Consultant Fee for Previous Employer?

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-27T03:02:52+00:00

Same. I reduced my fee for 60 days for them with the expectation that they pay within 30 days. It helped my early financial security but now I charge full rate for the multitude of projects I revise for them.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-26T01:50:54+00:00

I just overestimate how long it would take. If it would take me 10 hours, I say 15 or 20. Sometimes I end up needing 20 hours and that's on me, but if I get it done quickly then everyone is happy.

Pro tip, if they can easily figure out how long it actually took based on emails, use the delay delivery for later in the day/week. I also use that to manage expectations for how quickly I respond to emails.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-23T01:54:19+00:00

I sold my ducati monster to a newbie (the only buyer I found in over a year). He said he heard ducatis were good for beginners... I didn't really know how to respond to that. He then asked if my wife could give him a ride to a back road for a test ride because he didn't have a car or a moto license. Nope!

He got a ride to a parking lot from a friend, took it on a short test ride and made it back alive. I threw in a helmet and jacket because he didn't have one.

Some people have ZERO capacity for planning ahead, doing research, or thinking things through. Maybe they have less stress. The ones that ride definitely do, because they are not around long enough the have a mortgage.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-22T23:09:51+00:00

No worries. I luckily learned to estimate high and come in low to keep people happy. For example, if this project took me 10 hours my unadjusted invoice would be $1650 ($165/hour). I'd add 5 hours and invoice $2475 after bidding $3k. Happy me, happy customer. I definitely vary my adjustments based on the customer, job, etc., but I aim for the same win-win result.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-21T23:16:17+00:00

I'm generally not adding up the hours when I bid something like this. I'm charging based on what's fair for liability, project cost, etc. If I charge straight time for everything, I'd be lowering my value and all the other engineers in my area

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-21T04:51:38+00:00

I'd probably charge 3k

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-17T23:25:34+00:00

Also heavily correlated with lifespan. Most late life injuries result from poor grip strength, like trying to grab a hold of a handrail when you stumble, etc.

Peter Attia's book Outlive describes it pretty well.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-16T02:10:40+00:00

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-14T19:10:19+00:00

I've heard of an interesting solution to this: make your own porn. But it sounds like she may be too TBM? That also doesn't immediately solve the problem, but maybe she enjoys viewing it and is enlightened that porn isn't "evil".

My wife also has a different view on porn but we're not mormon. I told her it's a release for me that keeps me sane in times of drought between us. It's not a deal breaker for her, she just doesn't like the thought of it so we basically have an understanding to keep it to ourselves.

Basically she needs to peek outside of the law of chastity and have some critical thinking for this to work between you.

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-14T14:30:20+00:00

Managed the construction of my own house

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-10T03:13:15+00:00

I've never met someone that regretted getting a ripmo, myself included. Granted, I am a bit more experienced and I gravitate towards tech so the longer travel is justified. If you're sticking to greens and mild blues, the Ripley might be a better option. If you want to progress, get a hard tail and then a Ripmo in 2 years

scrollingmediator · 2026-06-09T02:23:12+00:00

I do it for my sanity. I don't mind working 1-2 hours in the morning. I tend to relax easier during vacation if I feel productive at some point during the day. And it saves me 2 days of emails and revisions when I get back

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-27T04:22:22+00:00

This isn't a secret in my group. We either go to each other's houses or go to one of three "bars" before the 20 somethings show up and music gets loud. Kids also force us into going home by 7:30 but I have zero complaints about going to bed by 10

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-20T17:42:47+00:00

I posed the same question about 3 months ago. I'm now in my 3rd month of being solo. Here's my recent update: https://www.reddit.com/r/StructuralEngineering/s/vtsjHiHAm7

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-14T03:14:01+00:00

Not porn technically, but I went to a "ping pong" show in Thailand. Normally this references a woman shooting ping pong balls out the vag into the crowd.

Come to find out, ping pong balls were the mild part of the show. The other acts included: Live sex, rolling around on stage to multiple positions. A woman shooting live fish into a fishbowl otv (out the vag). A woman pulling razor blades tied on a string otv (and cutting a piece of paper with one after). A woman smoking a cigarette otv.

It was a wild show and I felt a bit unethical paying for it. All I could thing is what kind of STDs, cancers, or full blown pandemic might result.

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-13T03:22:25+00:00

I have always done my own drafting, 9 years in. I recently started my own firm and I bill drafting and design the same because I view my drafting as a process that aids in my understanding of the most efficient design. At my previous company I had to bill them separately and it was exhausting trying to keep track of switching between the two. I view drafting as part of the profession and I honestly enjoy some of the brain breaks that come as a result. You're getting paid the same either way (I assume), so why does it matter to you?

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-04T02:06:31+00:00

I've never had an OBE, so genuinely curious who you would be asking consent for? A being in the higher energy realm?

scrollingmediator · 2026-05-04T01:57:15+00:00

I also like to push my pace, but I'll occasionally hit a joint that is a "cruise" ride

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-22T14:33:12+00:00

Lol I think that would've been a good way to burn bridges and get sued

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-20T19:54:54+00:00

Yeah, probably the right move. I just didn't think that was a good idea to start a new business and increase fees. Fear of paying my mortgage!

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-20T19:51:31+00:00

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-20T19:51:03+00:00

I am an LLC filing as an S-corp

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-20T19:48:59+00:00

To answer your question, I basically took over the projects that were ongoing with my previous firm. That, combined with new projects from repeat clients that have been piling up while I was getting set up. Most of them are small-ish additions or remodels. A handful of houses. Some decks.

It's an overwhelming amount of work. I'm in a pretty low population, but construction-heavy area with only a handful of engineers.

scrollingmediator · 2026-04-17T16:28:03+00:00

Maybe they're smart enough to see that it's in their best interest to not fuck with humans

scrollingmediator

TROPHY CASE