We're all under a bad star right now. There aren't many options, lots of people underemployed and many more completely unemployed. Competition is fierce. I don't have much to say, unfortunately, other than recognizing that it's hard and wishing the best for you.

The old model is in flux. The comfortable employment wage cycle is breaking down.

The most obvious and timeless wisdom is to find those directly who need someone competent to walk them through the business needs of modernizing technology.

1099 or LLC my friend. It’s a bunch of work you may not like doing, up front anyway, once you have a few businesses or individuals whose problems you solve, or convinced to subscribe to your simplifying service things will be like the good old days, only you will have more power in your own process.

Just setting up an AI video security system and walking away is a for instance. Everyone will want that now that it’s so cheap, and offlinable, only few can sit down and get a tolerable interface working for the little guy.

For instance.

Adapt, stop trying to cling to the “old way.”