Ask HN: How to start freelancing while working in corporate?
Software has been my favorite hobby since I was a kid, not being able to work on things in my own time is soul crushing. I've wanted to start a business for many years but I know it won't make enough to sustain me as long as my savings will hold out.
Have any of you managed to get a dev position without a crazy non-compete and IP assignment agreement? In my state they're quite enforceable. I'm considering contracting but I've never met a contractor and the companies I've worked at don't hire them. It seems an independent streak like "freelancer" or "contractor" makes you less employable in BigCo's so I would prefer going directly from a regular full time role into owning my own business.
I know people usually just say "freelance" but I've tried that and it's far from that simple. Going from zero clients to anything reasonable takes months. Anyone found a better way to deal with this?