How Much of a Paycut Would You Take To Be Able To Work For Yourself?

[Anonymous]

If you could make 50, 60, 75% of your income and work for yourself, would you do it just to have the autonomy?

[Anonymous]

I'm completely risk-adverse and thrive on external constraints, so you'd have to pay me way MORE to work for myself. And I still probably wouldn't do it, as I'm a wuss. I am a worker bee.

[Anonymous]

I am with PP -- I absolutely do not want to work for myself. My dad has his own business (repair shop) and that really impressed upon me the lack of sick time, vacation time, security, etc. Yes, you have the autonomy to take off whenever you want ... except that you don't make any money during that time. I also have never wanted to be my own general manager, admin person, strategic visionary, marketer, retirement investor, etc. in addition to "producing" whatever my business did.

But, I have a friend who lives [frugally] off passive income generated by advertisements on websites she created. That passive income supports her basic needs, so she can afford to pursue whatever semi-profitable business ideas take her fancy ... or to do nothing at all for a while. That appeals to me, I just lack the creativity to come up with a similar model for myself.

[Anonymous]

More stress and less money? No Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Nope.

[Anonymous]

Not interested.

[Anonymous]

Did it but went back to corporate jungle. Couldn't take worrying about down time.

[Anonymous]

Most people on this board are not smart enough to work for themselves. They are too highly educated which means they lack creavitity, and they cannot function without being spoon fed. Also, many have the need for external approval and recognition. So go ask on another board.

[Anonymous]

I'd do it.

My threshold isn't so much a percentage, but availability/affordability of insurance and keeping a roof over our heads.

[Anonymous]

Actually I'd need to make MORE not less. Taxes are higher to work for yourself.

[Anonymous]

I work for myself - it's been great while my kids are little. I freelance, so there are pluses and minuses. I earn more than I did at the job I resigned from (teacher - so it didn't take much!)

[Anonymous]

I like the "idea", but friends who do this often return to employee status somewhere due to the isolation. Also they say there is a real need to make more, not less, because of taxes, benefits, general increase in risk that you won't get paid some months.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it because I'm highly educated so I lack creativity or whatever that dope said.

Mmmm. Stay where I am or take less pay and more uncertainty? It seems like you'd really have to hate your office/commute.

[Anonymous]

Been working for myself for 24 years. You couldn't pay me enough to work for someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm completely risk-adverse and thrive on external constraints, so you'd have to pay me way MORE to work for myself. And I still probably wouldn't do it, as I'm a wuss. I am a worker bee.

+1