silicon gunslinger

I've been kicking my computer business back into high gear lately. It's part of "the plan" that I made when I started this new career. I've been tutoring people on computers for three or four years now, but it's always just been a financial afterthought. Nice to bring in a little extra money once in awhile . . . that sort of thing. Since teaching pays a little bit less than I'm accustomed to earning, I decided that I would need to increase my marketing efforts and drum up a little more business than usual.

So I took out an ad in a local "free" publication, the kind that advertises things like therapists and massage practitioners, new age healers and workshops designed to enhance your self-esteem. You know, a Berkeley kind of magazine. Anyway, like it or not, I'm one of those people. I speak that language. I have a degree in "Consciousness Studies". Even though I teach computers, I'm really more interested in helping people reach their potential. The computer is just the instrument. The music is what I'm all about. I'm "The Friendly Computer Tutor".

Anyway, I took out this ad, and I've really been getting a lot of calls. Many more than I'm used to. And it's great. I enjoy the feeling I get from showing up on someone's doorstep, being led through their house to the den, back corner of the basement, spare bedroom, or wherever they keep "that silly machine", then sitting down with them and teaching them what it can do. I love the challenge of running into a problem I don't understand right away, then figuring it out as I go. But most of all, I enjoy the lightbulb effect. Invariably, at some point in our lesson, the student figures something out for the first time. Their eyes light up with a Eureka! moment, and they smile. That's cool.

Then they write me a check, I pack up my stuff, and I walk out to my car. Feels good.

I don't think I would want to live off this income (too unpredictable) but it's a really nice way to help pay the bills. And I'll be devoting even more time to it this summer . . .

It can be exhausting sometimes, though. Didn't get home until ten last night. Had a full day of school, then two clients. First one was an hour and a half, second one (at the other end of the city) was two hours. Maybe I should start limiting myself to one client per school night, eh?

Posted: Tue - May 4, 2004 at 10:38 PM

getBlogName(); > getCategoryName("C1887902091"); >

silicon gunslinger

> >