Generic advice, but can you make a project that is interesting for which you can share code with hiring managers?
This would seem to cut through the challenges that you described:
It demonstrates your ability to code, solve technical challenges, and work from the perspective of the “users/business” (in the context of your project). It also gives you something to talk about. Building rapport helps to bridge gaps in culture.
There's no way you won't feel like you're taking a major salary hit. You want to save up enough for a year of expenses basically, and reduce expenses. This hurts and is hard.
> legit product
This is critical. You should absolutely believe in and find working on your product to be better than anything you can do in your job
> cofounder
Not sure other than usual networking. Note that cofounders are like marriages, its a damn committing relationship.
Your questions are excellent, but overall based on them you seem far, far off. I would try to look for entrepreneurial situations in your work or try to hop onto a startup you like, versus founding.
> networking at least 2 hours a day. I was doing that on top of the 8ish hours I was billing to clients.
I have to say that sounds like a brutal schedule. On top of being a very smart guy, you seem like a very hard worker. I'm glad you've enjoyed so much success.
> ["3 prong approach explanation"]. Does that make sense?
Yes, thank you for this explanation. It is well reasoned and stated.
You also built one of my favorite unique sites (share latex).
I’m curious and have a few questions:
- how did you manage 5 prospects per day? That seems like an incredible amount of work that would break up my flow. Is this more like one day a week of hitting up 30 leads? Where did you find all of these prospects?
- why did you choose a 3 pronged approach of blog post, personal site AND consulting site? What’s the incremental value of the other two given one?
- can you describe, or give any links about value based fixed cost pricing?
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the likely true reason behind this stoppage: the “burst rate” production and other shenanigans Tesla has put on at the end of its most recent quarters.
These tricks artificially boost its weekly production for the quarterly reports. After the cameras are off, the burned out workers and other resources need time to recuperate.
This shutdown period conveniently conceals this burnout. This is part of the shell games Tesla has played, robbing from its future self to manufacture the narrative it needs to maintain its share price in its stricken state.
Great response. I’ve been disappointed by HN and it’s fairly credulous acceptance of Musk despite all the hallmark traits of hucksterism. It’s refreshing to get cogent and precise criticism.
As someone who closely follows Tesla, I would love to hear your critique of its current state and likely fate.
Your observations are perfectly correct, the short answer is these are low quality (and sometimes exploitative) job shops. You should avoid.
What I think is going on is that consulting stratifies into two groups: high quality consulting exactly as you envision with high pay and freedom, and these consultancies which effectively are low quality labor.
Obviously avoid the later if you have no other choice. In addition to the shitty pay, you will suffer serious penalties to respect and the projects you’ll work on will be the least attractive (and sometimes shitty and dangerous in other ways).
This would seem to cut through the challenges that you described:
It demonstrates your ability to code, solve technical challenges, and work from the perspective of the “users/business” (in the context of your project). It also gives you something to talk about. Building rapport helps to bridge gaps in culture.