I have been fully self-employed for two months. I am enjoying the journey, learning a lot, and have no regrets about making the jump. These are a few random observations, both personally and professionally.
Relationships are key. This is likely true of almost any business. I am fortunate to have started this journey with many wonderful existing relationships. I am also enjoying the opportunities to meet so many new people.
Time management is completely up to me. I recently re-read Jocko Willink's Discipline Equals Freedom book. Highly recommended if you need an extra dash of motivation.
The definition of success is personal. I can choose to prioritize financial success, complete control over my time, doing interesting work, joining impactful missions, etc. It is completely up to me.
Getting billable hours very early in the morning is a best practice. If I don't get at least 1-2 billable hours very early (before my kids wake up) my entire day can be thrown off.
There is a difference between freelancing and running a business. I read another book, Stop Thinking Like a Freelancer, to better understand the difference.
Clients are often looking for more than the scoped deliverables. They are also looking for intangibles, like:
There is a human resources strain almost everywhere. Carrying some of the burden for my partners has proven to be mutually beneficial.
There are a lot of interesting technology efforts. The continued integration of technology into transportation is genuinely exciting!
Strong communication skills are critical to every project and team. Software developers who can listen well, speak clearly, and express confidence mean a lot more than skilled developers with poor communication. Consultants with all of the experience in the world are not as good of partners if they are unable to listen and pivot their services accordingly.