How I did it:

• I did a bunch of research on various blogs to see what I needed to take care of. There's a lot that you wouldn't think about up front.
• I took stock of my finances, and figured out what I needed.
• I made sure to apply to some full-time work on the side, as a backup. 
• I set up a resume and a decent professional website, and started hitting former employers and online postings for possibilities.
• Finally caught some low-paying breaks, but I'm getting it done as a freelancer. 
• I'm also working on my first solo venture with a colleague. A lot of the above applies to that, as well.

Lessons & tips:

• Do some research. (But timebox yourself so you don't spend too much time! You could read stuff forever, but you don't need to.)
• Check your finances, and be appropriately pragmatic about what you can afford. It's not always the "right" time fiscally to go solo; it entails more risk and initially less revenue. 
• Be serious about designing your workspace, hours and general lifestyle to give your work the formal space it needs. If you work at home, make sure you have enough chances to get out and socialize in the world, too! 

Resources: FreelanceSwitch is a great resources.

Dec 29, 2009, 10:32AM PST | 1 comment | 1 cheer