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There seems to be two ways to make money working for yourself doing development, and they have parallels in the music industry (bet you never would have guessed).

The first way is to start a company. Get a co-founder or two, find a great idea, do some magic, then become fabulously rich. It’s just like starting a band, really. Find a couple of other musicians, create a great sound, do some magic, then become fabulously rich and famous. If it works, it’s awesome. You get rich, you get famous, and it’s all a piece of cake. Except your chances are slim to none. The chances you’ll found a tech company worth billions are about the same as your chances of founding a #1 rock band.

The other way to make money on your own doing development is by freelancing. Chances are, you won’t make a billion dollars doing freelancing, just like the chances are you won’t be world-famous being a session musician. However, there’s much less risk, you control your destiny, and you make a reliable and good living.  And if you want, you can grow your freelancing until it becomes a good-sized business or consulting firm.  You’ll be sustainable in the meantime, and you’ll start making the big bucks with a few years of hard work instead of one or two living in a box wishing on a star.

Then again, you might even turn your freelancing business into a billion-dollar company. After all, Jimmy Page, Luther Vandross, Duane Allman, and Slash started out as session musicians. It wouldn’t be too bad to end up like them (minus the drug addictions and crazy clothes/hair), would it?

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