>>>I'm interested to hear stories from consultants about when they realized the time was right to go out on their own. What were the major factors in your decision? What would you have done differently? How did you approach it?
>>>
>>>I became an independent comsultant quite by accident - I fell in love with Andy, quit my job and worked on a consulting gig with him in Buffalo, New York before moving to England {s}. What would I have done differently? I would have done it much sooner.
>>>
>>>One thing you need to know - if you are going to go independent, make sure you have enough money in the bank to live for 6 months with no income. I have known 2 colleagues that had no work for a year.
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>>Amen to that.
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>>I would add don't take fixed price work. I've done it a few times and its consistently worked out badly.
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>>Nick
>
>I think that's been a recurring theme.... ;-)

I know at least one person who has done it successfully -- Whil Hentzen. He has always believed he is enough more efficient than his competitors that he can come in with a lower bid than them and still make money. But I suspect Whil is the exception who proves the rule. He has tremendous energy and iron self-discipline, for starters.