Trouble

So I’m in a bit of trouble. Financially.

My consulting gigs are done for the year, but due to forces outside my control, the projected revenue from them didn’t quite pan out. So I’m left with a shorter cash runway now than expected when I got awarded, and with no new gigs in sight till 2024, I might not have enough to last.

It’s crunch time. And I got to rise to it.

Writing it down to think through what I have to do to manage this crisis:

• Consulting: Look for new projects on government bidding platform GeBiz. I wishlisted 3, but found only 1 ITQ suitable. Will bid for 1 to try. Invitation To Quote has a max cap of $90k, so it will solve my problem… if I get awarded that is! My current non-profit client is also open to proposals for new work, so I’ll be drafting one in response.

• Micro-consulting: Offer micro-consulting slots on Linkedin, maybe using Superpeer. Offer advisory, coaching, project scoping, design in gov advice. At few hundred dollars a pop, this isn’t much, but will help supplement.

• Freelance web design: Posted an announced on Facebook that I’m back in the market designing websites, and also sent same message to individual friends who I know can help. Even if I charge $1-2k a website, if I do 1 a month it will already ease the pressure immensely.

• Freelance web app development: This is a new area of work which I wasn’t confident to try previously, because I’m not well-versed in enterprise development practices. But with the current outlook, I got to try anyway. I’m planning to ask for help on Twitter.

• Remote, part-time employment: I would have never considered going back to employment, but seeing how other indie hackers with successful products do this, I’m keen to try. Many would do 1-2 days remote work either in part-time employment or as a freelance contractor for a tech company, and then spend the rest of week on their indie products. Will look for work in this area, either for design or frontend development, locally or global. It’s strange but I actually feel excited to do this more than the rest!

What else can I do to tide over this difficult financial period?