Tim Dietrich - Lessons Learned from Decades of Surfing Tech Waves
(NOTE: this ep was recorded in October 2025, but I didn't get around to publishing it until March 2026. It was WILD listening to the AI portions of the conversation five months later - post OpenClaw.)
Old friend and self-described “workaholic” developer Tim Dietrich joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his journey from FileMaker freelancer to the undisputed SuiteQL expert in the NetSuite ecosystem — a niche so specific that the platform itself became his marketing engine.
We also dig into what happens when AI comes for your platform and how to think about the next wave.
Chapters
Old friend and self-described “workaholic” developer Tim Dietrich joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his journey from FileMaker freelancer to the undisputed SuiteQL expert in the NetSuite ecosystem — a niche so specific that the platform itself became his marketing engine.
We also dig into what happens when AI comes for your platform and how to think about the next wave.
Chapters
- (00:00) - Introduction
- (00:53) - Tim's Background
- (03:02) - Early Career and FileMaker Days
- (06:08) - Transition to NetSuite
- (16:02) - SuiteQL and SQL Integration
- (21:00) - Positioning as SuiteQL Expert
- (30:03) - Managing Demand and Consulting Opportunities
- (34:39) - Current Client Work and Scaling Back
- (36:01) - The Rise of AI in NetSuite
- (50:27) - Comparing to Other Waves and Platforms
- (01:05:37) - Exploring Monetization Strategies
- (01:22:31) - Future Trends and Opportunities
Creators and Guests
Host
Jonathan Stark
The Ditching Hourly Guy • For freelancers, consultants, and other experts who want to make more and work less w/o hiring
