Looking Back
Today is September 16th, 2009. Today is the birthday of my sister, Nicole d'Avis. Happy birthday, Nicole!
One year ago yesterday, on September 15th, 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for the largest bankruptcy in the history of the United States and I worked my final day as a full-time employee at NeonGecko.com, Inc.
I woke up the next morning feeling happy and hopeful—I had begun a fresh term as a freelance web developer! I was my own boss once again and I could do whatever I wanted! And then I pulled up the news and looked at the severely depressed stock market, and I got a little concerned. Why did I leave my job, I thought, at this time of all times!? There was no way I was going to survive an economic downturn as a freelancer!
Of course, I had survived once before as a freelance web developer. When I left Claremont for Seattle in 2006, I had no job lined up in the Emerald City and instead just an assurance from Brooke that I had plenty skill and drive to work with him. Brooke seemed so certain that he had extra work available and, despite my fear of no regular paycheck or health care or benefits, I trusted him. We worked together on a handful of regular web application development clients. I paid the rent, I got my feet wet, and I got my teeth sharp. Brooke, I am forever thankful.
Working for two regular clients was not quite right, not entirely fulfilling for me. When NeonGecko offered me a job in early 2007, I accepted and decreased freelancing to a day or two per week. I learned a great deal at NeonGecko or, perhaps most importantly, I learned Drupal. I had a great time for that year and a half, as NeonGecko went through significant changes, but I still missed the freedom. In August of 2008, I gave a month's notice and I started to plan.
And so, I set out to do something a bit different in September of 2008. I was going to build my reputation and portfolio with projects and achievements both technical and artistic. I was going to become deCielo, and get new clients, and do a good job. I launched a new website (this website), printed business cards (eventually), wrote proposals, landed projects, and paid the rent (again).
I succeeded in doing something different in the past year. I have more than survived: I have flourished as a freelance web developer. I've worked at home and from exotic locales and, mostly, from Victrola Coffee. I have mostly abstained from workday naps and lunchtime beers but still take the opportunities when needed or deserved. Let's be clear: I definitely had a beer today.
Happy freelanciversary to me!