Selling your time for money being self employed is the first step, and dealing with horrible clients is a prerequisite to acquire the experience to learn to cho

Selling your time for money being self employed is the first step, and dealing with horrible clients is a prerequisite to acquire the experience to learn to choose clients and manage their expectations. Like you I had an idealized notion of self-employment, but I pushed through it and don't regret it. It's two sides of the same coin because in the end you work for customers, but at least being self-employed you have to deal with 0 office politics and organization accidental complexity, you carry directly the value to the client with the tools you want, being fully responsible. You have freedom and flexibility because in the end you make the proposition that suits you. But it's definitely not easy at first.