I’m feeling much better since last week’s fever situation. Special thanks to those of you who reached out with well-wishing.

I’ve also released a new video that I’m excited about. It is about why more companies should probably be self-hosting. So it covers the current EU situation, GDPR, Schrems II and is a collaboration with the swedish data centre provider GleSYS. Fun project and that’s just the first video of the ones we have planned. Next one should be about setting up Plausible Analytics.

It has been great to get ongoing interest by Elixir developers in Sweden and the US for the positions I have posted. If you are looking to work in Elixir or considering a job change, go to Underjord.io and go to Jobs in the menu to read about what I have. These companies support my work and the exchange seems to be working for both parties.

If you think your  company would benefit from my help in finding Elixir developers, do reach out. More details here.

Are you still that?

My goal with Underjord was very solo. Very indie. A Company of One type deal where I did all the execution.

Right now I am not that. I started there but I have 5 employees that also do code work. One is on a long-term contract at another company but the 4 remaining are every bit my employees. And they contract out to do software development to my clients and I lead them in those efforts.

I run a consultancy now.

This was never the plan. That’s not to say it is bad, a misstep or that I’m unhappy with it. It was just not a plan I had. It even conflicts with some of that Company of One ethos I resonated so much with.

It turns out that for the right people I’m willing to put my weight behind  them in a particular way. And if you want to put your weight behind someone, that means shifting your weight, moving and changing the situation. I have a team now. And that’s great.

The important thing is to recognize that I’ve made a change. Change is a constant as they say. I’ve been pretty good at adapting to change but this has felt a bit bigger. It means an expansion of what Underjord is and means. It means some degree of collaboration which means easing my grip on what the company is and means to me. Not in any big ways. Mostly in an emotional and important way.

Claiming I’m still a solo with these great people I employ around me would be false. Dishonest with myself and my surroundings. So we update the self, recognize what and where we are and take on that particular challenge in the same way we tackle other challenges.

The process of actually acknowledging this change will be gradual and mostly things will be the same. What I look forward to is introducing you all to these people with time. And building something that is more, with them.

What would you like to see, hear or ask of 4 junior software developers who got their first professional experience doing Elixir?

You can reach me at lars@underjord.io or on Twitter where I'm @lawik.

I appreciate you reading this. Thank you for your attention.

- Lars Wikman