[michaelpinto]

I don't have an answer, but I have questions that may help you get to an answer:

a. If the job only lasted for six months for a year because you hated it, how many of your clients would come back to you?

b. It sounds like money isn't the issue: Honestly if you don't have your health you don't have anything. And if a relationship falls apart you can't fix that like code.

c. How passionate are you about the side businesses? Having the full time job may not stop you from building a passive business on the side. As someone who babysits clients all day long I'd envy that opportunity myself.

d. Forget the money — the people you'll be working with: Are they folks you want to hang out with? Will you learn something? Do you connect with them?

Other thoughts:

a. Even if someone tells you that a job is 9 to 5pm that may not be the case in reality.

b. IMHO 7 years is early in a career: Even if you go back to your own biz you may bring something of the job experience with you

c. Don't be afraid of making a mistake!

[msmyth]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Michaelpinto - you raise some very interesting points.

This really hit me when reading it:

c. Don't be afraid of making a mistake!

For some reason, and I'm sure some people here are the same, I'm petrified that I will make a huge mistake.

Beside that, I have one other fear - I'm not good enough.

Since I've never worked in a company, I've never had the opportunity to compare my methods with other members of a team. I know I'm not the fastest developer out there, but am I the slowest? I don't know!

I suppose I could look at this from the employers point of view too - nothing is final. If I'M the mistake, they can always let me go.

Thanks again everyone. I appreciate your input.

[ayers]

It will only be a mistake if you do not learn anything from it. So I wouldn't even look at your decision as one choice could lead to a huge mistake.