Thanks HN: Goodbye, Golden Handcuffs (updated)

History: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1960437

Update... Week 0: Agonized over computer purchase. Server? Laptop? Mac? Cheap?

Weeks 1 & 2: Traveled South America with the girl (15 flights, 12 days).

Week 3: Enjoyed my free time. Groceries, library trips, cooking, running, plotting.

…Enter Luck…

Week 4: Handed a lead from mentor. Suddenly I’m up at 1:30am drafting my first contract. Family loans me $12k.

Week 5: First wire arrives. So busy packing forget to celebrate. Storm sends a tree through my car. Hop on a flight to Central America.

Week 6: Crash course in project management. Technology stress. People arrive, time disappears. Cancel flight home. Business officially profitable; eat PB&J anyway.

Week 7: Hire 12th employee. Team exceeds expectations, client happy. Just packed bag for morning flight home. Project stable.

Favorite part is decisions about my team. Today I built a training station and allow 30 minutes a day to pursue certifications. On Monday I’ve got a lead for more work in the US; in a month the team will need it. Might visit NASA for fun Tuesday, who knows.

Reflections: -Successful people like to help others start -Bid high -Humbling amount of work -Reputation gets work -More luck, less productivity than I imagined