Thanks for the feedback! I see your point, and I’ll be more mindful about how I post. My goal was to spark discussion around Apple Silicon, not just promote my work. I’ll avoid adding self-promotional links in future posts to keep things more in line with HN’s guidelines.

That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts—do you see the M3 Ultra as a game-changer, or is it more of an iterative update?

They always do that, never mention the competitors hardware in the comparisons.

So same game?

It's likely, but for everyday tasks I still see people on M1 without the need to upgrade...

Man, what a wild ride! From getting laid off at Meta to pulling off a 200k-unit hit on Steam—talk about turning things around in style. That’s seriously inspiring.

Ballionaire sounds like an absolute blast—roguelike pachinko? That’s a combo I didn’t know I needed! Must have been a crazy year grinding to get it out, but totally worth it. Any unexpected lessons or ‘oh crap’ moments along the way? Wishing you even bigger wins ahead!

Good point! human history shows that, at least the documented one. Do you have specific examples? just curious here.

Appreciate the heads-up! I usually add a brief note about myself at the end of posts. It helps since HN doesn’t have detailed profile pages. Either way, I really appreciate you sharing this.

Also, since we're on this topic... why do you think even smart people make "bad" decisions? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hope you have an amazing weekend too!

I love that insight! I’ve always wondered about those cake mixes...why make people add eggs and milk if it's supposed to be complete? Haha, but it makes sense; it gives that "chef" feeling and a sense of involvement.

Maybe my friend was ahead of his time, but I also wonder if it was more about emotional blind spots. It’s easy to convince ourselves that we see something others don’t, even when the signs suggest otherwise.

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

That makes sense... but what about Paralysis by Analysis?

Thanks for the reply! I usually add a little bit about me at the end of the post as a bonus, helps people as HN doesn't have a strong profile page, but anyway, thanks for sharing, it's much appreciated.

I wish you an amazing weekend!

A small "available for contracts" or "we are hiring" at the end of a 3 or 4 pages blog post is somewhat usual.

If each of your post have an about section that is like one third of the post, people will get angry and write mean comments and flag ypur posts.

Thanks Gus, I will keep it "short" on the next one or find a better way to let people know a bit more about who wrote the question. Once more, I appreciate the answer.

I will ask you too that, since we're on this topic... why do you think even smart people make "bad" decisions? Would love to hear your thoughts!

I can see how word of mouth and referrals work well, especially when you’re established. And having an agency handle the business side sounds like a dream (less admin, more billable hours).

But I am wondering, how do you deal with slow periods? Do you just rely on past clients and your agency, or do you ever have to go out and actively hunt for work?

I get that social media isn’t for everyone, but I’ve seen some freelancers use LinkedIn like a passive marketing tool—kind of like a digital business card. Have you ever felt like you’re missing out on opportunities by not having that presence, or does it never really come up? I am asking as that question "how come you don't use linkedin" comes up every time haha.

By the way, thank you for replying!

I know this sounds like boasting, but I have never had a slow period. I have had to turn down gigs because I don't have time.

From my start as a freelancer I cultivated long-term relationships with customers who would give me a steady flow of work. Some of them put me on retainer, so they would have me ready to work when they needed something. A lot of businesses don't want to try to find a programmer or system admin under time pressure, or slog through Upwork or Fiverr. They want someone who will answer their calls and emails and deal with business needs without friction or onboarding, and without weeks of proposals, contracts, and email back-and-forth. I set out to establish trust and worked to understand the customer's business and IT infrastructure so I could jump on their needs immediately. I keep the friction and freelancer cosplay to a minimum.

Those customers referred me to other businesses, and before too long I had plenty of work and a reasonably stable income.

When I decided to travel full-time, and then move abroad permanently, I worried about getting work with US companies, so I signed on with an agency. And then I cultivated long-term relationships with those customers.

I know other freelancers who do the same thing. Building long-term relationships seems like basic good business. But I see people new to freelancing make some mistakes that lead them to churn constantly with customers, and fail to build relationships. I think that happens when freelancers think of themselves, and present themselves, as only providing specific technical expertise, on their terms. Customers need their business problems addressed -- the technology usually makes little or no difference to them. No business ever needs 2,000 more lines of JavaScript code in a week, but that roughly describes what a lot of freelancers sell.

The number one complaint I hear from prospects and customers: the last freelancer or dev shop stopped communicating, or took days or weeks to answer emails and return phone calls. Simply doing that better -- treating the customer with respect and care -- puts you in the top few percent of freelancers.

I have some articles about freelancing on my site typicalprogrammer.com. Free, no ads, affiliate links, popups, or nonsense.

Disclaimer: 10X Management represents me, but the opinions I express here and on my web site come from me, and should not get construed as endorsed by or reflecting the views of 10X Management.