Hello, my name is David J. Davis, I'm an end-to-end developer and I currently work as the Founder and Tech Lead of Marmt Group. Previously I worked at Google and Apple.
I'm a freelancer now, and I find it hard to swallow when you say your skillset decreased while freelancing!? So I worked at Apple and Google, as well has a half dozen dev agencies and tech was mostly fixed. Moreover project managers and product managers want something done asap, experimenting with new tech is a non option. Now, my experience as a freelancer-if I want to wake up and build an app in Golang and the next week in Python, or change my mind the next day and use Elixir, I say so, and nobody tells me I can't experiment. I'd say this is the best part about freelancing, my skill building now have no boundaries. And the client-if they have a problem with that then screw that contract! I sleep good at night.
I'm just telling my truth here David, this is what I PERSONALLY felt, I'm not speaking on anyone elses behalf :)
That's awesome you have found your balance now, and you are in a good place. However, my experiences have been completely reversed to yours!
It's so interesting to me how people experience different things :)
I get what you are saying about PM/PO's, however where I am they are fairly removed from any of the technical decisions. Our main product stack is Node, and we have grounds on microprojects and open-source work to experiment with what we want. It is encouraged even!
Your last sentence resonates with me where I think we may differ. See in that situation I would worry about it because I am anxious and cautious. Maybe I don't have the correct DNA to be a freelancer! But as an experience, I am glad I gave it a go for a chunk of my life, and I want to share my own findings with other people.
I'm working online self employed too atm and it has been great. But yes. There are different growth opportunities in bigger companies for sure. And the loneliness is a big issue! For most of freelancers I meet.
I'm a freelancer now, and I find it hard to swallow when you say your skillset decreased while freelancing!? So I worked at Apple and Google, as well has a half dozen dev agencies and tech was mostly fixed. Moreover project managers and product managers want something done asap, experimenting with new tech is a non option. Now, my experience as a freelancer-if I want to wake up and build an app in Golang and the next week in Python, or change my mind the next day and use Elixir, I say so, and nobody tells me I can't experiment. I'd say this is the best part about freelancing, my skill building now have no boundaries. And the client-if they have a problem with that then screw that contract! I sleep good at night.
I'm just telling my truth here David, this is what I PERSONALLY felt, I'm not speaking on anyone elses behalf :)
That's awesome you have found your balance now, and you are in a good place. However, my experiences have been completely reversed to yours!
It's so interesting to me how people experience different things :)
I get what you are saying about PM/PO's, however where I am they are fairly removed from any of the technical decisions. Our main product stack is Node, and we have grounds on microprojects and open-source work to experiment with what we want. It is encouraged even!
Your last sentence resonates with me where I think we may differ. See in that situation I would worry about it because I am anxious and cautious. Maybe I don't have the correct DNA to be a freelancer! But as an experience, I am glad I gave it a go for a chunk of my life, and I want to share my own findings with other people.
I'm working online self employed too atm and it has been great. But yes. There are different growth opportunities in bigger companies for sure. And the loneliness is a big issue! For most of freelancers I meet.
Good article!
Thanks!! There are definitely pros and cons for both