At the end of last year I decided to take 2013 off and explore. Now that we’re deep into the fourth quarter, I’ve decided it’s time for me get back to work.
While I enjoyed having some free time, I also found what I’ve always suspected is true: I need to work. In fact, I’ve decided that I will never retire. The thought of endless free time without something meaningful and truthfully a little difficult to fill my day is depressing. I’m at my best — in Flow — when I’m solving a hard problem, and it’s especially rewarding to do it as part of a motivated team.
Here’s what I’m looking for. I will look at other opportunities but these are the sweet spots for me.
- Senior technology leadership role – CTO, VP Engineering etc
- Small company of 5-10 employees. I will also consider a “startup” within a larger company.
- Business to business web or mobile
- Strategic influence – not “my way or the highway” but I don’t like to just code for money. I have a lot of experience in company building and want to make contributions at the macro level.
In terms of raw developer skills, I’ve written a lot of Ruby, PHP, CSS, HTML, MySQL and Javascript/jQuery. I’m quick to learn new technologies and enjoy the process. My softer skills include sales, marketing, public speaking, writing, mentoring and business development.
A note on compensation: I have a number in mind, but I’m very flexible. For the right opportunity I will even invest money in addition to time.
Also, I like to do trial periods to make sure we mesh well together. This could be as simple as spending some time whiteboarding ideas, or it could be something more formal like a trial project. Like you, I’m looking for a great fit that enhances our respective strengths, not just a paycheck.
So if you or someone you know might have a need for these skills on your team, shoot me an email at me@derekscruggs.com