>What is it that you want from contracting? "Long-term contracts" with big money? Long-Term is a year. "Big Projects" require many people interfacing constantly to stay on track. This is not something you can do telecommuting. "Big Projects" require you to be on-site.

What do I want from contracting? Freedom, I guess. I'd like to work from home and set my own hours. I'm not looking for big projects; I'd prefer ones I can do by myself. A year is long-term to me.

>I've been contracting for 6 years and I don't think I've had 4 months off altogether. I usually end one gig on a Friday and start the next one on Monday.

The nice thing about being your own boss is that, to a point, you decide how much you work. If I wanted the summer off, I'd just not look for clients then.

>
>Remember that sales pays. The top salesman at many companies will make more than the president, and they're worth it! That's what brings the money in. Remember that you live by your wits and the impression that you make, not by the good-hearted will of your employer, developed over years of association. If you can't sell yourself, speak with confidence, and learn to hit the ground running (both by knowing the language and the industry), then you really need to stay an employee. The ability to sell yourself is what separates the two.

I'm not a good salesman. That's the really hard part in this. I'm hoping I can find a pertner that's good with that.

>Oh, and also, contractors have to eat their own dead. Or at least live with people looking at you as though you do. Many employees will look down upon you for making more (I usually make as much as my supervisor's boss -- 3 levels above my co-workers). This makes for hard feelings. If your feelings get hurt when everyone in your department goes to a christmas party -- but you're not invited -- then then you are looking for a relationship that contracting won't give you.

This part I don't like.

>I wouldn't trade contracting for the world, but I would never recommend it to anyone, nor discourage them from it. It's just different.
>
>jt

Different it is. It's a scary idea, but it could work out great. At least I'll be able to ease into it rather than dive in headfirst.

Thanks,

-Michelle