I’m about to start freelancing and contracting full-time. Or, to start bootstrapping a consulting business. Whichever way you want to look at it, it’s starting now.
I always used to say I wanted to do something like this, but was waiting for “the right time”. Does that mean this is the Right Time? I guess since I’m doing it, by default the assumption is that, Yes, it is. Still, considering the big picture, if I were inclined to be pessimistic or risk-averse, I would still probably say it’s not quite the Right Time. More credit card debt should be paid off, more money should be socked away, I should have already invested in a newer laptop for a development machine, etc., etc.
What I’m seeing now (I know this is not an original thought, bear with me), is that if I were to think in those terms just described, the “Right Time” would effectively become never.
Am I advocating throwing caution to the wind and suggesting that you can quit your job on a dime and just go start? No, I’m actually not. What I’m thinking is that the Right Time to start — your business, your startup, your freelancing — is precisely When You Can.
That seems to resolve it right there. “When You Can” leaves it completely up to you. If you are (and stay) extremely risk averse, then “when you can” may well really be “never”. If you can calculate how much risk you can handle and create some contingency plans, then “when you can” might just be closer than you think.
Just some thoughts.
