It was similar for me compared to some of the rest of your posts. I always had done websites, and such as a part time on the side thing for 8 or so years. Made some nice money, but kept the day job.
Things changed at the first telco I had worked for, and after 6 years, took a management job to get out of the grind from union excitement. Not only as an employee, but as a steward. If you've ever been in a union office.. sheesh.
Management wasn't much better. It became a series of bend over's for 'take one for the team'. Two years of that, and a company wide freeze of 'freezes' on transfers, and I decided to leave. I figured I'd just go back to school, get another degree, and enjoy a few years back with college hunnies.
But,.. in a turn of events, another telco saw my resume floating around. Wanted me to work for them. Toldl them I was going back to school in the fall, but they insisted I meet them for an interview. So I went in half assed. They wanted me to work for them, but I really did not want to be in the grind anymore. So they asked, 'name your price'. I thought I priced myself too high for them, but they met it. Started work two weeks later.
Two years of that, and they started to turn into the same telco madness I had just left. So it was decision time.. I had already worked for the two big player telco's in the state. So working for another would have been a lot of grief, and a company I did not believe in. Or, back to school. Or,.. self employment.
I took the ladder. In hindsight, I should have saved 6 months worth of money, but only had 3 months worth. Oh well. Anyways, when time came, boss pushed too hard on some trivial issue, made the choice.
Not everything was smooth first 6 months of my grand plan in adult, but managed to get there in 8 months. A lot of little mistakes here and there, but nothing catastrophic. All is good now. Luckily I had truck paid off. Business partner in production company's my landlord, so no worry about falling behind in rent. All worked it's self out. Things are good now.
Most of my friend's were suprised I went out on my own, mainly because of the money I was making at the 9-5. For a while they were calling me brass balls- lol. Guess because i had the nerve and belief to hang them out there and take a chance.
For those who've taken the step off the cliff, and survived. Rawk on my brohtas and sistas..
