My journey in creating USA Firmware
Friday, September 23, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Process
This is a long winding but invigorating road I have decided to venture on. Many opportunities have popped up and it's difficult to determine which to pursue and which not to.
I've been in discussion on writing a book with a publisher of technical materials. This would be a two year project. I've had it reviewed by several colleagues that are knowledgeable in this arena. The $60 to the Writers Union was invaluable.
I've made many connections with various folks throughout the area who need the occasional consultant. All fronts seem to be moving forward but it's a slow process that requires patience.
Then there is what is USA Firmware. I've connected with a local incubator who has found the idea very intriguing. I've reviewed some of the concepts with senior HR leaders and received more encouragement. Many of my direct colleagues have also found the idea compelling. So I'm developing a business plan.
There are many elements but at it's root is the connected firmware community at the regional level. Once they are connected and active many opportunities start to trickle out. Anything from firmware for sale to job bidding to video sales, seminars, training, recruiting, and so on.
The trick is the niche that is firmware. And it's a bigger niche then folks realize. Therefore it is under-served. Also demand is growing faster then we are creating firmware engineers. The concepts help remedy this disparity.
I've been in discussion on writing a book with a publisher of technical materials. This would be a two year project. I've had it reviewed by several colleagues that are knowledgeable in this arena. The $60 to the Writers Union was invaluable.
I've made many connections with various folks throughout the area who need the occasional consultant. All fronts seem to be moving forward but it's a slow process that requires patience.
Then there is what is USA Firmware. I've connected with a local incubator who has found the idea very intriguing. I've reviewed some of the concepts with senior HR leaders and received more encouragement. Many of my direct colleagues have also found the idea compelling. So I'm developing a business plan.
There are many elements but at it's root is the connected firmware community at the regional level. Once they are connected and active many opportunities start to trickle out. Anything from firmware for sale to job bidding to video sales, seminars, training, recruiting, and so on.
The trick is the niche that is firmware. And it's a bigger niche then folks realize. Therefore it is under-served. Also demand is growing faster then we are creating firmware engineers. The concepts help remedy this disparity.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
First Day!
My first real day was Friday. I picked up my LLC papers, created a business checking account and gave my first proposal (which was accepted!).
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Being my own Boss Starts TODAY
Well I wrapped up my position with Codonics today and am officially self employed for the first time in my life. It hasn't sunk in quite yet but it's begun too! I have some great friends and colleagues that are helping me get my feet on the ground! Thanks Jack for the website work! Thanks Bob Spinks for your help with my brand and advertising materials. Thanks Bob Foerster for the awesome logo's! Thanks Robin for your wise advise and support! Thanks all my USA Firmware and FENEO friends for helping me with technical questions! Thanks Chris Cole and Bob Paddock for all your help and guidance with selecting my system, figuring out this whole consulting thing and always ready and interested in providing me with your help and guidance! Thanks Dragan, Drew and Nick for all your help and support with FENEO and IEEE! Thanks Mom for your support and advice (hey, who knows you better then your Mom right?). Thanks to my beautiful and supportive wife for allowing me to become unemployed and yet trusting me and helping me figure out where to take my career.
Next week it starts getting really interesting. I have meetings with clients, a meeting at a training center, lunch meetings with colleagues, a couple of interviews, a proposal to generate, and I need to talk to the dean of the Enterprenauer MBA at BW to see what my next class should be and when I need to sign up!
Next week it starts getting really interesting. I have meetings with clients, a meeting at a training center, lunch meetings with colleagues, a couple of interviews, a proposal to generate, and I need to talk to the dean of the Enterprenauer MBA at BW to see what my next class should be and when I need to sign up!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Clients and Conversations
Today I met with a prospective client for some consulting work. I found out about this client through an old coworker who saw my linkedin profile changes and new they needed some help. The meeting went very well. I was please and I believe they were too. It seems that the world's products are all embedding little baby micro's in practically everything. This is happening because the cost of microcontrollers on the PIC scale have gotten rediculously cheap. But this is all good news for someone such as myself who knows very well how to program these little guys with lots of mojo.
I also received a curious email from a director of engineering I know at a local company. I suggested we chat. He also noticed my status change. I love linkedin :)
I also received a curious email from a director of engineering I know at a local company. I suggested we chat. He also noticed my status change. I love linkedin :)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The Plan
Here is my initial concept minus a discussion with an attorney and minus a business plan! So take this with a grain of salt. I also read somewhere once that your customers will eventually be the one's that tell you what you business will do!
1. Contracting/Consulting – Leverage my connections to bring work in for myself and others. The range goes from at the lowest level VHDL and the highest level Emdedded Linux development. This is the bread and butter, Contracting, Subcontracting and Consulting. This will pay the bills.
2. Firmware Engineer Resources and Services – My site will have a membership capability. Once you are a member you have access to networking with other engineers, posting contract work you are aware of, seeing job listings, getting access to discounts for tools, training and seminars and so on.
3. Training and Seminars – I’m working right now with some big names to bring them to Cleveland to hold cyclical seminars. I have a meeting next week with someone from a local training company to discuss revenue sharing, as well as finders fee’s for me bringing in students from my website to classes. So in general I want to work to bring in more talent into the area. If Dan has good success, I think we have a shot at making this a long term endeavor with other talent as well.
4. FENEO – How this ties in is still vague but implicit. I can see FENEO being a local branch of members of USA Firmware. The issue is that the way I have it structured right now; I receive donations for IEEE Cleveland Computer Society. I usually foot the bill and send the donations to IEEE. They then receive my receipt and reimburse me. So for me to have this be part of my business, FENEO will have to change in its financial structure or something. Otherwise it will have to come directly out of membership fee’s and my income. I’m going to talk to my attorney on this one as it’s tricky.
5. Finder’s Fee’s – So I am heavily connected on both ends, from the recruiter side and the engineer side. I hope to bring in revenue through finders fee’s by making jobs accessible to my members but not making my members accessible to recruiters. I can also see using the funds from this to help out with FENEO events. So a portion of the finders fee could go to the event or could go to IEEE if I can somehow maintain this relationship to FENEO without a conflict of interest.
6. USA Firmware Franchise – This is an interesting idea I think and I’m looking forward to discussing this with my attorney. So the above could be done anywhere. But obviously I can’t do all this well from Cleveland if say we want to repeat this model in central Ohio. So I would francise out the USA Firmware ‘brand’. FENEO being one franchise and
1. Contracting/Consulting – Leverage my connections to bring work in for myself and others. The range goes from at the lowest level VHDL and the highest level Emdedded Linux development. This is the bread and butter, Contracting, Subcontracting and Consulting. This will pay the bills.
2. Firmware Engineer Resources and Services – My site will have a membership capability. Once you are a member you have access to networking with other engineers, posting contract work you are aware of, seeing job listings, getting access to discounts for tools, training and seminars and so on.
3. Training and Seminars – I’m working right now with some big names to bring them to Cleveland to hold cyclical seminars. I have a meeting next week with someone from a local training company to discuss revenue sharing, as well as finders fee’s for me bringing in students from my website to classes. So in general I want to work to bring in more talent into the area. If Dan has good success, I think we have a shot at making this a long term endeavor with other talent as well.
4. FENEO – How this ties in is still vague but implicit. I can see FENEO being a local branch of members of USA Firmware. The issue is that the way I have it structured right now; I receive donations for IEEE Cleveland Computer Society. I usually foot the bill and send the donations to IEEE. They then receive my receipt and reimburse me. So for me to have this be part of my business, FENEO will have to change in its financial structure or something. Otherwise it will have to come directly out of membership fee’s and my income. I’m going to talk to my attorney on this one as it’s tricky.
5. Finder’s Fee’s – So I am heavily connected on both ends, from the recruiter side and the engineer side. I hope to bring in revenue through finders fee’s by making jobs accessible to my members but not making my members accessible to recruiters. I can also see using the funds from this to help out with FENEO events. So a portion of the finders fee could go to the event or could go to IEEE if I can somehow maintain this relationship to FENEO without a conflict of interest.
6. USA Firmware Franchise – This is an interesting idea I think and I’m looking forward to discussing this with my attorney. So the above could be done anywhere. But obviously I can’t do all this well from Cleveland if say we want to repeat this model in central Ohio. So I would francise out the USA Firmware ‘brand’. FENEO being one franchise and
Balancing Act
Lots of interest popping up on the contract side both firmware and management. I dont want get a full plate right away but its tempting.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Back to School
I'm half way completed with my MBA but to date it's been a pure business management degree. Well Ive decided for obvious reasons to switch to an Enterprenuer degree. I can't wait until I can take my course on creating a business plan! I'm trying to setup a meeting with the dean at Baldwin Wallace College to discuss. I'm half way through my masters and I'm told I may be able to get away without losing any credits!
Coming Soon...
Next week I plan on meeting with a local training company. I have two top tier firmware 'celebrities' interest in working with me to arrange periodic seminars in the NEO area. It's a lunch, tour and business meeting. I've asked them to provide me a proposal, including profit sharing and upfront speaking fee's.
I am setting up a meeting with an old friend of mine who does graphic arts and is pretty darn good at it! The first thing he mentioned was that we made sure we had a branded presents with business cards, brochures, and the website. I need to connect him with my web designer so that they can work in tandem.
I have a meeting with my attorney (ok I've not met the guy so calling him my attorney may be premature!). We're going to start with a phone discussion to help him understand what my plans are.
I have a variety of contracting and consulting projects I am working on. Some from former companies that I worked for and some new ones. I hope to make some headway on this as I wait for my system!
I purchased a machine from CyberPower after discussing this with some collegues. This bad boy is my bread and butter so it's going to be top of the line, 12GB Ram, 1TB, Intel i7 processor, 80GB SSD, liquid cooled. I plan on running linux or BCM on it with some back doors to other OS's.
Once I get things setup with the attorney, it's off to the accountant who is going to help me setup my QuickBooks correctly! LLC here we come. Following that it's time to get my liability insurance started.
I am setting up a meeting with an old friend of mine who does graphic arts and is pretty darn good at it! The first thing he mentioned was that we made sure we had a branded presents with business cards, brochures, and the website. I need to connect him with my web designer so that they can work in tandem.
I have a meeting with my attorney (ok I've not met the guy so calling him my attorney may be premature!). We're going to start with a phone discussion to help him understand what my plans are.
I have a variety of contracting and consulting projects I am working on. Some from former companies that I worked for and some new ones. I hope to make some headway on this as I wait for my system!
I purchased a machine from CyberPower after discussing this with some collegues. This bad boy is my bread and butter so it's going to be top of the line, 12GB Ram, 1TB, Intel i7 processor, 80GB SSD, liquid cooled. I plan on running linux or BCM on it with some back doors to other OS's.
Once I get things setup with the attorney, it's off to the accountant who is going to help me setup my QuickBooks correctly! LLC here we come. Following that it's time to get my liability insurance started.
Waiting...
I have three days left at my current employment. Who would have though I would be so excited about becoming temporarily unemployed!
I've developed several good relationships with collegues over the years. Thanks to my friends out there for providing me with such good advise on everything from what computer system to purchase to how to market myself!
I've developed several good relationships with collegues over the years. Thanks to my friends out there for providing me with such good advise on everything from what computer system to purchase to how to market myself!
Accountants, attorneys and agents
A good resource to kick this adventure off started with my city. Was given some good recommendations on an accountant and insurance agent. It's hard to really get moving until I see an attorney. My new accountant provided me the recommendation on him. He will help me figure out how to file my company with the state..
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