[awb]

I’ve been developing since Middle School and got steadily promoted until 2008 when I was laid off during the economic collapse. I applied to dozens of companies and couldn’t get a response, or if I did they said hiring was paused.

So, I started my own web dev company and grew it from myself to 20 full time employees in ~4 years before selling it.

I thought I had FU skills back in 2008 and maybe I did, but it was no match for the macro economic climate.

The fallback might not be another full time job, but instead freelancing or starting your own company.

The thing that helped me the most was building a “FU Network”. Keep in touch with past coworkers and clients and do good work consistently. They were there for me when I needed them most.

[ipnon]

I have found the ability to consistently make my own dollar, even if it is a pittance, makes me a more attractive candidate than most. I’ve never had a runaway business success, but the acumen needed set all of a money making operation in motion sets me apart. Hopefully they become profitable so that formal employment is no longer needed, but in the meanwhile it’s kept food on the table by the ordinary means.