Hello Everybody,
(audience shouting) Hi Dr. Rick
Well I've had an interesting year. As some of you know I've had my own business for about ten years, developing database apps for hosted websites. I have a server in downtown Seattle in the Westin.
Things (revenue/income) were gradually increasing every year up until the start of 2005.
2004 was my best year ever (to date).
I had developed a database powered, search engine equipped way to put lots of objects online each having their own mini web site. I've had about 4 customers use it since 1997 and it has gone through many revisions with much improvement.
I charged a lot (for a website) for a client to use this system. Going on the "few quality customers vs a large number of small piddly ones" model.
I never had much overlap of those customers, so it was always pretty much one of them paying a lot at a time, then I also had a few (30 - 40) small customers at the same time.
Until 2005.
Several of the smaller ones dropped off last year, I thought that was fairly normal attrition.
I was busy trying to develop a couple of new businesses so I let them go and didn't do much to try to replace them.
Then early this year a couple of the mid size customers decided to go elsewhere or simply stopped paying their bills for their own reasons.
Then a bombshell landed at my feet.
The one big customer I had (65% of my annual revenue) notified me they were moving away and they had developed their own system. Even though I had a contract that says they would pay for an additional 120 days after such notice they just said they didn't see it that way. Even though I had in my contract that their guy who I shared information about my technology with could not use anything learned by that exposure and that of course they could not use anything from my system they just went ahead and did it anyway and their new site works exactly like the one I developed.
Even though they are in clear violation of the contract and the copyright laws they went ahead and did it anyway and didn't even pay me for the first half year they used my system - even more they didn't pay the 120 days as written in the separation clause of the contract.
So, as my monthly deposits dwindled from over $8K down to $235 (in August) I was faced with a real "rock & a hard place" situation.
I have a family of eight here plus the two boxer dogs, a mortgage & etc.
Three of the children are teens now and one thing that is differrent about teens is that they are a lot more expensive than the younger children - especially when it comes to school.
Well, finally something good happened. An IT job came up & before my wife read it to me she said "this sounds like you". So I read it and it really did sound like me. Except for the 4 year degree, which I never got around to getting because of the whole "workin' for a livin'" thing.
So I applied ( I think it was the end of July). Two weeks went by & I had an interview.
When asked why I thought they should hire me all I could come up with was "because I'm Brilliant!!" - which of course was humor with a point.
Then two weeks later I had a second interview. One person the same, one different department head.
A week went by & I heard they were calling my references.
Then they called me & asked for alternate numbers for a couple of my references.
Then about an hour later they called & offered me the position.
I don't know if this position exists anywhere elsebut here is what I am:
Database and Software Service Specialist for the King County Library System ITS department.
I don't know how many people applied for the position, but I got it.
So far it's seemed too good to be true.
They don't want me to work more that 8 hours a day - including a paid lunch break. I can come when I want & work from home up to half the hours per week.
I get 3 weeks paid vacation to start, paid holidays, health, life & accident insurance all paid.
They let me spec out my workstation and a new laptop. You can get a nice laptop these days for $2K 😉
I'm getting a P4 3.8 ghz power monster as my desktop! I asked for a 20 inch wide screen hi res LCD with 12 ms refresh. I'm getting it. 1680x1050!!
I reported for work on the 1st (the day after they offered me the position).
I have some studying to do to come up to speed with their systems, they seem to want me to do some data mining & report writing - when I'm more comfortable.
I mentioned yesterday that the chair I had was hurting my back & 4 women went out & brought a bunch of chairs to me to try (I didn't ask, I just said that one was hurting me).
I can still run my business and try to build it back up when I'm not "at work" and still have the luxury of a reoccuring paycheck and benefits. 😀
For instance, I have a $1K web site remodel to do this weekend. Cool - that will be "extra money". Maybe we can give something to the Red Cross.
I was kind of waiting to say all of this until I had some good news to report. This is it 😀
BTW, before anyone asks - yes I have a lawyer working on that case where they used my IP in their development and didnt' even pay me for the time they used my services.
That will eventually work out, I just couldn't hold my breath that long. ( I can't afford a fast lawyer - but I have a good one )
(audience shouting) Hi Dr. Rick
Well I've had an interesting year. As some of you know I've had my own business for about ten years, developing database apps for hosted websites. I have a server in downtown Seattle in the Westin.
Things (revenue/income) were gradually increasing every year up until the start of 2005.
2004 was my best year ever (to date).
I had developed a database powered, search engine equipped way to put lots of objects online each having their own mini web site. I've had about 4 customers use it since 1997 and it has gone through many revisions with much improvement.
I charged a lot (for a website) for a client to use this system. Going on the "few quality customers vs a large number of small piddly ones" model.
I never had much overlap of those customers, so it was always pretty much one of them paying a lot at a time, then I also had a few (30 - 40) small customers at the same time.
Until 2005.
Several of the smaller ones dropped off last year, I thought that was fairly normal attrition.
I was busy trying to develop a couple of new businesses so I let them go and didn't do much to try to replace them.
Then early this year a couple of the mid size customers decided to go elsewhere or simply stopped paying their bills for their own reasons.
Then a bombshell landed at my feet.
The one big customer I had (65% of my annual revenue) notified me they were moving away and they had developed their own system. Even though I had a contract that says they would pay for an additional 120 days after such notice they just said they didn't see it that way. Even though I had in my contract that their guy who I shared information about my technology with could not use anything learned by that exposure and that of course they could not use anything from my system they just went ahead and did it anyway and their new site works exactly like the one I developed.
Even though they are in clear violation of the contract and the copyright laws they went ahead and did it anyway and didn't even pay me for the first half year they used my system - even more they didn't pay the 120 days as written in the separation clause of the contract.
So, as my monthly deposits dwindled from over $8K down to $235 (in August) I was faced with a real "rock & a hard place" situation.
I have a family of eight here plus the two boxer dogs, a mortgage & etc.
Three of the children are teens now and one thing that is differrent about teens is that they are a lot more expensive than the younger children - especially when it comes to school.
Well, finally something good happened. An IT job came up & before my wife read it to me she said "this sounds like you". So I read it and it really did sound like me. Except for the 4 year degree, which I never got around to getting because of the whole "workin' for a livin'" thing.
So I applied ( I think it was the end of July). Two weeks went by & I had an interview.
When asked why I thought they should hire me all I could come up with was "because I'm Brilliant!!" - which of course was humor with a point.
Then two weeks later I had a second interview. One person the same, one different department head.
A week went by & I heard they were calling my references.
Then they called me & asked for alternate numbers for a couple of my references.
Then about an hour later they called & offered me the position.
I don't know if this position exists anywhere elsebut here is what I am:
Database and Software Service Specialist for the King County Library System ITS department.
I don't know how many people applied for the position, but I got it.
So far it's seemed too good to be true.
They don't want me to work more that 8 hours a day - including a paid lunch break. I can come when I want & work from home up to half the hours per week.
I get 3 weeks paid vacation to start, paid holidays, health, life & accident insurance all paid.
They let me spec out my workstation and a new laptop. You can get a nice laptop these days for $2K 😉
I'm getting a P4 3.8 ghz power monster as my desktop! I asked for a 20 inch wide screen hi res LCD with 12 ms refresh. I'm getting it. 1680x1050!!
I reported for work on the 1st (the day after they offered me the position).
I have some studying to do to come up to speed with their systems, they seem to want me to do some data mining & report writing - when I'm more comfortable.
I mentioned yesterday that the chair I had was hurting my back & 4 women went out & brought a bunch of chairs to me to try (I didn't ask, I just said that one was hurting me).
I can still run my business and try to build it back up when I'm not "at work" and still have the luxury of a reoccuring paycheck and benefits. 😀
For instance, I have a $1K web site remodel to do this weekend. Cool - that will be "extra money". Maybe we can give something to the Red Cross.
I was kind of waiting to say all of this until I had some good news to report. This is it 😀
BTW, before anyone asks - yes I have a lawyer working on that case where they used my IP in their development and didnt' even pay me for the time they used my services.
That will eventually work out, I just couldn't hold my breath that long. ( I can't afford a fast lawyer - but I have a good one )
