New episode of BEAM Radio. This one I wasn't on so I should listen to it. Next one is going to be a cool one for people who like types and Erlang. Or if you are curious about Whatsapp and their use of Erlang.

Currently I have positions to recommend with West Arete, particularly for Ruby but the future spells Elixir. They are a company that really seem to put their money where my mouth is in many ways. They offer really good and significant perks, extraordinary for a US company really. Their approach is to make a company where people will want to stay. And they build custom software for higher education so it's a pretty constructive space.

I also have a client looking to employ a Tech Lead for a product team. They are building a tool in the Agile space. UK or Sweden, senior levels of experience, good generalist skillset. Ideally some Elixir and Phoenix, bonus to have some Elm interest. You'd be working with me extensively for some time. Applications go here, if you have questions you can also email me.

I'm also helping a startup that's building a SaaS using some very practically minded AI/ML. All Elixir backend work, EU and US timezones. If that's of interest, reach out.

I did get that new video out and if you want to see my attempt at humor you only really need to watch the beginning. If you watch more, that's even better.

To consult

When consulting I've been doing a thing that I didn't think too much of. It has recently been put in the spotlight for me due to a number of conversations with my colleagues that don't necessarily have this habit. I keep my coupling to my client and the work I do for them loose.

Consulting and contracting are mostly the same in this regard. When the client wants to pull the plug they can. It is part of the agreement. There is always a touch of performance review in the air if things aren't clearly a wild success. It doesn't bother me particularly.

I've worked at places where I was really invested, personally and as an employee along for the ride, in the outcomes and product. That's not quite how I do consulting work. I do invest myself in the outcomes as they reflect my efforts and I'm really invested in doing a good job. I care but I don't care in the way an employee cares.

I don't know if this is personality or experience. I think it is learnable though. I feel it is part of my professionalism to not act and react as I would, were I an employee. I build strong and useful connections and relationships with the people I work with at clients. That typically happens quite quickly. I don't keep people at arm's length. And I think anyone I've worked with would consider me pretty invested until the point I leave. But I also don't buy in. Not to the client's big thing, even when I believe in the idea. I fundamentally am an outsider doing work with insiders.

Maybe this relates to the fact that I'm deeply invested in the work I'm doing. Some of which is client work for these clients. Some of it is building my business, working on my professional skills and what I can offer. In the end I know our journeys will diverge.

Some of this has been prompted by useful questions from my team. "How do we engage with this? How deep do we go? What should our level of investment be?" They have to determine this for themselves, I offer some guidance but whatever you choose has to be true to yourself. In another venture there are questions about how to handle the nuances of new people on the team and working with people who behave poorly.

My reactions to bringing in a bad egg is very different if I'm employed or if I'm a consultant. As an employee that is a threat to a good worklife environment and as a consultant it is a situation to observe, potentially offer advice on and note as a problem if it becomes one.

Similarly it was put in stark light as a client discussed bringing in in-house talent to replace most of what I do. It struck me that this would probably make many people concerned but my impulse was to help the process. It is not my purpose to be a lifelong presence at my clients. It is my purpose there to do a good job at what they need for a time.

It is not only a professional veneer, choking back the tears as we talk about my replacement. I honestly don't mind. If I thought it was a bad move I'd advice against it and enumerate the reasons why. If it makes sense I'm happy to get out of the way.

For some contracting work it is essentially, purposefully and practically, employment and at that point this all goes out the window of course. Then you should protect your environment, you should fight for yourself to whatever extent you can. That's not what I do.

I don't think I could maintain this loose coupling if I didn't have strong investment in the bigger picture. I'm building a business to create the best professional life I can imagine. I'm building a life with my family to create the best life I can imagine. That's where I'm fundamentally invested.

How invested are you in what you do? What's your typ of engagement? Let me know at lars@underjord.io or on Twitter where I'm @lawik.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreciate it.

- Lars Wikman