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    Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig

    IT Careers
    freelance itsp ethics business
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    • brianlittlejohnB
      brianlittlejohn
      last edited by

      I moonlight on the side for 2 business, I made them vary aware of what all my limitations would be since I have a full-time job. I have helped both of them move into new locations since then. It took alot of after hours work and planning to make sure they knew exactly what was needed to be communicated to the contractors hired to do the cabling etc.

      I feel as long as you and them are fully aware of the limitations and are fine with them go for it.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
      • Reid CooperR
        Reid Cooper
        last edited by

        I would not over think it. She would likely understand that you are taking on a lot of difference roles.

        EddieJenningsE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • EddieJenningsE
          EddieJennings @Reid Cooper
          last edited by

          @reid-cooper said in Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig:

          I would not over think it.

          Ha! I have some long time friends who would read that advice and say "See, Eddie! See?!?!"

          I have given this some more thought, but I'm about to head to sleep. I'll approach it again with a clear head tomorrow.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • EddieJenningsE
            EddieJennings
            last edited by

            Now that I've had a good night's rest and my head has been cleared, I agree with @Reid-Cooper that I'm likely overthinking what this [opportunity] could be.

            I think the best approach will be to determine what she needs, then explain what I can and can't do, and for things I cannot do try to give her some guidance about who can do those things.

            Looking back at my long-winded post, I think the ethical dilemma in my head really wasn't a dilemma at all. While an ITSP can offer her far more than I could, I can still offer her some help. At the very least I can save her from having a telco design her LAN. Only when I lie about what I can do and steer her away from better resources than myself would I be in conflict with professional ethics.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • NerdyDadN
              NerdyDad
              last edited by

              I cannot attest to the building codes, but am pretty sure that they don't say too much when it comes to low-voltage wiring, except for you don't want to run it close to regular-voltage (110V) wiring because of EM interference. Otherwise, the skills of an IT pro, with some cable running skills and I think you'll be plenty sufficient.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • wirestyle22W
                wirestyle22 @EddieJennings
                last edited by

                @eddiejennings There is a part you aren't considering too. She owns a small business and trusts you not to rip her off. That isn't a deal she might be able to get somewhere else. There may be a "better" way to do something, but use ML as a tool to figure out the best way to do something you're trying to achieve. There is always an inherent value to honesty.

                EddieJenningsE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • EddieJenningsE
                  EddieJennings @wirestyle22
                  last edited by

                  @wirestyle22 said in Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig:

                  @eddiejennings There is a part you aren't considering too. She owns a small business and trusts you not to rip her off. That isn't a deal she might be able to get somewhere else. There may be a "better" way to do something, but use ML as a tool to figure out the best way to do something you're trying to achieve. There is always an inherent value to honesty.

                  True.

                  She owns a small business and trusts you not to rip her off.

                  That is what gives me pause. I would never willingly rip her off, but what I don't want to do is cause her to not get what she needs because of me lacking experience in X area. That problem would be solved by me saying "That's beyond the scope of my skills, but you can talk to [these people] who can help you with this. I can aid you with knowing what questions to ask."

                  wirestyle22W 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • wirestyle22W
                    wirestyle22 @EddieJennings
                    last edited by

                    @eddiejennings said in Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig:

                    @wirestyle22 said in Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig:

                    @eddiejennings There is a part you aren't considering too. She owns a small business and trusts you not to rip her off. That isn't a deal she might be able to get somewhere else. There may be a "better" way to do something, but use ML as a tool to figure out the best way to do something you're trying to achieve. There is always an inherent value to honesty.

                    True.

                    She owns a small business and trusts you not to rip her off.

                    That is what gives me pause. I would never willingly rip her off, but what I don't want to do is cause her to not get what she needs because of me lacking experience in X area. That problem would be solved by me saying "That's beyond the scope of my skills, but you can talk to [these people] who can help you with this. I can aid you with knowing what questions to ask."

                    Or you could assess her needs and ask ML what the solutions to the problems are. If you don't feel you are experienced/knowledgeable enough to do it that's fine.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JaredBuschJ
                      JaredBusch
                      last edited by

                      There is really nothing to even consider here.

                      Just work with her to get the scope and design it.

                      Implement what you can.

                      It is a very small SMB, there is nothing unique here.

                      The bigger concern is the fact that you don't have an LLC to do the work under. Unless she is going to put you on W2, you need to do that.

                      EddieJenningsE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                      • JaredBuschJ
                        JaredBusch
                        last edited by

                        Oh also, tell the Telco to go fly a damned kite with their gear and put in her own gear.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                        • EddieJenningsE
                          EddieJennings @JaredBusch
                          last edited by

                          @jaredbusch said in Ethics food for thought: Considering a possible side gig:

                          There is really nothing to even consider here.

                          Just work with her to get the scope and design it.

                          Implement what you can.

                          It is a very small SMB, there is nothing unique here.

                          The bigger concern is the fact that you don't have an LLC to do the work under. Unless she is going to put you on W2, you need to do that.

                          Yeah. That's my next thing to do. LLC would benefit my private lesson teaching as well, from the standpoint of protecting assets if I were accused of nefarious activity, since, unfortunately, teachers are often guilty until proven not -- a topic for a different thread :).

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • wirestyle22W
                            wirestyle22 @EddieJennings
                            last edited by wirestyle22

                            @eddiejennings Another possible option is to use Jared as a paid resource if he is willing to do that. If we got along better I would hire him for x amount of hours for projects in my lab. That way when I ran into issues I could schedule time with him to go over why something is happening and the correct way to diagnose and solve the problem. This could be a valuable learning experience for you.

                            Unsure if he would be willing to do that, but I'm sure someone here would. I'd offer it myself but I would not be of much help. If you're going to hire someone, make sure it's someone who knows their stuff.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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