I went in to work today, and I quit my job. I've worked there for 7 years, since I was 17. It's been a bit crazy and emotional all day, I was fine this morning, then once I'd handed in my resignation letter it started to hit me what I've just done. From this time next month I won't have a salary to depend on. Whether I pay my mortgage or even eat will depend on what work I and my business partner have won, completed and managed to extract money for. It's a really scary thought right now, we've got work lined up but we're still some way from completing it, and even further from getting clients to sign-off and pay. It's also really exciting, I've never felt more in control of my own destiny, everything and anything seems possible right now.

I've been quite humbled by some of the reactions in the office, there were a few people in tears, and my boss seems to have been knocked for six by it. We've known each other for a long time and been good friends, I hope we can hold on to that. For me the fact that no one could of imagined me leaving the company has just reinforced my reasons for leaving, I'd become part of the furniture.

I'm glad I'm not doing this alone though, my business partner is very much like me in a lot of ways, but from a very different background. He's very business and marketing, with a fascination in technology, I'm all technology and development with a fascination in business. We've worked together before and we've always bounced well of each other.

So it's on to a new era of my life, I know a lot of people have taken this same step before but that doesn't make it any easier. I know that the only thing I could possibly regret would be to not have done this though. I'm taking some risks, maybe I could loose my flat, but I won't regret trying.

The company is called glow, website is coming soon. We can build content managed websites, bespoke web based applications and have years of experience of web based marketing (viral, search engine, cost per click) and innovating new ways to converse with your customers.

 Becky:

Best of luck, I know you're a hugely talented web designer and you'll be in big demand! 

 Alli' Cat':

Good on you. If you don't have a go, then you'll never know. Yes it's scary abandoning your safety net but hey, at least it was your choice (my job's just been 'off shored' after 18 years with the same software house - this is what you get for becoming 'part of the furniture / complacent).
So, good luck to Glow and all who sail in her. 

 Emily S:

All the best with this! I had huge fun running my own company for nigh on 5 years and have never regretted taking that step. I'll be keeping a close eye on the Glow site!!!! 

 Joanna:

Best of luck babes. I'm sure things will be wonderful! 

 jessica:

we have the same name! 

 Lysette:

I've seen some of your work and you appear to be hugely talented. Try to negotiate payments in tranches, rather than on completion, as this may ease your cashflow. You wil also know early on if your clients can actually afford to pay you. I hope things go well for your new company and that you remember to buy your NI stamps and pay your tax and VAT on time! 

 Rachel:

Yeah, good luck with it all - I'm sure you and your business partner will make it. 

 

Can I be the first to say congratulations to a couple of people :) I was a bit shocked, but it makes perfect sense of course, I don't want to say anymore till the news has broken. Details will follow I'm sure :)

 Jane:

The news has broken! :D 

 Becky:

Oooh I wonder what it is! :-O

(I'm a bit dim.) 

 jess:

know what boring 

 Zadett:

Thank to you I have my new Tranny Licence Love Z 

 

This is a Second Life avatar, created from one of those rapid prototyping machines I used to dream of owning when I was a kid, I think I first saw one on tomorrows world. It uses a lazer to melt a layer of resin type stuff and builds it up layer by layer, new ones can do it in different colours somehow. I spoke to a guy at a business networking event a few months ago who worked for the university, they had one of these machines and they were trying to come up with business applications for it, I wish I'd had the idea of making and selling avatars from MMPORPGs like Second Life.

Basically what these guys are doing, have a look at their flickr set too.

 Becky:

I think I read somewhere that there's a company that will do it with World of Warcraft characters. :-)

The technology is really starting to mature now. I think well within our lifetimes copyright of physical things will become an issue when everyone has 3D printers. :-) 

 Jessica:

Those guys will do it with any 3D model they can extract 

 Anonymous:

Thanks for the mention Jessica. A small correction though: it's not a laser that creates the models, but something more like a 3d inkjet printer. The laser type of rapid prototyping is cool, but can only make figures in one solid color.

Also, we're legally restricted from making World of Warcraft figures. SecondLife's unique (people own their avatars) approach to intellectual property is what led us to start there.

Thanks again,

Michael Buckbee
Fabjectory Founder 

 

A friend of mine got her virtual self on telly! Along with some of her work, congrats Siobhan :)

 

It's been a while since I've posted on here. I've been working pretty long hours the last few months, work just gets crazier and crazier. So I decided to set up, I've gone into business with a friend, we're still building it up and in our day jobs, looking to quit in the new year. I don't want to piss off my current employers as they may be important allies in the future, so I've got to make sure I don't give them any reason to say I've let my work suffer when I finally tell them what's been going on.

I set up another blog where I've just been posting about lots of tech stuff, it always helps to come top in google for your name when the web is your business, and also speaking at any conferences I can get in to.

We've managed to secure a few decent sized projects already, but we always need more. So if you know anyone who needs a website, bespoke web software, search engine optimisation, online marketing, usability analysis, etc, then please get in touch.

As for dressing up, I'll get around to that at some point ;)

 Anonymous:

Whats your company called and does it have its own web site yet?