for me it was the other way around. i founded a company right after my studies. then again. always up to an average size of 25 or 40 employees. then i found it

for me it was the other way around. i founded a company right after my studies. then again. always up to an average size of 25 or 40 employees. then i found it simply too exhausting to have to discuss with my co-founders or investors. high school politics sums it up quite well. maybe we were all too young (under 30). in any case, halfway through my professional life, i was more committed to a freelance career. either leading small teams where you have a direct impact. or just being a mentor, giving tips, and then leaving the responsibility to the others. everything in between, having responsibility but not being able to do it yourself because the constraints are not in your own area, i realized, i can't handle. and freelance you have the possibility to do something solo / indie on the side, also build something with recurring revenue. but very very good question. thanks for the thread. i always and regularly ask myself if i did the right thing. i always flirt with management positions when i think of the prestige. (almost more than the salaries). but then i remember that it was a conscious decision. good books i can recommend: So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World ... The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living ... (I really learned through this to make values-based decisions)