The timing needs to be right

by Dale Davidson
A cartoon depicting a humorous scene where a business owner is attempting to hire a new employee, but the timing is completely off. The setting is inside a bustling office, filled with chaotic yet comical situations that make it clear why it's the wrong time. The business owner is eagerly holding out a contract and a pen to a prospective employee, who looks bewildered by the madness around them. In the background, employees are chasing after papers flying around from an overturned fan, another is spilling coffee on a crucial computer, and one is accidentally setting off a fire alarm causing a sprinkler system to drench the office. The prospective employee's expression is a mix of amusement and horror, clearly thinking it's not the right time to join. The style is colorful, exaggerated, and filled with slapstick humor, making it evident that the chaotic office environment is the main barrier to hiring.

I've been trying to hire this one guy for a while.

I haven't been able to do so because the timing wasn't right:

  • When we met initially, I didn't have a spot for him
  • When I did have a spot for him, he wasn't available because he wanted to finish his Master's Degree so he wouldn't have to pay back his company
  • When he finished his Master's, a spot DID open up but the prime filled it before I could get him an interview
  • Now another spot has opened up on a different contract, but he has competing offers and I still have to persuade the prime to interview him, allow me to bring the spot on to my sub-contract, etc.

When you're a small company, you don't have a big recruiting pipeline or guaranteed contract spots to place people, so timing has a huge impact on whether you're able to hire someone or not.

When you're a solo 1099, you at least control the timing of the single candidate in your pipeline: you.

I wanted to share this with you because one possible path after going 1099 is to build a company.

BUT, it's hard, and I wanted to share one of the specific reasons why it's hard.

You may find that there are easier and more enjoyable ways to make more money.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.

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