Re: FWIW first welding job, 2 years on

"Richard Smith"  wrote in message news:m1bjwx8xsj.fsf@void.com...
They are pleased.
It's a small Company, and the niche of doing detail on components is a
bonus they didn't know they needed but are happy to have.
They are able to squeeze variability given the hints in the info. I
provide - which benefits everything and everybody.
So a niche role so far is having a general benefit.
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I liked the freedom at small companies that allowed me to expand into functions they didn't have. Usually I ended up responsible for all aspects of custom product creation, electrical, mechanical and software, after I had proven able to handle them. Symbolic of those companies was a note for the last one out to please lock the door, the job was interesting enough to work late.
The downside was their high failure rate, at times from lawsuits by less successful competitors. I was un- or underemployed during economic downturns when startups folded and R&D investment dried up. I learned to live very cheaply, cutting firewood for heat, maintaining the house and car and using free antenna rather than expensive cable TV. That's why my Internet access is somewhat limited, right now to 10GB of tethered cellular per month. In those times I was free to scout auctions etc for good deals on orphaned lab test equipment and metal shop machinery.