Day: August 7, 2011

Given the inherent risks of a virtual or remote employment scheme, it's pretty much standard practice to try someone out via contract work, then if they produce good results to offer them ongoing work – either part time, which allows them to continue contracting, or full time.

In the case of "buying out" an online contractor from somewhere like oDesk.com, freelancer.com, etc, the worker agrees to terminate their account when signing the employment agreement. 

It's actually fairly common – if you can find someone who does decent work on time consistently for a fraction of the cost of a local worker, it makes great sense to both give THEM steady reliable work, as well as lock them down enough to make sure you're their only pending deadline.

What are the best resources for finding remote or virtual jobs?

In simplest terms, staying home.

California, and especially the San Francisco Bay Area, are replete with nice clean sandy beaches. Anything within a couple hours of your house makes lodgings effectively free, and nullifies the need for airfare.

With the money saved, you can fill in a lot of the "key remembrances" of a more exotic destination by significantly upping your dining destinations, incorporating a spa visit or three, and/or chartering transport to take you from place to place on your "staycation".

Also, being able to take a few days off, break your routine, and see your city as an outsider, or at least with somewhat fresh eyes, can be invaluable to feeling greater satisfaction and connection with where you live and work. In a sense, it's a vacation you can rave about at work, that any of your coworkers can do themselves!

What are the cheapest beach destinations for vacations, taking into account both lodging and airfare from California?

Honestly, unless you're down with – and have the looks for – outright prostitution, then the closest thing you're likely to manage is the equivalent-paying full time line job, where your focus is mostly on deliverables that you can in whole or in part outsource.

That way, you can at least "free up time", which you can spend secretly working on your startup from the dayjob office.

The problem with your skillsets would be ramping up a steady stream of freelance business that replicates a part time job at exactly the level of hours you wish to work. Realistically, jobs will come in bursts, at least at first, so you'll often find yourself fighting the urge to get them done and out of the way, versus honoring "regular startup time investment".

I wish you luck, and if you do find a really creative solution, let me know! I'm down to searching the couches for change…

What are best part-time jobs to earn living money while working on developing a start-up?

Without any further clarification, 100% chance of tsunami, given a large enough earthquake, placed perfectly off the coast at the right depth.

What is the risk of a tsunami in the Bay Area, assuming a large earthquake?

Two likely cases, assuming I'm the one not saying "hi":

• I forgot your name, and given the relative familiarity we should have, it's just too awkward in context for me to approach you without revealing that I forgot… I suck that way!
• I'm looking at you, thinking about my little girl's stomach flu, or my 2.5 year unsuccessful job search, or the hole in my roof[*], and I'm just not seeing you're there. I know, our eyes are locked, but I'm not looking at you – more like through you, but so much so I don't even perceive that there's a person there. This happens quite a bit, and not just to me.

Anyway, the best way in either situation is to do an authentic "double take", then rush me like we're old friends. Just assume I've forgotten who you are, and give me your name – not in a condescending way, but with the humility of someone who really thinks they aren't memorable, but who are clearly so awesome it can't possibly be true. I, as well as any bystanders, will be truly impressed with you.

Keep in mind, I may be with someone, or preoccupied with other thoughts – but executed correctly, this type of interruption will be more "palate cleanser" than "disturbance", and a great first step towards seeding another plan together, when we both have more time.

[* No, really: How can I stop a roof leak? ]

If someone who knows me doesn't say hi to me, does it mean that they don't like me?