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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

Good luck if you do the software business.  Just ask if you need a beta tester for anything.

Posted by Josh Baltzell  on  04/08/2005  at  02:46 PM

It’s going to work out for you...you will not be at UPS forever!! Good to see you doing what you love to do! Keep it up sweetie!

Posted by Adrianne  on  04/08/2005  at  03:09 PM

 

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