A site of some guy called Steve Palina aparently got very rich. What do you think about his arguments on his site: http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2006/07/10-reasons-you-should-never-get-a-job/
I absolutely love this site and this article is the one that got me reading it in the first place. To me it makes absolute sense to be self-employed and make one's own money - that's what I'm working towards. That said I recognise that some people do want to have a career structure and may enjoy the job they have - some jobs are definately not about the money - just look at nursing! People do it because they genuinely care. Whilst I currently have a day job and love the people I work with it definately isn't conducive to a creative life - not for me anyway. I want to be 'working' on my own projects 24-7 well - having time to eat and sleep anyway
He is a wonderful guy speaking nothing but truth. I have been following him since his blog was just two month old. His articles are real motivator and helps you think out of the box. The article you have linked is great and definately worth a read. Being a self employed is the best gift one can give himself. No one is born to be a puppy dog for someone the rest of his life.
A job == guarenteed income. Stuff I've learned at work has improved my abilities outside of work which has brought in more money. If work is not a learning environment then you need a better job. Working for yourself is a fantastic idea but you need capital to invest. You could borrow money and hope you don't fail, or you could get a job and have the cash in hand to invest in yourself. As your own business takes off you can cut back on your real job without risking going bankrupt. Also, don't kid yourself if you think your own business == freedom. Starting your own business is a huge endeavor that requires more hours than 9-5 and for a lot less return. It can take years before your business starts being self sustaining and you can take your eyes off of it for days at a time. The article sounds like the typical infomercial with the stooge that acts like everything is so much more difficult and terrible than it is.
Kalvin - I understand your point "If work is not a learning environment then you need to get a better job" and also having been self employed I am under no illusions that it will mean I work less. In fact I used to work up around 60 hours a week when I was self-employed. For me it's about satisfaction of creating something of my own that I can then offer out into the world and be paid for it. Being employed in the normal day job sense has never and will never be my 'real' job. I certainly learned the hard way by not making any money and yes getting into debt too - hence now having the day job to get back on my feet and start again. But this time I have my eyes clearly open and a much much better grasp of the world of self-employment. Sure I got stressed about money and I had chosen something with a very limited market but hey - live and learn Self-employment is freedom to me because it is freedom to create - whether that's creating networks of contacts, the business plan or the actual product or service. It's simply the freedom to be myself and create what I want to create. If someone has an employed position that brings them the income they need and the life they love then of course that's great. It's not for me though - and I know for a lot of people it makes them thoroughly miserable. Richierich - I am hugely inspired by Steve Pavlina's blog - I have a lot of catching up to do with all those articles!