> Jim Hartmann wrote:
>
> > Hello, does anyone have any recommended books or ideas about "dropping
out
> > and tuning in" to the independent consulting business?  Are flexible
hours
> > and schedule a realized advantage?

There are only two reasons that someone will hire a consultant.

1) There is a labor shortage
2) You have specialized skills.

Specialized skills will generally pay more for shorter period of time.
If you have specialized skills they will not last if they are needed
by the industry so you need to invest in developing new skills
that will be needed.

Someone told me as I was starting Byte Craft that as a consultant
expect to do a Master's project every 6 months. The hours have
been long at times very long. We focused on doing what we
enjoyed and changing the delivery  model from one on one consulting
to distributed consulting. (Software tools development and publishing)

It not the money it is the "There is a little bit of me in there", feeling
you get in seeing the results. It is getting up in the morning after
fours sleep and looking forward to the day that makes it all
worth while.

Would I do it again? Sure would.

Walter Banks