Those who work for themselves - what do you do?
Discussion
A little idle musing and, less idle being nosey!
Those who have worked/do work for yourself - what is it you do? Did you turn a side hustle into a main job? Was it voluntary? Are you doing physical skills/trades or are you consultancy? Did you follow a dream or was it just something you found you could make a living at?
I compare myself to my brother - he works for himself welding industrial boilers having followed the apprenticeship route. I went a more academic route and ended up in corporate land (sales then project management) after uni. I'd say both have their advantages and disadvantages but I'm interested to hear how people struck out on their own.
Those who have worked/do work for yourself - what is it you do? Did you turn a side hustle into a main job? Was it voluntary? Are you doing physical skills/trades or are you consultancy? Did you follow a dream or was it just something you found you could make a living at?
I compare myself to my brother - he works for himself welding industrial boilers having followed the apprenticeship route. I went a more academic route and ended up in corporate land (sales then project management) after uni. I'd say both have their advantages and disadvantages but I'm interested to hear how people struck out on their own.
21TonyK said:
I was (and still am) self employed most of my life.
Started in IT doing software development, tech and consultancy work. Had a break from IT for a long time before ending up owning restaurants and now a consultant chef specialising in clinical food.
Wow, that's a hell of a switch!Started in IT doing software development, tech and consultancy work. Had a break from IT for a long time before ending up owning restaurants and now a consultant chef specialising in clinical food.
Spent my first 20 years or so of employment in Newcastle working for a motorbike custom paint shop, then Ford, Toyota / Lexus and then a Jaguar Indy when I relocated to Southampton in '98.
Fell back into the building trade ( which is what I initially planned to do when I left school, but what petrolhead can refuse a job with cars or bikes when it's offered ) eventually in 2001, and spent the next decade doing reactive maintenance work for several companies putting right private and commercial properties subject to insurance claims such as flood damage, fire and subsidence. Postcode based, so often found myself driving 100 miles or more in the mornings and evenings for several years.
I went self employed in 2011 and subcontracted doing the same stuff for the same companies for another 5 years until I moved back to Newcastle in 2016, at which point I just focussed on local private domestic work. Which I still do, albeit pretty much as and when I feel like it now. Or when I'm involved in working back in the south, which I currently am.
Fell back into the building trade ( which is what I initially planned to do when I left school, but what petrolhead can refuse a job with cars or bikes when it's offered ) eventually in 2001, and spent the next decade doing reactive maintenance work for several companies putting right private and commercial properties subject to insurance claims such as flood damage, fire and subsidence. Postcode based, so often found myself driving 100 miles or more in the mornings and evenings for several years.
I went self employed in 2011 and subcontracted doing the same stuff for the same companies for another 5 years until I moved back to Newcastle in 2016, at which point I just focussed on local private domestic work. Which I still do, albeit pretty much as and when I feel like it now. Or when I'm involved in working back in the south, which I currently am.
Mid twenties, working for someone else who had ulterior motive for who they ran the business, The were slowly paying themselves hefty amounts and buying lots of stock. I could see it wasn't going to work longterm so begin putting in place quietly but security, options for other stuff and equipment knowing that when they did go into administration I had the ability to outbid them on their stock.
Knew more, ran it better, Made it a success.
Knew more, ran it better, Made it a success.
Workplace stress reduction (mindfulness, work-life balance and related activities). Started off in corporate (IT, web dev and then marketing) but have always been interested in activities such as mindfulness since the 1980s. Then got training and started offering it as a service to private individuals and corporates.
I think the best way of starting a business is to do it maybe one day or evening a week and slowly grow from there; obviously not always possible to do this without making a massive jump eg if you are an accountant and want to run a florist in a local high street, you'll have to quit your job.
I think the best way of starting a business is to do it maybe one day or evening a week and slowly grow from there; obviously not always possible to do this without making a massive jump eg if you are an accountant and want to run a florist in a local high street, you'll have to quit your job.
Always followed my dreams, lots of hard work and fun along the way too!
After working in my favourite ever job ever, for the best boss I'd had, in the best F1 team I'd worked for we left Italy so our eldest could do their A Levels in the UK
Decided I'd be brave, set up my own company and became a freelance motorsport design engineer
From day one, decided to chase interesting jobs, not money, been very lucky, after 10yrs of working for myself I've never had to find work, only had 3 clients and have a waiting list
Main day job is F1 but have evening side hustles working on Baja 500 unlimited trophy truck, Indy car and IMSA projects
I do engineering consulting, composite design mentoring and hands on designing but my +75hr work week is long
Have the opportunity to switch my Indy car side hustle into my main job which is very appealing
Gives me the chance to chase the dream of achieving the Triple Crown of Motorsport, just need an Indy 500 win to go with my LeMans 24hr wins and Monaco GP wins
After working in my favourite ever job ever, for the best boss I'd had, in the best F1 team I'd worked for we left Italy so our eldest could do their A Levels in the UK
Decided I'd be brave, set up my own company and became a freelance motorsport design engineer
From day one, decided to chase interesting jobs, not money, been very lucky, after 10yrs of working for myself I've never had to find work, only had 3 clients and have a waiting list
Main day job is F1 but have evening side hustles working on Baja 500 unlimited trophy truck, Indy car and IMSA projects
I do engineering consulting, composite design mentoring and hands on designing but my +75hr work week is long
Have the opportunity to switch my Indy car side hustle into my main job which is very appealing
Gives me the chance to chase the dream of achieving the Triple Crown of Motorsport, just need an Indy 500 win to go with my LeMans 24hr wins and Monaco GP wins
crofty1984 said:
21TonyK said:
I was (and still am) self employed most of my life.
Started in IT doing software development, tech and consultancy work. Had a break from IT for a long time before ending up owning restaurants and now a consultant chef specialising in clinical food.
Wow, that's a hell of a switch!Started in IT doing software development, tech and consultancy work. Had a break from IT for a long time before ending up owning restaurants and now a consultant chef specialising in clinical food.
Then bought a restaurant which grew so sold that on having got involved in clinical stuff via my wifes work. Ended up more and more on that side of things working for one of the big names in private care until last year when I hit 55.
Somewhere in that mix I also owned a dating agency, was a teacher and ran the catering for a group of schools.
Those are just the highlights!
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