[JVIDEL]

I get the point, but there's another side to this:

9 out of 10 of all startups out there are a business method, they don't need 10x engineers to build new technologies, and what they want can be done by a freelancer using a CMS and some elbow grease.

[patio11]

A freelancer capable of "CMS and some elbow grease" has a few attractive options right now, including building "CMS and some elbow grease" for clueful clients who will compare his invoices to the change in the bottom line and pay accordingly, or taking "CMS and some elbow grease" and getting seed funding for it, or going to one of the numerous companies selling "CMS and some elbow grease" who are desperate for engineers and saying "I have two years of PHP experience and have shipped products. You are looking for an intermediate engineer. How much do you offer?" and then getting offered $120k plus benefits on the spot.

Periodically, I get a cold lead asking for work. A half dozen recently have been for Twilio development. The projects are typically not terribly technically challenging: solving real business problems for money, good ideas, probably 6 man-weeks on average. I quote my usual weekly rates (in preference to saying "I know where this conversation is going. The answer is no.") and regularly get told that a) I'm out of the budget and b) 5~10% of this deal would make me rich.

I am polite in the emails but, just between us geeks: that's cute.

P.S. Do you do Twilio development? Need work? Find my email, I'll filter out the jokers and pass you anyone who sounds serious. Do you do "CMS and elbow grease"? Pick up Twilio and double your bill rates. Or just double your bill rates.

[JVIDEL]

Sent you an email.