The Coba Journal
Field notes
from the workshop floor.
Notes from Coba Digital — what we ship, what we learn, and how we think about the work.
- Posts
- 04
- Latest
- May 6, 2026
- Topics
- 08
- Cadence
- Ongoing
PostWhat a retainer should buy you
Most retainers are subscriptions in disguise — the bill recurs, the output doesn't. Here's what a retainer should commit to instead.
PostWhat 1099 actually looks like
Most people who'd thrive as 1099 partners don't try, because the picture in their head is wrong. Here's what it actually looks like — trade-offs included.
PostThe slide deck is not the work
Most agency engagements ship more decks than working software. Here's why that happens — and what 'shipped' should actually mean.
PostThe W2 Trap
The W2 contract pays you to comply, not to grow. Bureaucracy is its defense. Creativity is its first casualty.