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Comment by adam_arthur | Hacker News Reader

It's a nice lie to tell yourself, at least.

Unless you are independently wealthy, you are beholden to your employers. Sure, you can always jump ship and find another job, but whatever you end up in you will ultimately have to do work you don't enjoy from time to time, or play politics to keep everybody happy... or deal with a coworker you don't like.

Certainly you could try to operate that way in a traditional job, but you would quickly be fired.

If you were truly your own boss you would have 100% discretion in everything you do, have 100% autonomy to make design decision, technology decisions etc.

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> but whatever you end up in you will ultimately have to do work you don't enjoy from time to time, or play politics to keep everybody happy... or deal with a coworker you don't like.

This also applies to you if you're a business owner. Just replace the word "coworker" with "employee" or "customer" (or "partner")

I think the point the person you replied to was trying to make is that you should treat yourself as your own business. Your employer-employee relationship is the same as any other business-business relationship. You're basically selling your time and you should continue to do so for as long as it is beneficial for you.

The difference is that "customer" is usually diversified, while "employee" is usually a completely concentrated dependency.

Of course, there are many (in absolute numbers) exceptions, they are very rare on the "employee" side, and not too common on the "customer" side.

I agree with the sentiment that viewing the relationship that way can be empowering.

It's better to be loyal to yourself and your future prospects rather than those of your employer, particularly in regards to your career.

But it's dishonest to consider yourself your own boss when you are financially beholden to other people.

The ability to walk away with 0 consequence is what gives you power and independence in life. If you still care about some RSU grant that vests at date Y, then you are not a free person, or fully in control of your destiny. If you choose job X because it pays more than job Y, despite being less fulfilling, same story.

You may be happily captive, but captive all the same.

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