After I went on my own in 2000 I use one rule: only look for smaller privately owned companies whose core business is not software development and who need some

After I went on my own in 2000 I use one rule: only look for smaller privately owned companies whose core business is not software development and who need some software products to support their business. It takes some skill to find but then if you clicked with the owner you / your tiny company will be spared from usual bullshit like SCRUM, why don't you use this framework / language, what this esoteric language construct means etc. etc. The only thing you will have to prove is that you are successful in delivering products to owners. I already had the reputation when I went on my own and just kept accumulating happy clients and references.