When an independent consultant works for an hourly rate, it is usually a pretty simple arrangement.  The type of relationship is defined (i.e. W2 employee, or 1099 independent contractor) in writing and then both parties sign it.

The particulars include the standard hourly rate, weekly hours cap if any, and how overtime work shall be billed (whether time and a half, straight time, etc…).  And the type of relationship carries with it implications for obligation and taxation.  W2 means that the worker is an employee, and that the employer is required to pay employment taxes on that person.  Whereas 1099 means that the worker is an independent contractor, and merely provides a service in exchange for the agreed-upon pay schema.

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INTRODUCTION
These are tough economic times in the US and around the world, no doubt. Credit has dried up. Spending has diminished in every area. An automobile dealer said on the radio that new car sales in the US are down 40% this year.

Cascade effect…

• People don’t buy cars (maybe they can’t get credit, or concentrate on paying mortgage)…
• dealers don’t order cars…
• auto makers don’t make cars…
• new parts manufacturers don’t get orders from the car makers…
• auto makers ask for bailouts…
• you and I have bills to pay and might still need a job.

This reference to the auto industry is merely an example of just about everything else everywhere.  When money gets tight, employers scale down their workforces.  This means IT jobs and Internet Jobs.

Well, rest assured that I can relate. This IT professional has experienced many gaps in his income; the most recent since mid-November 2008.

However, there are ways to mitigate the risks.  And, having recently re-established my working status, I am here to encourage you.

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Recently a friend of mine, Kris, responded to a job posting online for The Money Store by submitting her resume. The HR person called her and left a message. Then Kris called back and spoke with her to set up an interview. During the interview, they gave her an overview of the company while getting acquainted. And unbeknownst to her, they checked her references at the same time. By the end of the interview, they made her an offer. She accepted. Now she works there and enjoys it.

But how many companies are that serious about grabbing good talent when they want it? And how many others are A-OK with wasting time and energy and money going though recruiting activities – as well as the time of the candidates’?
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Last Thursday night I had the privilege of hearing a pioneer in nanotechnology speak at the University of Texas at Dallas, sponsored by the UTD Entrepreneur’s Club.  James Von Ehr, after a stint as an engineer at Texas Instruments, traded a stable work life in the bureaucratic corporate world for one in entrepreneurism.

Now one of James’ claim to fame is that he has invested more of his personal money into nanotechnology than any other individual in the world. The audience responded with chuckles to his “I’m not sure whether that’s good or bad.”  His nanotechnology research company is Zyvex Group.

As an aside, for those of you to whom “nanotechnology” is new, “nano” means really tiny.  Nanotechnology is all about manually moving  parts of atoms around in order to change them into different atoms; like converting hydrogen into water and oxygen, or maybe a little more excitingly someday, sand into sugar or coal into diamonds.  More specifically, while there are chemical processes already to perform “atomic conversions” such as refining sugars and petrochemicals, nanotechnology is different in that the subatomic changes are actually performed by tiny machines.  Machines so itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny that they can’t be seen by the naked eye or even with a magnifying glass.  Real, literal machines.  Nanotechnology.

But before we join James where he is, let’s take a look at where he came from…
Continue To Read More About James Von Ehr and Nanotechnology