Greetings to you all!
I will come out right now and admit that I have dipped my toe into full-time drone work, found the water very chilly indeed and had to back out into "normal" full-time employment,
But...and it is a HUGE but... in doing this (taking the full-time job) I took the pressure off myself and the result is that the drone related work (I still have my company) is doing better than ever!
Some of this is timing. I am UK based and before I got the proper job I had applied for a CAA exemption by writing an in depth Operating Safety Case. Having achieved this within my first year I have been able to start a side-line advising others on how to do the same. On top of this I have been able to fly jobs for pilots who don't yet have the special exemptions. For our non-UK brethren, the exemptions allow you to fly closer than normal to things outside your control, people, vehicles, structures etc.
On top of this I have, by necessity, found a niche that allows me to choose pretty much when I fly and leverages others to do my selling for me. This is a work in progress which I expect to pick up as the weather improves so fingers crossed.
So what changed my business when I started working full-time? Well, the worry went away and my mind opened to different possibilities. I'm now moving in directions and making contacts I never thought possible when I was at it full-time. With luck, the drone business will continue to develop (I have a very supportive wife!) and provide a bit more than a hobby income. Hell, if it pays for a holiday a year and an I2 I think I'll be happy!
Good luck to everybody with their endeavours. It is a great industry and a fantastic time to be involved.
I will come out right now and admit that I have dipped my toe into full-time drone work, found the water very chilly indeed and had to back out into "normal" full-time employment,
But...and it is a HUGE but... in doing this (taking the full-time job) I took the pressure off myself and the result is that the drone related work (I still have my company) is doing better than ever!
Some of this is timing. I am UK based and before I got the proper job I had applied for a CAA exemption by writing an in depth Operating Safety Case. Having achieved this within my first year I have been able to start a side-line advising others on how to do the same. On top of this I have been able to fly jobs for pilots who don't yet have the special exemptions. For our non-UK brethren, the exemptions allow you to fly closer than normal to things outside your control, people, vehicles, structures etc.
On top of this I have, by necessity, found a niche that allows me to choose pretty much when I fly and leverages others to do my selling for me. This is a work in progress which I expect to pick up as the weather improves so fingers crossed.
So what changed my business when I started working full-time? Well, the worry went away and my mind opened to different possibilities. I'm now moving in directions and making contacts I never thought possible when I was at it full-time. With luck, the drone business will continue to develop (I have a very supportive wife!) and provide a bit more than a hobby income. Hell, if it pays for a holiday a year and an I2 I think I'll be happy!
Good luck to everybody with their endeavours. It is a great industry and a fantastic time to be involved.
