4 ms·
Ask HN: If you could work for yourself, would you work for yourself?
Assuming you could learn all of skills required and get enough client work to earn a comfortable salary, would you work for yourself?
Put another way, outside of the logistics and skills required to work for yourself, do the positives outweigh the negatives? I see the benefits here as autonomy & freedom while the negatives are isolation & reduced impact. Maybe you see those differently?
- ryanmercer 6y ago>and get enough client work That assumes everyone here is doing some sort of IT/CS type stuff. Many of us aren't. If I had a liquid net worth between 600k and 1,000,000 USD (sadly, making a little over $17 an hour after 15 years on the job, that's never happening) I could retire. I would then retire and start working for myself. I'd create more YouTube content, I'd write more, I'd get more done on our half acre, I'd try and find 2-10 acres nearby that I could afford and get to within 15 minutes and start some pretty serious permaculture, etc.
- he11ow 6y agoI've made this move and couldn't be happier. I can see how being your own boss is not for everyone, especially when it comes to putting yourself out there to get business. It's not just (or even mainly) about skill, and more of a mindset. There are some tool and tactics you can master, but none of them will help without the courage to actually do the work in practice. I've not found the negatives you mention to hold true (in my case). If anything, I find it's easier to make an impact when you're not spending your days getting permission.
- peruvian 6y agoI don't think it's or me. I'm the kind of person that doesn't mind going to the office and having work thrown at me. Being in charge of finding clients and work to do would stress me out.
- the_only_law 6y agoYeah I would. I’d love to get a little more control over my own life > while the negatives are isolation & reduced impact. Not like I have any meaningful socialization or impact now, working for other people so I still consider it worth it.
- FAANG_dream 6y agoDepends on the type of person you are. If you are ambitious, then why not? But if the upside is capped in any way, then I see no harm in doing regular jobs. It's not just about money, there is safety, perks, social aspect etc.
- metaljr 6y agoI'm already working for myself for past 7 years. It worked out well for me so far in my perception. But I made lots of sacrifices.
- eecks 6y agoYes, 100%
- adkadskhj 6y agoI've worked from home for ~8 years now, and i'd work for myself no problem - if not for one thing. Lack of stability. If i could have stability i'd do it no problem - i don't mind the isolation. Granted, i still have a social circle at work - even though it's remote work, i don't think i'd mind finding another social circle. I just don't want a "work for myself" lifestyle that's client to client. Unpredictable, variable, etc. I want to know (as best i can) what my next 12 months will be. The possibility of a dry spell of clients would keep me up at night.
- dave_sid 6y agoYes but I’d have to be quite strict with myself so give regular status updates to myself. Also would be wary that I would end up micromanaging myself.
- probinso 6y agoyes, but without a universal health care in my country I do not see it as realistic. Too many people in my family have had health problems. There is no sufficient safety net to support innovation in America. The idea that even healthcare being passed could be thrown out as soon as there is a leadership change, means that this would need to sustain itself through a racing change prior to me seeing it as realistic. I could see finishing out a political term, if these laws were passed sufficiently early