On Thu, 4 Feb 93 09:15:54 JST, "Gavin Thomas Nicol" <nick@NSIS.CL.NEC.CO.JP> wrote: > I would be interested in hearing how Cygnus, or any other FSB's > bootstrapped themselves. Well, while I was at Clarkson University, I started writing packet drivers, to solve a job-related problem. Lots of other people had the same problem, and packet drivers helped them solve it. FTP Software's DOS TCP/IP package runs over packet drivers, and they're the market leader. Clarkson and I had a parting of the ways, and I sought employment elsewhere. By the time I got the gumption to start my own business (not an easy thing with a child and a pregnant wife), I had already accepted at job at Mitel. I worked there for five months, pulled their NT-1 project out of the fire and back into the pan, went to Interop, and got the committments from enough customers to make the jump. It didn't hurt to have two separate standing job offers. But that's one of the effects of writing free software -- you get a LOT of visibility and you become very employable. But if you start your own business, be prepared to never want to be an employee again. :) So now, over a dozen companies use packet drivers for their products, some of them mission-critical. Packet drivers are simple enough software that most people don't need support. You just install them and they work. But there are enough people who want support, either as insurance, or to get actual bugs fixed, to pay my living. Now, for the sake of truth, I sell two days/week to a single party, week after week, doing proprietary software. Why? Well, it helps stabilize my income. Getting $6,000 one month and nothing the next is somewhat stress-inducing. So where do I go from here? I think I need to hire a salesman/ business manager. Sales are what I like to do least. But I have to go from a one-income/ one-employee company to a one-income/ two-employee company. Doubling the number of employees in one instant is not something a company does very often. :) Does anyone have any hints for me on making this transition? -- -russ <nelson@crynwr.com> What canst *thou* say? Crynwr Software Crynwr Software sells packet driver support. 11 Grant St. 315-268-1925 Voice | LPF member - ask me about Potsdam, NY 13676 315-268-9201 FAX | the harm software patents do.