Hey Michelle. Do a little VB app for fun and then float your resume to all the head hunters who do contract work. They can be your sales force and they ill also buy you lunch when you are looking <g>.

__Stephen

>I'll reply to both of you at once since it's the same answer. :)
>
>Being an independent consultant has always seemed like a dream job to me, but a dream is all it's ever going to be. I just don't have what it takes. I love to program and could handle that end of it, but an IC needs to be a salesperson and I'm not in the slightest. I'd never be able to go get the contracts and without those, all the programming skills in the world do you no good. If I could partner up with someone willing to do the selling while I do the programming, that would be great. But I don't know anyone like that.
>
>So, yes, it's a wonderful idea, but no, it won't work for me. I've learned the hard way that I'm much better at being an employee.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Michelle
>
>
>>I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but I just wanted to offer another perspective as one who has never had a "job" programming.
>>
>>If you have good VFP skills you have a tool. The question is what can you use it for to generate income. So much emphasis is placed here on the corporate IT world that it amazes me how people are willing to work for what IT departments pay when a sklled programmer/business consultant can make three times that. 50k - 75k a year on salary is $25 - $37.50 an hour without a lot of write-offs, even assuming you only have to work a 40 hour week.
>>
>>There are so many small businesses who need database applications. They are just starting to computerize their businesses. That was what we all did back in the dBase days, before everybody had networks, much less wanted web enabled apps. Now people are freaking out over dot NET and the future of VFP and wondering if that means they are going to starve.
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>>Meanwhile, my clients are just becoming aware there is such a thing as windows 2000 and are starting to realize DSL lines are in their future. They aren't interested in computers as cool technology and they don't care if I write their app in VFP, Quickbasic or Urdu, as long as it solves their business problem.
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>>They are interested in making money running parking lots or building homes or serving customers. But they are making money. Lots of money. They can afford a good consultant. They have a couple dozen employees, a small network to manage their customer information and mailings. Maybe they need to off-load the business rules from the owner's head into a computer system so he can go play golf - or sell a business that is making money but is worthless if he's not there 60 hours a week to run it. The apps they need are worth $25k - $100k to them. That money isn't worth bending down to pick up for a big programming shop. But if you have a couple of guys like that and you get put all the money in your own pocket, it's not bad. If you have four or five, it's real good. Some of the apps can be written in a month or two. The relationship becomes friendship and is ongoing and leads to referrals. There is an unlimited amount of this work. And there is so little competition you can be
>>choosy.
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>>Maybe this isn't the model for you, but do know that it is there. It sure isn't a bad part time job, even if you have other employment.
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>>It's very cool to work for Fortune 100 companies on cutting edge enterprise applications and wow other programmers with what cool stuff you're doing. And if you own your own programming shop and are doing that kind of work on contract it's also a good way to get rich. (especially if you are paying a bunch of programmers on salary and farming them out at $150 an hour)
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>>But salary jobs have limits. When I see salary surveys I often wonder why such talented people are willing to work so hard and settle for so little.
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>>Just another perspective. VFP is a great tool for the kind of stuff I'm talking about. And that doesn't depend on what IT managers think. And if you only have to work 1000 hours a year to make a six figure income, it leaves you a little time for learning and expanding the skill set.
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>>Don't sell short the skills you already have. There may be small businesses in your area who couldn't even imagine having an in-house IT department and are ignored by big consulting outfits as small potatoes - but who need computer solutions to their business problems and would be a lot of fun to work with. And who would pay better - and more promptly - than corporate America.
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>>In any event, best of luck - and do take advantage of JVP's advice and offer of his new framework. He's not only a very bright lad, but he also can be a very helpful person and a good friend.
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>>I'll go back to lurking now, and leave the thread to the gurus.