On February 4, 2020 I was asked to participate in a panel for CBIG in Charlotte, NC. Along with Melissa Coates @SQLChick, Shannon Lowder @shannonlowder, & Daniel Christian @dchristian19 we were able to discuss our experiences as independent contractors and working as consultants.
We were each asked for our top piece of advice before setting out independently. I couldn’t pick just one so I had three.
- Learn to say no. You cannot say yes to every opportunity. You have to prioritize your time and energy. A no today could be a yes tomorrow.
- Get a lawyer. You have to protect yourself and your family. Get a lawyer and do things by the book.
- It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” You can’t know everything. Be a lifelong learner, researcher, and ask plenty of questions along the way.
This was a lot of fun, and learned a lot from the others on the panel. Big thanks to Melissa Coates for asking me to participate!
Panel Topic: Your Questions Answered about Consulting and Self-Employment
Panel Description: Have you thought about becoming a technology consultant? What is that experience really like? What does it take to be an effective consultant? And how can you leverage that to start your own business? Bring all your questions! Our panelists – Shannon Lowder, Melissa Coates, Daniel Christian, and Andy Huneycutt – will talk about their experiences and what they’ve learned along the way.
Upskill Tech 