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I’ve been in sort of a rut lately.  Well honestly, I’m in ruts a lot.  I must have a rut personality or something but anyways.

For a while now I’ve been doing some deep contemplating about myself.  Trying to figure out what I want out of life, well as far as work and employment goes.  My personal life is another story and I’m happy as a lark right now.

I have a Computer Science degree but I’m currently working at UPS as a truck loader.  It is steady pay and at the end of the day that’s what really matters.  Well as steady as 20 hours a week is. However, let’s be honest here folks!  This type of work is beneath me.  I could be doing so much more.

I guess the main thing is I need to start looking for a better job, one that’s actually in my field.

Besides that, well duh, aspect I realize that I need to do something more for myself.  I decided I should start my own part-time business.

The problem was decided what part-time business to start.  Basically, I came up with four options.  Well really three and one my mother keeps telling me I should do.  Here are the pros and cons to each.

Option 1: Build and sell custom computers on the side.

Pros:
- I like building systems
- I’m good at building systems
- It’s fun to play with the parts
Cons:
- My systems wouldn’t be cheap
- I couldn’t compete with the likes of Dell or even high end game system makers like Alienware or Falcon Northwest or the gaggle of popups in the last year.
- I don’t like to do tech support!
- Margins are low so not much money in it

Option 2: Do in home tech support / computer installing / etc (this is my mothers often suggested idea)

Pros:
- I’m pretty good at general technical support
- Get to play with lots of computers
- Get to help people which I like to do

Cons:
- Lots of traveling
- Dealing with morons
- Having to work around other peoples schedules
- Did I mention that I don’t like to do tech support?

Option 3: Web hosting / Web design
Pros:
- I’m pretty knowledgeable about server administration
- I know internet technology very well
- Hosting is a pretty low effort job long as everything works right

Cons:
- I’m really not that good at web design (I can do basic html/css layouts and php/perl web programming but don’t bother asking for graphics, flash, etc)
- Low margins because of the large competition
- People demand 24/7 tech support which I can’t provide

Option 4: Write my own software and sell it

Pros:
- I love coding!
- I’m good at coding
- Freedom to do what I want, when I want to
- Get to be creative

Cons:
- Doing what I want and making what will sell are two different things
- Writing software takes a lot of time

Well anyways that was what I came up with.  Out of those 4 options I feel writing my own software and selling it is the best option.  It provided the freedom to work on my own schedule which is a major requirement for a part time business. Plus the freedom to do what I want which is a major, major plus for me.

I’ve already come up with a few ideas for things to create.  I’m sort of all over the chart on what I want to do but I might try to focus on certain core customers like say system admins or developers.  I don’t really know yet but that’s ok.  I’m just getting going on the idea.  The main thing is finding something I like to do and doing it.