Shout-out to the other IT peeps in the house. After some dedicated slap practice last night today I realize my thumping thumb is also my spacebar thumb. 
6 Likes
I use both thumbs⌠mainly the tips.
2 Likes
You mean the âskipâ key When I was working as a deskside PC support person at a hospital, one of the specialist nurses phoned me to tell me the âskipâ key on her keyboard wasnât working. I asked her what she meant, and she just said, âwell, you know⌠The âskipâ keyâ. Eventually went to her office so she could show me what she meant. She was used to using a typewriter, where the space bar would actually make the carriage skip a position. She was a nice woman, so I didnât hold it against her 
5 Likes
Had a co-worker a long ways back that did something just like this to her office keyboard.
5 Likes
I love it
2 Likes
We are legion around these parts.
1 Like
Lol Hey if there are any bassists who have started their own consulting IT company Iâd love to connect and hear your story.
Iâve done it but not for IT; I started a company for contract software engineering for a while. It went well but I decided I didnât like it in the end. As a contractor/consultant, youâre either constantly looking for work to line up the next gig (which I dislike, even when it is trivial) or working as an effective full timer at a place (but as a second class citizen compared to the other FTEâs).
The benefit is the money is about double what you would normally make (or youâre doing it wrong), and you are paid exacly for what you work (and subsequently bill out). The downside there is your expenses are also roughly double what your current expenses are as you have all the taxes (self employment, Social Security, etc etc) to worry about, plus your own health and life insurance to get, not to mention itâs on you to provide the facilities and equipment. So it balances out and you end up making maybe slightly more than before but not a lot.
I did it for a little over a year and went back to just finding full time jobs.
1 Like
Thanks for your insight. Just trying to figure out if I want to go that route or do contracts through an agency here that sets you up as a full time employee but you do contracts. If need a nice incentive to go back to office/corporate life. Got done dirty last time and itâs going to take a little time until I want a full-time boss again. Unless they are awesome.
2 Likes
Being your own boss is indeed pretty sweet. I loved that aspect.
In the end I lined up three or four contracts, was never out of work and was doing really well at that part; on the other hand, I had a really rich and developed network of prospects at the time too. That part hasnât changed but I still suspect that were I to do it again now it wouldnât be my favorite way to go. There is the constant thought of lining up the next gig that, for me at least, was always there. Not my jam long term in that regard.
1 Like
Yea I think sales could be tough but I really like talking to small to midsized business owners. Selling might be the most exciting part for me. My angle is going to be more of what systems do they have, what are the risks, what isnât integrated, and what can we implement off the shelf with minor changes. Then maybe standard support stuff if it pays but not the focus really.
2 Likes
If you enjoy that kind of thing then it might work out well for you. Self promotion and marketing your services is a big part of success with contracting in my experience.
2 Likes