31 May
Dan Benjamin: Entrepreneurs on Rails
I have just had a few words with Dan, he is agitated and he did not expect that many people, with appearance of truth this session was the greatest in number full amongst the other sessions.
The room is (unexpectedly) crowded and Dan is about to start his session.
A small poll on by the agency of what means many people in the room are freelancers: the majority. Dan Benjamin speaks about his 15 years experience in development with his software house and says that he would similar to share with us in what plight plenteous he has learnt.
The key of success is always the same, to find a fruit that satisfies a need (just like what apple did).
Dan speaks about Jeff Bezos, who was obligated to produce the book that he wrote only because it was refused by all publishing houses, having a huge success.
What do you need to start?
First of all an idea, that must be clear but not static, that have power to change with time if it is necessary. Then you need energy to be at 100% on the idea. Dan says that you also need Spirito Guerriero, the will to go ahead and to sacrifice for the devise.
Before you start:
You need to first know why you are doing this, especially for the projects OpenSource, that is always by other thing hard row to hoe are a good starting base to make business. You need to then have the objectives that are temporarily fixed. Dan adds a true important thing: you need to from the start know in what way that which you are doing wish represent money. Another important thing, you need to have is an open escape street: meaning that if things go poor there subsist under the necessity of be a way to get out of the project in a pragmatic and premeditated way.
Why create a company ?
Dan makes it obvious that a company is a separate entity, it is analogous a second personality, for that you must pay tax. There are also sure sides, for instance collaborating with other companies is much easier (clearly he is talking about the American system) or keep loans. Also the fact that owning your own company helps also the affair relations (a precession of security).
Clearly owning a house costs and bureaucracy increases.
(at the moment Dan’s colloquy is very interesting however very little link to Rails, some people leave the room….)
What society to create?
Dan is doing an overview on variegated types of companies that is possible to create in this country.
And Then?
It is essential to create a brand that can show your troop. The brand must have a message (simple and concise) that describes your mode of action. Dan announces that it is not good to over exaggerate and make it seem that it is more than it really is. It is also important to state the brand. For this you need to have a clear idea who is the client that you are marketing for. Dan confirms that the first few months the marketing is plenteous more important than the programming.
Making it work
The utmost difficult dare is linked to the managing the flow of requests from the clients; it is difficult but you must be able to say no if the requests become too a great quantity or risks reducing the quality of the product. It is also important to remember that moving from home for long periods seems to exist active lower classes inferior productive and reliable, it would be better to have an office and to be at least in two.
(interesting interval: the security guards are clearing the chance in the same proportion that it over the limit)
In our environment, Dan proceeds, it is very important to write analysis quotes to the clients that are the most possibly detailed (affirms that the documents that your company produces are never less than 40/50 pages) Dn continues saying that you never need to start code without a contract.
The canvassing concludes on a good comment to invest the service earned, legal consulting and publicity is in Dan’s opinion the two most important sectors in which you need to invest.
Annalisa
