[jqpabc123]

I’d rather just put in my 40 hours as an individual contributor and then have the remainder of my time to do whatever I need/want.

If you think like a corporate slave, that is what you will always be --- looking forward to the next layoff.

One of my neighbors runs a landscape business --- no college dregree. He has 8 crews and a manager. I'll bet he makes more than you and spends less time doing it.

He works about 3 hours a day --- which mostly involves riding around to make sure the work is getting done as he talks to clients on phone.

[jcpst]

Ok. Am I supposed to feel bad now?

It’s fine if you’re neighbor makes more than me. I bet I have other neighbors that make more than me too.

I bet your neighbor didn’t just decide to own a landscaping business and went straight to his 3 hour days with 8 crews.

Guess what- I worked for myself for 7 years. I had some good times.

I like my “corporate slave” job better. I work when I want and where I want. It doesn’t even have to be 40hrs.

I don’t really deal with customers or deadlines, or making sure other people do their job.

I’m not worried about layoffs. And I’m not wishing for one so I can escape. My boss is the shit. The people high up know me by reputation. They don’t want to lose me. They know I could easily be working for a competitor.

So, what else is wrong with me preferring an employer over working for myself?

[the_only_law]

> One of my neighbors runs a landscape business --- no college dregree. He has 8 crews and a manager. I'll bet he makes more than you and spends less time doing it.

I’m really curious how this works, there’s dozens of existing landscaping business near me already established with connections and business relationships who do pretty well. How do you get into such a saturated market?

[jqpabc123]

How do you get into such a saturated market?

The same way you get into a market saturated with college degrees.

My neighbor started doing yard work as a teenager in his neighborhood. I'm sure he was initially cheaper than the competition --- just like kids coming out of college.

He was making money for years while his college bound friends were saddling themselves with debt. With some hard work and personal initiative, he gradually moved up and now he no longer does "yard work" --- he hires others to do the work for him.