[Hugh R]

I was an environmental, health and safety consultant for many years. Worked for several big firms. At age 47 I found myself looking for another job. Talked to other consulting firms, at the salary I wanted, I was expected to bring in about a million $/year in sales, thus, I'd be a salesman, not a consultant. Opened my own business and got old and new clients, worked about 2200 hour per year billable. Made lots of money, worked 6 or more days/week. No family life, always worried about the next job, didn't want to take on any debt like loans. Kind of hard to feel secure when you have 14 years left on the mortgage and you've got three days of solid billable work booked. Worked that way for three years, then took a job with one of my clients. Don't make as much money (actually its tight with a daughter now in college), but I have my life back. I can go on vacation and actually enjoy it now because I have a job to come back to, not a need to rush back and hussle more work.