Being a freelancer is no longer feasible.
I'm completely jaded about every corporate job at Facebook or Google.
They don't want people like me. They don't want people who are creative or think for themselves. They want people who fit... the Mold.
I'm a dynamic person and I deserve my own business. My thoughts on starting a business before starting one:
1. Why go through the trouble of starting your own company when there are so many out there you can join?
Well, see my previous posts on that one. Company cultures, personalities and attitudes, inability to make a real living or a real wage. Still pissed at EA for only hiring me as a contractor for 21.00/ hour. And I lived with it! I couldn't even pay my rent on that. Who could?
2. Doesn't it cost money to get started? What if that becomes a total loss?
Getting started isn't hard when you read up on how the professionals do it. It cost me like nothing to read a business book my friend lent me, but also I took a class, that I did pay for, made for and by women of color who were just like me and didn't have a daddy who is a billionaire to teach them the ropes. And when you're sure of your own abilities but FED UP about how you've been unable to get PAID for them, you know that you're in it for the long haul, so the investment of getting started is seen as a long-term investment. I'm not giving up, and I've received the help of friends and family in getting started.
3. Do you really know anything about business? Business people speak a different language.
See above. I've had enough experience with startups, people in different roles like marketing and I've seen and done investment pitches, so whether or not I succeeded there, I definitely know the drill. You only have to try it once to get the general idea. Plus I'm not RELYING on investment, though it's always nice.
4. How do I find the people who can be a part of my business? Clients, marketing people, inspirations, mentors?
I'm good at networking. Mainly because I don't accept bullshit and I don't pretend to be something I'm not. I'm reserved, and I don't make myself talk to people who rub me the wrong way. I take it lightly when I realize I don't like this person or they don't like me. All of the above just goes without saying. Be yourself and judge the people you're networking with and working with.
5. How do I provide value so I can keep making money?
My UX work applies to anything. I have seen it do the trick over and over again with any product (mainly as a freelancer). I always provide value as a UX researcher. I just need eyeballs on me, and reading to figure out how to turn my skills into an offer. It seems like teaching classes really gets people in the door, and I sure do get people trying to pick my brain about UX, so I should charge.
I'm completely jaded about every corporate job at Facebook or Google.
They don't want people like me. They don't want people who are creative or think for themselves. They want people who fit... the Mold.
I'm a dynamic person and I deserve my own business. My thoughts on starting a business before starting one:
1. Why go through the trouble of starting your own company when there are so many out there you can join?
Well, see my previous posts on that one. Company cultures, personalities and attitudes, inability to make a real living or a real wage. Still pissed at EA for only hiring me as a contractor for 21.00/ hour. And I lived with it! I couldn't even pay my rent on that. Who could?
2. Doesn't it cost money to get started? What if that becomes a total loss?
Getting started isn't hard when you read up on how the professionals do it. It cost me like nothing to read a business book my friend lent me, but also I took a class, that I did pay for, made for and by women of color who were just like me and didn't have a daddy who is a billionaire to teach them the ropes. And when you're sure of your own abilities but FED UP about how you've been unable to get PAID for them, you know that you're in it for the long haul, so the investment of getting started is seen as a long-term investment. I'm not giving up, and I've received the help of friends and family in getting started.
3. Do you really know anything about business? Business people speak a different language.
See above. I've had enough experience with startups, people in different roles like marketing and I've seen and done investment pitches, so whether or not I succeeded there, I definitely know the drill. You only have to try it once to get the general idea. Plus I'm not RELYING on investment, though it's always nice.
4. How do I find the people who can be a part of my business? Clients, marketing people, inspirations, mentors?
I'm good at networking. Mainly because I don't accept bullshit and I don't pretend to be something I'm not. I'm reserved, and I don't make myself talk to people who rub me the wrong way. I take it lightly when I realize I don't like this person or they don't like me. All of the above just goes without saying. Be yourself and judge the people you're networking with and working with.
5. How do I provide value so I can keep making money?
My UX work applies to anything. I have seen it do the trick over and over again with any product (mainly as a freelancer). I always provide value as a UX researcher. I just need eyeballs on me, and reading to figure out how to turn my skills into an offer. It seems like teaching classes really gets people in the door, and I sure do get people trying to pick my brain about UX, so I should charge.
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