[look 171]

I don't know too much about working for someone (on the payroll) for a long period of time. I have been on my own since about the age of 20 in the construction related industry. After college, I was a high school shop teacher for several years but can't stand the people, some of the teachers and admin. Kids will be kids so that was fine. I don't think I can ever work for someone else again. Its been more then 25 years of driving myself into the ground. There is no boss to bail me out when the crap hits the fan. I am it and I take it in the shorts and make it work somehow. My father was a small business owner, custom jeweler for many years, so lots of that rub off on me, he somehow made it work.

The one other thing is your age. How much longer do you want to chase jobs to the point where you no longer has to chase them. Its really nice to know they are looking for you and that work is lined up so there is no worry about making the buck or payroll. The down side to that is work should never be turned down. Once that happens, news travels fast and some of these folk will not call you again unless you are established. The last question is retirement. Guys who own their business never retire. Smart ones do, dummies like me will never do it. You become selective with who you want to work for and slowly fade away. I have been thinking about retirement for a couple of years. In a few years, I will be 50. I like to work a little less after that, but I am afraid that I do not know how to do that. How much money do you have to invest into this new venture? What if it doesn't work out, do you have an exit plan and go back to work for the big man again and how much longer will that last before you have that feeling to go out and kick everyone's ass again? Age and family is a huge factor IMO.