I met my speaker at a Small Business Association SBA course in the past. I originally heard her speak on making the 'elevator' pitch -- showing people what you do in just a few moments (There is a lot of work that can go into this for it to be effective). She is *really* good at sales and is a small business coach -- she bugs the heck out of you until you do all the things that you said you'd do :)<br>
<br>I don't know how she'd be for a full BayPIGgies talk..<br><br>Howeeeverrrr.....<br><br>If we did mini talks -- with the theme of how to be a Python Contractor... where we have different people talking about different aspects of this..... she'd definitely be able to talk about the elevator pitch. I can talk about IRS rules, 1099s, QuickBooks, Elance, Legal entities (Sole proprietorship, LLCs...) etc. But, I'm far from an expert -- I figured things out by taking a ton of free SBA classes, making mistakes and working with *very* kind and patient BayPIGgies. I'm afraid I put E through hell because I was so new at so many things and I bike-shed'ed way too much... :( I think I even cost him a little bit more money than they intended when a project was going over budget and I didn't know how to get it in budget :( I also was trying so hard to prove myself, I was getting in my own way and theirs too :( They were so awesome about the whole thing though :)<br>
<br>Expert or not, I can definitely share my experiences and my mistakes... However, I bet it's not necessary. I can name *so* many independent contractors off this list that make their sole money doing this (more than I can name people who actually work for companies).... And, I bet they may want to share a thing or two.. *nudge* *nudge* :) <br>
<br>Are there other speakers who would speak? Is a "How to be a Python Contractor" a viable theme for a BayPIGgies night? Is this what you mean by (languishing) possible ideas for BayPIGgies topics?<br><br>Cheers,<br>
<br><br><br>Glen<br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Apr 1, 2010 at 2:44 PM, jim <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jim@well.com">jim@well.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="im"><br>
<br>
"I even had (still could get) a business developer speaker to speak<br>
(without charging us) about some business topics."<br>
<br>
</div>(gasp!) Do that! That's one of the (languishing) possible<br>
ideas for a bayPIGgies topic.<br>
<div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On Thu, 2010-04-01 at 11:54 -0700, Glen Jarvis wrote:<br>
> One of the things I've noticed more and more as I meet people in this<br>
> community is that either have a large number of our members<br>
> contracting at places, or others trying to contract but don't know<br>
> how. It's amazing how many people I discover that have been doing this<br>
> for years.<br>
><br>
> I am not volunteering to put a workshop together (I can't keep up with<br>
> my own contracts right now, much less help anyone else). But, I think<br>
> that is something that would be a great idea if someone is interested.<br>
> I had tried (offline) to put together something like this at the<br>
> beginning of this year. I even had (still could get) a business<br>
> developer speaker to speak (without charging us) about some business<br>
> topics. I just couldn't get a business-like-setting/space for our<br>
> meetings. I wasn't confident enough to advertise the event because I<br>
> wasn't certain we could get an adequate space. So, I let it go.<br>
> Someone else may have better luck.<br>
><br>
> The second thing I've noticed is that some of our work is with<br>
> front-end technologies. I personally would rather contract out the CSS<br>
> and JavaScript work to someone else - just so I can focus on one<br>
> thing.<br>
><br>
> I have a co-worker who really enjoys the JavaScript and CSS type work.<br>
> If we all got together, physically in the same location, to work on<br>
> our projects on a Saturday; and if we invited him, would anyone else<br>
> have work for him? He may be interested in doing this if we can get<br>
> enough work for him (and if he has the free time). It'd have to be<br>
> worthwhile for him.<br>
><br>
> Glen<br>
><br>
> Disclaimer: This email does not constitute a time commitment of any<br>
> kind on Glen's behalf. He's only beginning a conversation to see what<br>
> the responses may be.<br>
> ----<br>
> Whatever you can do or imagine, begin it;<br>
> boldness has beauty, magic, and power in it.<br>
><br>
> -- Goethe<br>
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</blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Glen<br>----<br>Whatever you can do or imagine, begin it;<br>boldness has beauty, magic, and power in it.<br><br>-- Goethe <br>