I think just saying "do X or Y" doesn't properly acknowledge people will walk different paths. If you have an idea you are passionate about (like the OP) and t

I think just saying "do X or Y" doesn't properly acknowledge people will walk different paths. If you have an idea you are passionate about (like the OP) and think you can make a living off of it, you only get one life, you might as well take the plunge. If you can't, and you want the freedom of contracting, go for that. If you want to work in a team on one project for years under direct supervision (because let us be honest, not everyone is a self-motivated workaholic) that is fine too. More important is that people realize options exist, and that while your parents and grandparents might have been 9-5'ers who hated their jobs but did it due to a lack of marketable skills to attract revenue in a different way, the immense communication potential of the Internet lets you get a much larger audience for your talents to find yourself a niche with you in charge.