Put another way, outside of the logistics and skills required to work for yourself, do the positives outweigh the negatives? I see the benefits here as autonomy & freedom while the negatives are isolation & reduced impact. Maybe you see those differently?
That assumes everyone here is doing some sort of IT/CS type stuff. Many of us aren't.
If I had a liquid net worth between 600k and 1,000,000 USD (sadly, making a little over $17 an hour after 15 years on the job, that's never happening) I could retire. I would then retire and start working for myself. I'd create more YouTube content, I'd write more, I'd get more done on our half acre, I'd try and find 2-10 acres nearby that I could afford and get to within 15 minutes and start some pretty serious permaculture, etc.
I can see how being your own boss is not for everyone, especially when it comes to putting yourself out there to get business. It's not just (or even mainly) about skill, and more of a mindset. There are some tool and tactics you can master, but none of them will help without the courage to actually do the work in practice.
I've not found the negatives you mention to hold true (in my case). If anything, I find it's easier to make an impact when you're not spending your days getting permission.
I just don't want a "work for myself" lifestyle that's client to client. Unpredictable, variable, etc. I want to know (as best i can) what my next 12 months will be.
The possibility of a dry spell of clients would keep me up at night.
The idea that even healthcare being passed could be thrown out as soon as there is a leadership change, means that this would need to sustain itself through a racing change prior to me seeing it as realistic.
I could see finishing out a political term, if these laws were passed sufficiently early
> while the negatives are isolation & reduced impact.
Not like I have any meaningful socialization or impact now, working for other people so I still consider it worth it.