These last few months I’ve been working, and not writing. I’ve been busy launching new sites, helping clients, and finding new opportunities. One such opportunity came in January.
Since starting simpledream web studio I’ve told people often that I’d like to be a freelancer for the rest of my career. I love working from anywhere—in the RV, co-working at Spoke6, in my home office.
That said, I have kept an eye on a few companies I’d love to work for: companies dedicated to open source software, that allow for location-independent employees, and have a great reputation in the industry. Automattic ranked high on that short list. When Matt Mullenweg contacted me about working with Automattic, I jumped at the chance.
I’m proud to announce that they’ve offered me a full-time position, and I’ve accepted it. I feel I’ve found a perfect match with the fine folks driving WordPress.org, WordPress.com, BuddyPress, Gravatar, Akismet, IntenseDebate, PollDaddy, and many other great projects.
Why would I love working for Automattic? It’s a distributed company: I can work from anywhere. They work on exciting, innovative projects. They are a prominent and active member of the open source community, and I want to be involved in that. There’s room for me to learn and grow. My day-to-day schedule won’t change much—I’ll be working a similar schedule and setting my own hours.
I’m stoked about my position as “Theme Wrangler” with Automattic. I’ll be working on web design and development projects, mostly revolving around themes and WordPress.com. I’m sure I’ll also use my Spanish and French skills since people all around the world use Automattic products.
If you want to learn more about Automattic, explore Automattic.com. And if you’re looking for an engaging job with smart people, check out the Jobs page and How We Work.
What’s going to happen to simpledream?
It’s been a great run! Five successful years managing my own business is easily one of my best and most fulfilling accomplishments. I learned, grew, and prospered as a consultant and contractor. The lifestyle I dreamed of—traveling around the US with my wife and working remotely–became a reality. The business, simpledream web studio, enabled that to happen.
I’m closing down the business soon. I’ll be helping to migrate my clients to new companies, passing them on to the capable hands of other web designers and developers.
I’ll be keeping the simpledream name, domain, and site alive as part of my personal brand. I plan to continue posting here about web design and development, web standards, and—of course—cool stuff going on with WordPress themes.
Stay tuned!
The Sensible Leader 
Congratulations Lance, that’s fantastic news!!! I look forward to seeing how things progress with this opportunity.
Cheers,
– Tim
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That’s great news, Lance! Couldn’t happen to a nicer, more talented guy.
Greg
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Congratulations Lance! What a great fit indeed. Automattic will surely benefit greatly from your contributions.
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Congratulations Lance! Good for you, not so good for us folks who have been using Dreamhost for years, though. If you are around, maybe we could get coffee next week and discuss the transition. I have heard good things about WordPress.
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Congratulations! I’ll miss not having my friend as my web guy.
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Congrats! That’s awesome news Lance! Will you still be doing the RV travel lifestyle for a number of months a year or will you be sticking around the Old Pueblo all the time?
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Thanks everyone—I appreciate your words. And thanks for inspiring and encouraging me along the way these last months and years.
@Dan: Your Dreamhost account isn’t tied to me or simpledream at all, so it will continue on ticking as long as you pay your bills. 🙂
@Jonathan: It’s been a pleasure—please stay in touch!
@Geoff: We’ll be continuing to RV but probably fewer months out the year (the hottest, most likely, hehe).
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Awesome news Lance! Good luck with that, you’ll have to keep us up to date on the new gig.
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Lance!! I’m so happy for you. What a coup, man. Does this mean that you two lovely people will stay in one place for awhile?
ooo (hug hug hug)
– your crazy cuz
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@Laura — thanks! We’ll be continuing to RV but probably fewer months out the year.
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Congrats on landing the job as theme wrangler. Must be a great feeling to know you’ve landed a job with a company you truly admire and like.
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@Jeffro — thanks! BTW, I’ve been listening to your podcast for a few months now and love it. Great content, great interviews, and I like how you are a straight-shooter and tell it like it is. 🙂
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It’s been a pleasure working with you. I, too, am moving on, leaving WINGS after 5 years. Good luck in your next endeavor.
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