A brief overview of my path to working as a freelance web developer.

1. FULL-CIRCLE BACK TO
FREELANCE
JIM JEFFERS

2. @JIMJEFFERS
DEVELOPER / DESIGNER
1999-CURRENT

4. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO MAKE
VIDEO GAMES WHEN I GREW UP.
BUT THEN I BECAME A WEB
DEVELOPER INSTEAD.
Jim Jeffers
WISDOM

5. FREELANCE 1999-2001
START UP 2001
FREELANCE 2001-2003
IN-HOUSE 2003-2006
AGENCY 2006-2008
DEV SHOP 2008
FREELANCE 2008-PRESENT

7. WORKING AS A FREELANCER WHILE YOU’RE
STILL LIVING WITH YOUR PARENTS IS GREAT!
THESE DAYS I PAY MY OWN MORTGAGE SO
I’M MUCH MORE CAREFUL AND CAUTIOUS IN
HOW I WORK.
Jim Jeffers
WISDOM

8. EARLY CAREER WAS SNAGGING CONTRACT
WORK FROM THREE SOURCES THAT WERE
1-2 PERSON COMPANIES WHO OUTSOURCED
THEIR WORK INVOLVING FLASH.

9. IT STARTED SORT OF HAPPENED BY
CHANCE.
I HAD NOTHING TO LOSE.
*IT DEFINITELY BEAT FLIPPING BURGERS.

10. WHILE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL MY
FRIEND AND I GOT JOBS IN AN 8 PERSON
STARTUP AS THE ONLY TWO DEVELOPERS
ON STAFF.
* YOU CAN GUESS HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

11. WORKING IN HOUSE HAS IT’S PERKS:
+ YOU TEND TO SOLVE HIGH VALUE PROBLEMS.
+ THE ATMOSPHERE CAN BE RELAXED.
- YOU WORK ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS THAT AREN’T SEXY.

12. AGENCIES CAN BE A GRIND
+ YOU GET TO WORK ON SOME COOL PROJECTS
+ YOU CAN LEARN A LOT
+ EXCELLENT NETWORKING
- THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
- THEY CHARGE A LOT BUT PAY YOU VERY LITTLE IN COMPARISON
- THE PROBLEMS YOU SOLVE MAY NOT GIVE YOU A GOOD SENSE
OF BUSINESS. *
* AS AGENCIES LIKE TO SELL DEV WORK THAT CAN WIN THEM CREATIVE AWARDS.

13. DEV SHOPS FOCUS ON PROCESS
+ BEST PRACTICES AND MAINTAINABILITY MATTER
+ YOU CAN LEARN A LOT FROM YOUR FELLOW
DEVELOPERS.
- MANAGEMENT / CULTURE CAN BECOME DOGMATIC
- CAN ALSO BE A GRIND JUST LIKE AN AGENCY

14. FREELANCE CAN BE
REWARDING BUT RISKY
+ YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF
- YOU WORK FOR YOURSELF

15. YOU ARE MORE THEN A DEVELOPER.
YOU HAVE TO MANAGE YOUR CASH FLOW.
YOU MAY FEEL PRETTY ISOLATED.
YOU HAVE TO DELIVER.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID.

16. BUT DESPITE ALL OF
THIS. IT’S BEEN MY
PREFERRED WAY TO
WORK.