calling all Melbourne based IT geeks / nerds / solopreneurs

[gossipism]

just want to see if any of you out there want to catch up about business in general.

i work alone, have the odd hand or 2 when needed, but dont have any employees.

things can get tough when i go on leave (whats that?) or when Im in Montrose and I need to be in Cambelfield in 5 minutes.

maybe we can chew the fat, see if there's anyway we can help each other out or just hold hands and sing kumbuya, its all good.

what do you think? any takers? im in the se burbs but mostly lurk around the cbd, hawthorn, caufieldy areas, so if youre keen to hook up, let me know.

if not, ill just get back to under my rock thanks.

[onsiteTECHS]

Originally Posted by gossipism

just want to see if any of you out there want to catch up about business in general.

i work alone, have the odd hand or 2 when needed, but dont have any employees.

things can get tough when i go on leave (whats that?) or when Im in Montrose and I need to be in Cambelfield in 5 minutes.

maybe we can chew the fat, see if there's anyway we can help each other out or just hold hands and sing kumbuya, its all good.

what do you think? any takers? im in the se burbs but mostly lurk around the cbd, hawthorn, caufieldy areas, so if youre keen to hook up, let me know.

if not, ill just get back to under my rock thanks.

G'day Dexter,

It sounds like we're in a similar situation.

I've been wondering recently how I'll tackle my first proper holiday since going solo. I'm dedicated to providing exceptional service coverage to my clients and so wouldn't want to just up and leave for more than a day or two, but can't really afford a full-time employee at this stage and eventually I'll want a holiday where I can switch off my phone and mobile broadband device and just sit on a beach for a few weeks.

I think finding a colleague in a similar position, with similar dedication and skills would be a great way to tackle the situation. You could divert your phone and email to each other as needed and know that your most valuable clients at least are being looked after while you're away.

There's also the possibility of referring work to each other at times when you're too busy, not particular skilled in a particular area or can't travel to a particular location quickly enough.

I'm on the Mornington Peninsula so if you want to catch up for a coffee sometime somewhere convenient I'd be interested in chewing the fat.

I don't know the words to kumbuya. Sorry

Cheers,
John

[gossipism]

sounds great John

happy to catch up anywhere really (if youre anything like me, the distance between your 2 furtherest clients is probably 100+kms so mornington isnt so far).

ill see how things pan for mid this week and ill get in touch

hoping to see more IT geeks honestly.

[onsiteTECHS]

Originally Posted by gossipism

sounds great John

happy to catch up anywhere really (if youre anything like me, the distance between your 2 furtherest clients is probably 100+kms so mornington isnt so far).

ill see how things pan for mid this week and ill get in touch

hoping to see more IT geeks honestly.

Sounds great. You're right - travel is definitely part of the gig!

I'm sure there are heaps of guys and girls in the same boat as us. Maybe they're just shy? Or maybe they just have their stuff together better than us and already have an awesome plan for how to handle their absence while on holidays - i'd REALLY like to hear from them!

Talk to you soon.

Cheers,
John

[gossipism]

tbh mate i reckon theres tonnes like us out there.

IT is one industry where they will never be enough "epic" IT people and im sure most people on this forum fit the bill.

ive worked as part of bigger IT companies before and when you know they always send you out to the hardest jobs, the biggest clients and the ones that "always ask for you" then you know youre onto a good thing.

and thats when you leave to kick it on your own!

the problem i have is getting someone to fill my shoes in, in extreme circumstances. i cant justify charging my clients my rate out to have some greeny come in and break stuff up.

so what im/we/everyone is after, is a group of epic IT people that really want to keep their clients happy but also keep their families happy by not working 20 hours a day 7 days a week!

i seriously couldve gone a different route and built up a huge client base (its easy if you have the skillz), hired a bunch of "fresh out of schoolers" charged them out at the same rate and made a killing. its not a difficult formula to follow and its been repeated a thousand times over.

but, i genuinely care about the small businesses i look after and im not going to do that to my clients.

[TehCamel]

interested.... inner city, and AM, works better for me..

[SuzsSpace]

You make me wish I was an IT nerd so I could join you.

[gossipism]

Originally Posted by SuzsSpace

You make me wish I was an IT nerd so I could join you.

you can come if you like. itll probably be all talk about tiggabytes and megawhatsists.

oh and modern warfare 3 vs battlefield 3.



ill try and organise something this week, for maybe next week.

dEx

[onsiteTECHS]

Originally Posted by SuzsSpace

You make me wish I was an IT nerd so I could join you.

Be careful what you wish for! Hanging out on internet forums is the first sign of IT nerdiness

[SuzsSpace]

Originally Posted by onsiteTECHS

Be careful what you wish for! Hanging out on internet forums is the first sign of IT nerdiness

My OH is an IT nerd, he's taught me most of what I know. Hopefully that'll suffice. I love on forums.