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    Friday, April 08, 2005

    Getting back to what I like... Coding!

    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.

    Posted by abarber on 04/08/2005 at 11:11 AM
    Computers & Technology • Work • Entrepreneurship • (2) Comments • Permalink
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