locations several hundred miles away....with no compensation for 
> travel or stay over night expenses. After expenses, I'd be making like 
> $30/hr ! I guess there's a lot of desperate programmers out there.
> The other development lately has been major corps forcing everyone 
> into W2 contracts instead of more favorable 1099 or corp-to-corp arrangements.
> All of these are valid reasons to leave the industry.
>
>
>

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