If you're here because you saw one of my posts, you're probably well aware of the link in my signature to SmallBizGeeks.com. SMB is a fairly new message board dedicated to tech-related small business. Since it popped up shortly after I started my company, I have been following it quite closely and contributing what little insight I can. The "regulars" have a wide range of experience and interests, so there are a lot of resources

It's easy to claim that customer service makes your business a success, but it's hard to actually do it. Good service requires time and energy - and unpaid work, sometimes.

It's fantastic when you're the recipient of good service. It makes you want to continue doing business with a company. In fact, there is so much competition for your business that you should really only work with folks that are willing to go that extra mile. (Yes, this post will likely include cliches)

I'm finishing up one project, which I underbid, managed badly, and has come to frustrate me. It's almost over, though, and they're the kind of client which is hell to work with but once the project is done they're evangelists for your company. At the very least, I got paid a little and learned a lot.

Ok, the title isn't accurate. I'm not failing...yet. Since leaving my job and starting my own company, I've landed one contract and opened a handful of doors for leads. First, the contract I got was a very small project that I lowered my rate to get. The budget was ridiculously small, but it's my first project for the new company and I wanted the income. With nothing else to do (that's never really true) I figured it would be ok. Plus, there's more work from them down the road which I'll be h

On Monday of this week, I gave my two weeks' notice. I gave my bosses a letter announcing my departure from the company and stating my reasons for doing so... I was surprised that they had less of a reaction. I felt like they might have known - or at least suspected something - but in the meeting they were clearly knocked off guard. There was no yelling or crying... they didn't seem mad or upset. But they didn't seem to expect it at all.

I was posting on another message board (I feel a little guilty admitting that... like I'm cheating on Slashdot or something) and described a site that I built. The site, also the subject of several of my journal entries, was not named or anything. Someone knew right away what the site was. Apparently, he is friends with one of my beta users. Amazing.

To break from my usual rants about work and my developing career, I'll make it short and sweet and hit on different topics...

I hate the election, and I'm starting to get fed up with my country. Between the Patriot Act and failing social support systems, I don't like any of the candidates and I don't feel good about our future.

I just posted my 666th comment. Just a coincidence that I looked in my profile and saw it.

I doubled my "freaks" today...three people added me as their foe. I looked through their posts and my recent posts and none of them posted comments in anything that I posted in. I can't figure it out.

If someone has a problem with something I say, post a freakin' comment. To my journal, my post, or whatever.

If you add me to your foes list, let me know why.

I've discovered a weakness that I didn't realize affected me so much: impatience.

As I prepare to leave my job and start my own company, I've been working long hours and trying to keep things secret. I don't want my bosses to fire me before I'm ready to leave. But it's wearing me down quite a bit, going home and effectively working a second full time job...

I've never done any kind of hardware stuff before... and I know this is as basic as it goes, but I'm proud of my first attempt:

I'v had an unused case fan sitting on my desk for the last few months. Originally, it was plugged directly into the inside of my case and simply run up to my desk. But that wasn't very attractive or efficient (you have to open your case to turn it off?).

Though I haven't informed my employers yet, I will be leaving my job as soon as possible.

'Possible' means that I need to have something lined up before I leave. I am starting my own company, which will directly compete with my current employer. Too long have I been unhappy in my job, frustrated with the clients, the salary, and the way that my bosses run the company.

Like everyone else, there are things I hate about my job. Like most everyone else, I hate being underpaid. Since there are so few people in my company, and two of them are owners, I can pretty much estimate how much they are making. My work is responsible for the majority of their salaries.

So when we're busy enough that I won't be able to get everything done in a 40 hour week, there are three options:

1. I do it anyway, and don't get compensated. I'm salary.