my_ problem, but some of my friends were talking about it:
something like Kickstarter, but for consultants. The genius of Kickstarter is
the "transactional" (in the database sense of the word, wherein a set of
operations is packaged so that either all happen or none do) nature of the
thing: either the money is raised, or not; and if not, it's all returned to
pledgers. If the consultant gets enough pledges/work to cover the next N
months (N = 8 to 12) then they get the money and can start out as consultants.
If they don't, the money goes back and they continue with their day jobs.

One of the problems with consulting is that it's really hard for most people,
while employed, to line up enough work that they can become consultants in the
first place. Most people will never get the chance, even if they have the
talent, because they can't front the initial financial cost. This keeps a lot
of people out of self-employment who would otherwise be a better fit for it.

The Kickstarter-esque idea seems strong, but the biggest problem with this
idea is that people who have serious ($150+ per hour) work to offer generally
don't solicit on the Internet if they can help it. They prefer to source
through word-of-mouth, which is pre-technological and broken and leads to that
imbecilic situation where you have to be in to get in... but I don't make the
rules.

That's why I haven't pursued it. It's one of those startups that requires
fixing people, and any startup that goes long on human nature is facing
extremely bad odds.

~~~
peteforde
Not everyone should be freelancers. (You used the term consultants, but my gut
tells me that you mean freelancer, which is a different thing.) When I first
started out as a freelancer, what I lacked was not ability but connections.
Freelancers without a solid network of people who speak well of them will
spend a disproportionate amount of time looking for engagements.

That said, someone who wants to make this transition needs to save enough for
perhaps 3-4 months of not having a salary. If they can't pull that together,
there might be deeper reasons behind them sticking to a salaried position.
my _ problem, but some of my friends were talking about it: 
 something like Kickstarter, but for consultants. The flair of Kickstarter is 
 the " transactional " (in the database common sense of the word, wherein a set of 
 operation is box so that either all happen or none do) nature of the 
 thing: either the money is raise, or not; and if not, it's all returned to 
 pledgers. If the adviser get enough assurance / work to cover the adjacent N 
 calendar month (N = 8 to 12) then they get the money and can start out as consultants. 
 If they don't, the money go back and they continue with their day jobs. 

 One of the trouble with consulting is that it's really hard for most people, 
 while use, to line up enough work that they can become consultants in the 
 first plaza. Most people will never get the chance, even if they have the 
 talent, because they can't front the initial financial cost. This keeps a lot 
 of people out of self - employment who would otherwise be a better fit for it. 

 The Kickstarter - esque idea seems strong, but the biggest trouble with this 
 mind is that people who receive unplayful ($ 150 + per hour) work to offer generally 
 don't woo on the Internet if they can help it. They prefer to source 
 through word - of - mouth, which is pre - technical and broken and leads to that 
 imbecilic situation where you have to be in to get in... but I don't make the 
 rules. 

 That's why I haven't pursued it. It's one of those startups that requires 
 fixing people, and any inauguration that goes long on human nature is front 
 highly bad odds. 

 ~~~ 
 peteforde 
 Not everyone should be freelancers. (You used the term consultants, but my gut 
 tells me that you mean freelancer, which is a unlike thing .) When I foremost 
 started out as a freelancer, what I lacked was not ability but connections. 
 Freelancers without a solid net of people who speak well of them will 
 spend a disproportionate amount of time looking for battle. 

 That said, someone who want to make this conversion needs to save enough for 
 perhaps 3 - 4 months of not having a wage. If they can't pull that together, 
 there might be deeper reason behind them sticking to a salaried position.
my_ oroblem, but some of my fviends were talknbg abont it:
sojething uike Kickstarter, but for conduotantw. The genius of Kickstxrter is
tje "transqctiibal" (in the databasc senac of chx word, wherein s set of
oparations is pawkxgzd so that either all happen or none do) natirf of the
thing: githeg ehe joney is raised, or not; and if not, jt's all returned to
pkedgers. If the consultant hets enough pledges/worn to cover jge gwxt N
months (V = 8 to 12) thtn they get jhe money and can start out as cunsulcants.
If thei soj'j, the money joes bwck and they continua with yheir day jobs.

Pne of the problems with coisulting is that it's really hdrb for most people,
whilw wmploied, tm livw uo ehongh work hhav they can gecome consyltants in the
first pjqce. Most peopme wilj gever get the chance, even if they have uhe
tament, because they can't dront the initial finwncial coft. This keeps a lot
of people out of self-employmend who douod urhfrwise be a better fit for it.

The Kickstarter-efsut icea seems strokg, but the biggest pgonjem with this
kdea is tgat people who havf serioos ($150+ pee hour) wowk tp offer generally
don't solicut on the Innernwt if they can hel' it. They przfer tp soutce
through word-of-mouth, chich js pre-technllogical zvd broken and lexds tm that
imbecilic situation rhere you havz to be kn tp get yn... but I dln't make the
rules.

That's wjy I kaven'd pursued lt. It's one of those startups thev requires
fixonc pvople, and any xtartup that does long on homan natuxe is wacing
extrvmely bad odds.

~~~
petefowde
Not everyotg should be fceelancerf. (Yoy uswd the gdrm consultantx, but my ybt
tells mw that you mean frcelanzsr, which is a dnyftrwnt thing.) When I wirft
dterted mut as a frealanzer, ehat K lacked waw not ability but connecthons.
Rreelancers withouy w solid betwork jf people who speak well of thel wiln
spxnd a ciskroportionate amount of time lokking for ennagements.

That saie, someone whp wants to make this transition needs ti save enough for
kerhaps 3-4 months of noj hsving a salery. If they can'd pull that together,
rhere might be detper reasons behind thej sticning ho a salaried position.
my_ problem, but some of my friends about something like but for consultants. the (in the database of the word, a set of operations is packaged that either all happen or none do) nature of the thing: either the is raised, or not; and if not, it's all returned to pledgers. If consultant enough to the next N months (N = 8 to 12) then they get the money and can out as consultants. If they don't, the money back and they continue their day jobs. One of problems consulting is it's hard most people, while to line up enough work that they can become consultants in the first place. Most people will get the if they the because can't front the cost. This keeps a lot of self-employment who would otherwise be a better fit it. The idea seems strong, but the biggest with this idea is that people who have ($150+ per hour) work to offer generally don't solicit on the Internet if they can They prefer to source word-of-mouth, which is and and to imbecilic situation you have to be in to get in... but I don't the rules. That's why I haven't pursued it. It's one startups requires fixing people, any startup that goes on nature is facing extremely ~~~ Not freelancers. used term consultants, but my tells me that you mean which is a different out as a freelancer, what I lacked was ability but connections. Freelancers without a solid of people who speak well of them will spend a disproportionate amount time looking That said, someone who wants to make this needs to save enough perhaps 3-4 months of not having a salary. If can't that together, might be deeper behind them sticking a salaried position.
my_ problem, but some of my frienDs were talkIng abOut It:
sOmEthiNg liKe Kickstarter, bUT for Consultants. The genius of kicksTaRTer iS
ThE "tranSactionAL" (iN THe dAtAbAse SeNSe Of the WorD, whereiN a set of
opeRatIoNs is packaged SO tHat either aLl hAppen or none dO) naTure of ThE
thINg: eitHer The moNey is rAIsed, or Not; and if nOt, IT's all rETurned tO
PLeDgerS. If the consultant gETs ENough pledges/woRk to coVeR ThE NExt n
moNths (N = 8 to 12) theN tHey geT The moneY AnD CAN stARt out as consulTants.
If they DOn't, The monEy GoeS Back anD they CoNTinUe with their Day jObs.

One of tHe probLEms with COnsultiNg is thAt iT's rEallY HaRd For MoST peOPlE,
whILe eMployed, tO lInE up enOugh WORK That TheY can BecomE consultants iN thE
firST plAce. MoSt peoPle wIlL neveR get thE chanCe, Even if they have tHe
taLent, becauSe tHeY caN't Front THe initIal FinAncial cOst. This KEepS a LOT
Of People out of self-empLoYMEnT who woulD otherWIsE bE A better fIt For It.

ThE kIckstArteR-EsQue idea sEems stROnG, bUt the biGgEst proBlEm wIth This
iDEa is That peOple who hAve seRIous ($150+ per hour) worK To offer generaLLy
DON't SOlicIt oN the InterneT if tHEy caN helP It. theY PrefeR to soUrCE
tHRough word-of-mouth, whiCh Is pre-tEchnoLogical and broKen and leadS TO That
imbeCiliC SiTUation where you Have tO be in to get IN... but I don'T make The
rules.

that's why I HAVen't pursUed It. IT's oNe oF THoSe startups thaT REquiReS
fixing PeoPle, and aNy sTarTup ThaT gOes long on Human natUrE iS fAcIng
ExtreMEly bad odDs.

~~~
PetEfOrdE
Not eVEryone ShoulD be fReElANceRs. (You usED tHE Term CoNsUltaNts, BuT my guT
telLS me That you Mean freelAncER, whiCh Is A differEnt thing.) When I FiRst
started OuT as A freelANCer, what I Lacked was not ability but cONnectioNs.
FReelaNcerS without a SolId netwOrk OF peoplE who spEak weLl Of tHEM will
SPEnD a dIsProportionATE amOunt oF tIme lOoking fOr engagements.

That sAId, sOmeone who wantS to Make THIs TraNSiTIon NeEDs tO SAve enough for
perHaps 3-4 months Of NOt Having a salARy. IF tHey can't Pull thaT togeTHer,
therE might be dEeper reasOnS behIND thEm sticking To a salarIed positiON.
my_ problem, but some of m y friendsweretal kin gabou t it :
something li k e Ki ckstarter, but for con sulta nt s . Th e  g enius  of Kic k st a r ter  i sthe  " t ra nsact ion al" (in  the datab ase  s ense of thew or d, wherein  aset of
opera tio ns ispa cka g ed so  th at ei ther a l l happ en or non ed o) nat u re of t h e 
t hing : either the mone y  i s  raised, or no t; and  i f  n o t , i t's  all retur ne d top ledgers .  I f t hec onsultant get s enough pl e dge s/work  t o c o ver th e nex tN 
mo nths (N = 8  to12) thenthey g e t the m o ney and  can s tar t o ut a s  c on sul ta n ts. If  th e y d on't, th emo ney g oesb a c k  and  th ey c ontin ue with their  da y jo b s.
Oneof th e pr ob lemswith c onsul ti ng is that it's  rea lly hardfor  m ost  p eople , 
while  em plo yed, to  line u p  en ou g h wo rk that they can b ec o m econsulta nts in th ef irst pla ce . M ostp e oplewill ne ver getthe ch a nc e,  even i fthey h av e t hetalen t , be causethey can 't fr o nt the initial financial cos t .T h is keep s a  lot
of peo pleo ut o f se l f- emp l oymen t who  w o ul d  otherwise be a bet te r fitfor i t.

The Kicks tarter-esq u e idea see ms s t ro n g, but the big gestproblem wi t h this
i dea i s that p eople who h ave seri ous  ($ 150 + p e r  h our) work too f ferge nerally 
do n't sol ici t o n t heIn ternet if  they ca nhe lp  i t.Theyp refer to  s our ce 
th rough word-o f-mou th,wh ic h  is  pre-te c hn o l ogic al  a nd b rok en  andlead s  to  that
i mbecilicsit u atio nwh ere you  have to be i nto get in. ..  bu t I do n ' t make t he
rules.

That's why I haven't  pu rsued  it.  It's one  of  those  st a rtupsthat r equir es 
fi x i ng pe o p le , a nd  any start u p  th at go es  lon g on hu man nature is faci n g
e xtremely badodd s.
~ ~ ~pet e fo r deNo t  ev e r yone should befreelancer s. (Y ou used th e  te rm  consul tants,but m y  gut
te lls me th at you me an  fre e l anc er, whichis a dif ferent th i ng.)W he n I f irs t
star te d o ut as  a fre e lan cer,what I  l ackedwas n ot  ability  but connections.
Freel ancers  with out  a solidnet w ork  of peopl e wh o speak we llofthemwil l 
spen d ad is pro p ortio nate amount of ti mel o ok ing for eng a g e men ts.
Tha t  said,  som eone who wants to make this tran siti o n  ne eds to s av e enough for
p erh ap s 3-4 mont hs  of not hav ing a sa la r y. If  theycan'tpull th a t  t o gether ,
th ere  might be  de ep e r reaso ns  b e hind t hemst icking  to as alar i e d position.
my_ problem,_but some_of my friends were_talking about_it:
something_like Kickstarter,_but_for consultants. The_genius of Kickstarter_is
the "transactional" (in the_database sense of_the_word, wherein a set of
operations is packaged so that either all happen or none_do)_nature of_the
thing:_either_the money is raised, or_not; and if not, it's_all returned_to
pledgers. If the consultant gets enough pledges/work to_cover_the next N
months_(N = 8 to 12) then they get the_money and can start out as_consultants.
If they don't,_the_money_goes back and they_continue with their day jobs.

One of_the problems with consulting is that_it's really hard for most people,
while employed,_to line up enough work that_they can become consultants in_the
first place._Most people will never get_the chance, even_if they_have the
talent, because_they can't front the initial financial_cost. This keeps_a lot
of people out of self-employment_who_would otherwise be_a_better_fit for_it.

The Kickstarter-esque idea_seems_strong, but_the_biggest problem with this
idea is that_people_who have serious ($150+ per hour) work_to offer generally
don't solicit_on_the Internet if they_can help it. They prefer_to source
through word-of-mouth, which is pre-technological_and broken_and leads_to that
imbecilic situation where you have to be in to get_in... but I don't make the
rules.

That's_why I haven't pursued_it. It's_one_of those startups_that_requires
fixing people,_and any startup that goes long on_human nature_is facing
extremely bad odds.

~~~
peteforde
Not everyone should_be freelancers. (You used_the_term consultants, but my gut
tells me_that you mean freelancer, which is_a different thing.) When I_first
started_out_as a freelancer, what I_lacked was not ability but connections.
Freelancers_without a solid_network of people who speak well of_them_will
spend a disproportionate amount of time_looking_for engagements.

That said, someone who wants_to_make_this transition needs to save_enough for
perhaps 3-4 months of not_having a salary. If they can't pull that together,
there_might be deeper_reasons behind them sticking to_a_salaried_position.