After viewing MJ's video From Flat-Broke to Filighy Rich I realized that working as a developer, I'm at the level of specialized labor and it might be time to take it to the next step: Selling specialized skill. I have bookmarked Lex Devilles Upwork Guide a long time ago but always made excuses that I'm not ready. But lately I realized that I was never 'ready' for any of the jobs I did. I learned while doing so why not start and see if I can learn by doing. So this is my log of following Lex Deville's Guide. I will include his exercises as wel as progress that is made.
A bit about myself:
I'm a 31 year old Belgian VoIP Developer. I'm a full time employee for an IT company and my main responsibilities are: on-going development of our VoIP Web Platform (using PHP, Bash and Asterisk Code), set-up,maintenance and monitoring of Linux servers (Web servers, Database Servers and Asterisk based PBX'es) and 3rd line support which mostly involves VoIP technologies and network related stuff.
But the way I got here was a bit atypical. After highschool I went to college for a degree in Computer Science. I hated it. To much courses that didn't interest me (Math, Economics and some outdated technologies) and I didn't fit in with my peers who fit the profile of the stereotypical nerd. I needed something totally different. So I went to study Psychology (a haven for people who don't know what to do with their lives
) I have a Bachelor Degree in Applied Psychology, and although I started my Masters Degree in Psychology, I never finished that. After leaving university, I first worked as a headhunter specializing in Java developers. The 'wolf of wallstreet'-like mentality didn't suit me and after 5 months I quit and started working as a Business Development Consultant for an IT Recruitment company. Eventually I realized that the college I went to for my IT degree was a bad match, but I still like the world of IT. So I went looking for an entry level job in IT. I found a company that was willing to hire as a IT Support Engineer. I was lucky because the hiring process was not that good (as a former IT recruiter I would not have let myself pass ) and so my career in IT started. The company (despite not being a startup) still kinda functioned like one, and support ment: do what you can, and escalete issues you can't solve. By thaking some time after work to study, I quickly as able to handle more difficult support tickets.
Fast forward 3 years, and the company needed a new VoIP Developer. This is a very niche role. So instead of looking for one for months, and having to pay a big salary, they asked me (knowing I'm a quick learner) to fill in the position. So now I have been developing for about a year. I would in no way say I'm a experienced developer and that has hold me back to do Upwork stuff. But the one thing throughout my carreer is: I learn quick, so why not learn quick while doing upwork jobs.
I like the content of my job. But I hate the lack of freedom. I hate the ceiling on my salary. And I hate seeing my boss having multiple exotic cars on the parking lot, and realizing: this man got the confidence to start al these years ago, but he didn't have more money then I have now, he is not smarter then me,... So why shouldn't I become an entrepreneur.
So lets get started. Upwork might not be Fastlane. But it is a good step I believe in becoming independent, learning to work with clients, and making more money (that later can be used for a real fastlane business). And most important for me, it is a way to build confidence. Knowing that I can help random people with a problem and get payed for that.
A bit about myself:
I'm a 31 year old Belgian VoIP Developer. I'm a full time employee for an IT company and my main responsibilities are: on-going development of our VoIP Web Platform (using PHP, Bash and Asterisk Code), set-up,maintenance and monitoring of Linux servers (Web servers, Database Servers and Asterisk based PBX'es) and 3rd line support which mostly involves VoIP technologies and network related stuff.
But the way I got here was a bit atypical. After highschool I went to college for a degree in Computer Science. I hated it. To much courses that didn't interest me (Math, Economics and some outdated technologies) and I didn't fit in with my peers who fit the profile of the stereotypical nerd. I needed something totally different. So I went to study Psychology (a haven for people who don't know what to do with their lives
) I have a Bachelor Degree in Applied Psychology, and although I started my Masters Degree in Psychology, I never finished that. After leaving university, I first worked as a headhunter specializing in Java developers. The 'wolf of wallstreet'-like mentality didn't suit me and after 5 months I quit and started working as a Business Development Consultant for an IT Recruitment company. Eventually I realized that the college I went to for my IT degree was a bad match, but I still like the world of IT. So I went looking for an entry level job in IT. I found a company that was willing to hire as a IT Support Engineer. I was lucky because the hiring process was not that good (as a former IT recruiter I would not have let myself pass ) and so my career in IT started. The company (despite not being a startup) still kinda functioned like one, and support ment: do what you can, and escalete issues you can't solve. By thaking some time after work to study, I quickly as able to handle more difficult support tickets. Fast forward 3 years, and the company needed a new VoIP Developer. This is a very niche role. So instead of looking for one for months, and having to pay a big salary, they asked me (knowing I'm a quick learner) to fill in the position. So now I have been developing for about a year. I would in no way say I'm a experienced developer and that has hold me back to do Upwork stuff. But the one thing throughout my carreer is: I learn quick, so why not learn quick while doing upwork jobs.
I like the content of my job. But I hate the lack of freedom. I hate the ceiling on my salary. And I hate seeing my boss having multiple exotic cars on the parking lot, and realizing: this man got the confidence to start al these years ago, but he didn't have more money then I have now, he is not smarter then me,... So why shouldn't I become an entrepreneur.
So lets get started. Upwork might not be Fastlane. But it is a good step I believe in becoming independent, learning to work with clients, and making more money (that later can be used for a real fastlane business). And most important for me, it is a way to build confidence. Knowing that I can help random people with a problem and get payed for that.
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