Leaving the business world to start one’s own gig is a hot topic these days.  I read blog posts about it every day, and my friend Pam Slim just sold a new book about it.  Over lunch a few weeks ago, I asked my good friend Keith Alperin if he’d be willing to tell WCW readers how he launched his new business, Helium Foot Software, and what he’s learned so far.  Here’s what he had to say:

“Before I open a can of introspection on you, first let me introduce you to Helium Foot Software. Our first product, MercuryMover, lets you move and resize windows on your Mac via your keyboard. MercuryMover perfectly embodies our mission of providing software to make your Mac more agile, more powerful and more fun.

My reasons to start Helium Foot are probably not very different from any other entrepreneur. When you get up and go to work every day, you want it to amount to something. As Helium Foot grows, its accomplishments are my accomplishments (and also its failures) and whatever edifice Helium Foot turns out to be, it will be one of my own building. I've worked for a few start ups (and who in the tech business hasn't) and I really longed to have the ownership over my work that really only comes from, well, ownership.

Another aspect of running your own show that really appealed to me was the terms under which you work. The terms are my own. For now that means working during all of my free time and late into the night, but my work fantasy is to be home every afternoon when my children come home from school and we'll all do our homework together around the dining room table. In this fantasy, I also have two fully decked out Mac Book Pros and my children both have ponies.

The most important thing that I've learned is that in order to have your business, you have to start. Period. I thought about striking out on my own for literally years before I actually did it. What I know now is that it takes a lot of time to build your own company. If I had started earlier, I'd be much closer to where I want to be.

I've really enjoyed having my own company. I've learned a ton and, as corny as it sounds, it's very gratifying to build your own enterprise. However, the brass ring is to be able to quit my day job and do this full time.  For now, I have a lot of growing to do.”

Thanks, Keith, and best of luck!