From 2008 to 2011, I was a designer and builder of custom bicycle frames. I was a one-man shop and so had a wide range of responsibilities. My focus was on high end everyday commuters, and I built frames both on a made-to-order and short run production basis.
I built and ran a small machine and welding shop, teaching myself machine tool maintenance and repair in the process. I managed my own accounting, designed my own website, shot all my own studio photography, and did much of my own graphic design.
As one would expect, my self employment remains a fond period of my life and career, and was a formative experience in many ways. In particular, it taught me about my own limitations - in craft, business, and self management alike.
My business' flickr page remains a document to this period of my career.