Hey MMM'ers!
I'm all twisted up in a knot trying to sort this out but thought maybe I could get some helpful insights over here.
Normally I am an independent software developer. I started a few years ago and dragged myself up out of a very low income situation. I choose what I work on, so I love what I do, and I can work from home which is my ideal situation (i am a homebody! lol)
Through the networking grapevine I was contacted for a startup programming contract, possible FT position. I went in for the interview just for kicks and it went okay, it seems like I have the skills or can be taught the skills needed pretty quickly. I'd be working on-site for a couple months, 45m commute (by subway), possibly bringing in my computer (UGH), but it's as many hours as I can take (PT) and the pay is pretty good.
All signs say to "sure, take it!" and the people I met were nice, but... there is something holding me back! I am worried I'd go in and work on their software all day, then be too exhausted to come home and work on my software. I'd be paid more for working on theirs, undoubtedly, but thematically speaking I'd have way more fun just working on my own. In addition, I am not totally sure I believe in their business model, and while they are nice people it just seems very start-uppy and I am unsure if I should desert my solid little indie business I've built up over the years (let's be honest, I could work indie stuff in the off-hours, but I am FT indie now so I'd lose a lot of working hours. i am pleased to report my little biz is doing well, but it does require a lot of time to get everything done so it would suffer).
I've always been freelance/indie and have never had to guts to commit to a FT job- like I said I prefer working from home, and i really really dislike working in offices (I feel trapped and get freaked out, lol. I feel like a psycho typing this out but I've made my career work around my preferences for years now so i am loathe to change.) So FT wouldn't really be in the cards, i'm just trying to decide if I should take on the contract job or not.
So far I've spent about 3-4 nights pretty restless because of this, waking up at odd hours, unable to get back to sleep, queasy, etc. Can't sort out if i'm being a baby and should square up and get a real job in an office, or say no thanks and continue with my idyllic indie setup.
I don't want this to go as long as it inevitably has but a quick pro-con list for my own edification:
PROS
-it would be nice to make some more money. i have enough thru my own work now, but it's a tempting sum.
-i'd probably learn some new software tricks
-i'd learn some new industry information
-i should have an IRL, office job? adulthood i suppose... idk. i figure the MMM crowd would be one of the few crowds to not think me crazy for avoiding them.
CONS
-AH, AN OFFICE @_@
-seriously, i hate offices. and 45 min commute each way (1/2 mile walk to subway, pleasant in nice weather, not so in blizzardy snowy icestorms)
-it is heavy programming, i'm fairly confident i can do it but i've been hired for other programming jobs before and when you need to do something for a client that you don't know, it can be a nightmare, especially on-site!
-might have to bring in my computer, which i dislike (i have weak little arms and dont wish to haul around my brand-new personal computer all around the city)
-i already am making decent money, it's always nice to have more i suppose but AT WHAT COST @_@ would my indie software shipments slow down? undoubtedly.
-i've read "the incredible secret money machine" so many times and it really emphasizes not working for just one client/company. i know that's like, what a job is, but his words keep echoing in my head to keep a bunch of little income sources rather than one big source that is not under your control and that can let you go at a whim.
-it would require some kind of work wardrobe which i just do not have. i've been working from home for years, and i only have like 2-3 office-appropriate outfits (good condition/relatively stylish). so i would have to spend some money on a few new shirts/sweaters to not look disheveled.
-most importantly:
-i want to stop wrestling with this and be able to sleep through a night and just get back to my little indie biz cause it has a lot going on right now! i just started doing some next-level stuff and this year i have plans to really ramp things up.
I'd appreciate any insights you guys can throw at me. I haven't heard back from the place yet, but i'm a pretty likely candidate as far as i can tell (the only one) and they want someone to start quickly so I want to get this wrapped up, mentally, and figure out where I'm at.
Thanks everyone for reading this any any thoughts they have, and mostly for letting me type this all out :) It made my thinking a little clearer. I'm still torn... on the one hand, i'm quite happy as-is, on the other hand...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZHCVyllnckedit: forgot i'd have to buy new clothes! ugh