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Working For Yourself is So Overrated…

Working For Yourself is So Overrated…

By Ian, August 26, 2010

This year alone I have realized many things about myself and my business. I can honestly say that working for yourself is so played out. The reason I say this is because it bothers me that people that I talk too say I am lucky to work from home or have my own business or never working at a job, etc. The problem I have with that statement is – it sucks working form home.

While other entrepreneurs are either married, have a team to work with, or partners that meetup – I work on my own. I wake up go to the gym and then I go to my pc or now office. The interaction I have after the gym sucks. I talk to no one and this is the flaw of working for yourself. I feel that working on your own just creates social anxiety or depression.

image source

I think this is why I travel so much because I miss the social interaction with people. I rather spend my money to travel to conferences and talk to like minded people than talk to my own friends sometimes. I am getting tired of waking up and just going straight to my PC, I need to do something in between.

I even got an office so I feel like I have to go to work. It definitely gets me focus, but again I am talking to no one – I am missing that social interaction. I even got 2 people to work for me, sometimes are unreliable but it still didn’t create the need for interaction.A workplace should be fun, and my house and office isn’t a place where you throw nerf balls around. If I did throw a nerf ball in my house, whom am I throwing it too?

Recently I came across a comic by theOatmeal titled “Why working form home is both awesome and horrible.” This comic guy puts things into perspective and reality. Obviously it’s awesome to work for yourself. The horrible part is lack of social skills and employee baneter, which is the main reason for this post.

For people that know me, I am a very social person and like to have fun and make use of life. Though the co-working environment is good, it still lacks the need for me to talk to someone.

There are 2 other people in the co-working office, but they are always on the road with local meetings – in essence I am still on my own and lack that interaction. I even started local work to satisfy this need…

But that social interaction leads to annoyance because clients are not that smart, local clients anyways. So trying to have an educational conversation about business goals turns into a sour conversation because of the lack of knowledge. I go hang out with friends and that is fine, I enjoy spending the time with them especially when it doesn’t have to be about business.

During the day is when I concentrate on my business and just staring at the PC all day kills my mind. Just like Kid Cudi says “Fat in Mind, Body Fat as well” I try to take breaks and read a book or I try to work at my friends house or go to the office – just so I leave my house.

This literally struck me hard the other day and I wasn’t even going to post this but it is an experience. It really hit me when a person was leaving his job and I ended up in the same elevator as him and we had a small conversation. It ended up talking about what we both do and why I am at the office building. As I was approaching my floor to leave, he said “at least you get to work from home,” I just shook my head and said “I rather be out of my house.”

… so there are 2 different sides to this. I like people and I like to socialize/interact, while some do not want to have a job and work for themselves. I enjoy working for myself, but I also have to grow.

If you work for yourself and live on your own, how do you deal with the lack of social interaction?

70 Comments

http://www.hi-tech-it.com Bored

I know what you mean. But. Think about it this way, in a 9-5 you are a prisoner, you wake up you get stress from people (often) with less skills, and other random crap, like regulated hours. Also there is a salary cap. I do feel though that I live in a parallel universe, with all the other humans getting up early and wandering off to their jobs, whereas I get up at 1pm and muck about on the web and earn money. My aim is to outsource most of it, while scaling it and then just fuck off and travel around.

Peace.
Ryan

Exactly.

Start a business with your friends. At least that could be fun. Thats what I’m doing right now.

Its unreal, you even have the same wallpaper as mine.
http://www.padcameraconnectionkit.co.uk Max Kay

Totally empathise with your post. About a year ago I started full time working from home. The lack of interaction got to me, so I started renting a desk space in a shared office. I thought it would help with interaction, but the reality I found was that when you are working on your own stuff, there’s just not as much interaction as you might have with co-workers / colleagues. Anyway I decided a month ago to go back to working full time. There are downsides of course, but I don’t feel socially locked up like I did when working for myself. I really want to do my own thing again, but after that experience decided I’d want to do it with a business partner.

Just thought it’d be some consolation to hear you’re not the only one that has thought this stuff.
Bergs

This is exactly why I think more business people should go and get fcked up at least 2 times a month in some club or some sht with a bunch of friends…like 10-20+…even if you don’t know all of them

For me personally, I value living more then I value money…do I lose money thinking like that? Ofc I do, but I wouldn’t trade a 3 day trip somewhere in the mountains with 15 friends and my girl for any of that “get money get paid” sht that I keep seeing.

It’s important tho do not get carried away…if work needs to be done, work needs to be done you know?

Refreshing stats at 11 pm instead of going out with your girlfriend isn’t work that needs to be done ok?
http://www.JustSay.ON.ca rinkjustice

Like I said to a guy the other day “why work 8 hours for someone else when you can work 16 for yourself?”

Let me preface that by saying I like my work – most of the time – except for days like yesterday which was 10 hours of pure grunt work building a website to fulfill a promise for a client.

Ian, I just think you need to mix it up a bit. Try some new stuff. I should also. Let’s start saying “no” more to lame client projects and stuff we really would rather not do and “yes” to family and friends.

Take care Ian!
http://www.ericnagel.com/ Eric Nagel

Well I’ve got a wife & kids, but they went on a vacation a few weeks ago, and I can see your point. It wasn’t until 6:30pm that I talked to another human.

What about local tech meet-ups? Open coffee clubs, Barcamp?

I do NOT recommend going into business with friends, unless you want to end the friendship.
Bradley Woods

Man up dude seriously! Quit with the pity party bullshit, I’m not feeling it.

Leadership is lonely period. Every great leader has expressed this at one time or another. Doesnt matter if your single and live alone or with a roomate, have a girlfriend or wife, or work in an office.

People will not understand you. Emerson said it best, “To be great is to be misunderstood.”

You are doing so much not just for yourself but for your future family and those that follow you.

In short I think its normal to feel loneliness and isolated but that comes with being ambitious. Dont feel sorry but rather be grateful for all that you have now and what is to come. The world is yours my friend.
zooted

I used to go out nearly every night and get fucked up in bars and clubs. I did this for about 2-3 years. I got laid a lot, had the social interaction, but it killed my productivity during the day (hangovers) and started causing other problems so I had to stop. Now I am back to working all day with the only social interaction being a “hi” or a short interaction at the gym. I completely quit drinking so that even fucks up my weekend time now with friends, but at least I feel better than I did before going out every night. Hopefully I’ll be able to regain balance eventually. I have yet to figure out the social interaction problem of working from home. The only thing I can see is starting bigger projects that need more people around to work.
http://www.jonathanvolk.com Jonathan Volk

You should go to church – Social interaction + awesomeness.
Jesus

Exact same scenario here. Here are some things you can do. Volunteer. Church. Create local meet ups every weekend. Offer free small business sessions with your local SCORE chapter.
http://www.loganthompson.me Logan Thompson

Wow, you sound just like me. I think the hardest part is not being able to collaborate with people on projects. Well, that and going multiple days in a row without talking to anyone other than my wife and 5 month old daughter.
Snoop

I hear ya. The lack of social interaction sucks. Bouncing ideas via IM and Skype is not the same and throwing ideas at my dog is pointless. Overall though it beats having to deal with corp dipshits and office politics. I have a group of friends who all work from home so trying to get a shared office with them.
louie

Ian

I have never been a fan of yours, until this post. Thank you for your insight.
http://www.nickypapers.com Nicky Papers

Ian,

I’ve been in that position before too. It sucks.

Some people enjoy working from home and actually prefer it. I love getting up in the morning and coming to my office every day. I still have a home office that I use at night and on weekends.

My office is located less than 10 minutes from my apartment. I share space with other people so it’s nice seeing the same faces and making small talk around the office. I can also shut my door when I need privacy. If you ever make it out to Long Island we’ll make a make a pit stop there.

Grinding from home is mentally challenging for me. I have difficulty separating “work time” from “me time”. I’ve had more success working at my office because I can still put a hard 10 hour day on the PC, stay active on Twitter + Social Media sites, stay on-top of the RSS feeds, e-mails, phone calls, AIM, while taking care of business.

The worst thing you can do is structure partnerships or take on more client work for the social benefits. I’ve been down that path too. More headaches, less money, and will confirm the reasons why you went into business for yourself in the first place.

Networking, Industry stuff, and relating your talents to a variety of industries is important. Additionally, there is a TON of money to be made off the PC too. I make sure that I’m always engaged in “off-line” business to stay sharp, hedge bets, and increase my monthly income.

The hardest part about “flying solo” is not having people around to share things with. (Positive / Negative)

Let’s chat soon!

-Nicky Papers
http://twitter.com/lenstrom Kiley Lenstrom

I know exactly what you are talking about, Ian. The lack of interaction is downright depressing. And as you get older it gets harder to make friends even when you do make it out of the house.

I’m going to be putting together a local brunch club. An idea I borrowed from a buddy of mine that lives in Harlem. They meet once a month at different local restaurant. I’m looking really forward to it.
http://ebenezermethod.com Landon

Thank you for giving that alternate perspective, Ian.

I am a 9 to 5 worker looking to break out and make money on my own. I just can’t see how the freedom you have is not preferable to my own current situation. I think it is unnatural to force people to be at one place every single day for years on end. Think about how annoying your coworkers can be and all the office politics. What if you have an @$$hole boss? That will literally make your life a living hell. What about a cubicle with no windows to the outside world?

At the same time, I see your concerns. I think whatever situation you’re in there’s going to be something that bothers you. Even if you were as rich as Bill Gates, something would be lacking. Ugh… I guess happiness really does come from within, haha

Thanks for discouraging me from my dream of become financially independent… jk
http://buymywebsite.info/ Univee

This is international trend and definitely inevitable consequence of being grown up, sane, adequate and congruent person, a leader.

We all have watched movies like Fight Club, Wall Street or Bedazzled for instant. Cubicles, jerking off and trolling, stupidity of co-workers and your boss. This exists everywhere.

On the other side if you are open friendly person, a professional and don’t see everyone as an asshole – you have good chances to meet great people, with positive mindset.

I’ve had business ventures with my friends, I was lucky to get projects and money made with them as well in the past. At the moment I do affiliate marketing on my sole own, but got some forthcoming projects with these guys as well.

They’ve succeed earler in some online activity, so I will just follow some material steps, like cars and travels, but the main thing – YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE VISION of who you are and what’s work for you. Obvious extravert or introvert for instance.
It’s difficult to be locked being and extravert, but comparatevely more preferable for introvert not to get distracted by anyone else.

Socialising is great, but it means you have to divide just humming and genuine quality socializing with mutual benefits.

P.S. Nothing to do with the global trend. America is a country of individuals. People sit at home, do work in the office, then sit alone in the car, internet cafe, at home again with TV or internet again. So is everywhere else. 1% of active and public person, who flash in magazines or whatever don’t count. This big business grind for creating attractive merchandise of any sort involves some people, who consequently become the elite, which has money, great socializing altogether.

P.P.S. This topic is the surface of the global alienation. The cure for loneliness is solitude.
http://www.traffic-is-king.com Sam

Was going through something similar. Still travel a lot though to break it up but when I’m local I go to a place In Atlanta called ROAM. It’s a Cafe/Work facility for work at home and mobile professionals. They have work areas to set up your laptop, free wi-fi, conference rooms for meetings, and food! You get to network with like minded business people and get your work done at the same time. I’m sure there are places similar to this in NJ/NY
http://www.mrshoffmansclass.com/blog Sammie

I don’t work for myself or live on my own but I do spend 10 hours working at home alone and it’s definitely not fun. I find I can’t concentrate and put work off as long as I can. In 10 hours I should get a lot done but can’t motivate myself to do anything. The highlights of my day are going to the gym, dropping mail off at the post office and receiving my afternoon phone call from my husband.
Gabe

I used to have a job where I would manage my My Ads campaigns whenever the boss wasn’t looking. 2 birds and one stone :p But I’m generally more productive in a social environment. You wouldn’t want to slack off in front of others.
http://www.webuildyourblog.com Andrew @ Blogging Guide

I guess everyone work at home person has gone through the stage you’re going through now. Add in extra-curricular activities like ballroom dancing maybe
Pierre

Dude, get a girlfriend or start juggling a bunch of bitches. Either way you will start to enjoy the time you actually do get to spend working.

Trust me on this.
http://lancealexander.us Lance

Heyola…come back to FL and let’s go make a short film at the CB compound! It’s coming up on Hween..we have to get in the spirit. Aren’t CB colors Hween anyways!? =) Eric would not mind at all…
http://www.relationships360blog.com wallace

whats going on brother.I think how you feel at this time is something people who work jobs want to feel.You see, you built your dream day by day and success is on your side.You are part of 5% people who worked a job and built your company to freedom of no job. while other people wish there dream day by day and never reach there goal.I think travel is a great thing,i even feel you having a mastermind group every week in new york were we could motivate each other and keep each other accountable to our goals would be fantastic.

Your doing great brother keep it up. lets go to the gym together sometimes.
http://money-cake.com Patrick

Dude, you need a wife and kids so you’ll never feel alone! Then you’ll be happy when they leave the house so you can be alone to work!
http://adscendmedia.com Jeremy

I know how you feel, 110%…
http://www.affiliate.com/blog Tom Wozniak

Great post Ian. So many people think that working for yourself in your own home office must be perfect. While there are lots of advantages to being out on your own, there are definitely drawbacks and the lack of social interaction is one of the biggest. That comic strip hits it right on the head. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but since you already like hitting the gym, you might split up your workouts so you get to the gym in the morning and later in the day as well. Also, think about working with a personal trainer at the gym. You’ll get some personal interaction and also kick up your training a notch.
http://www.makemoneyontheinternet.com Chris Guthrie

Move to Seattle and we can get a joint office. I read that comic too and it’s exactly how I feel. I’m coming up on my 1 year mark in just 2 short months. Side note: Matthew Inman (Oatmeal) is pretty cool in real life. I had lunch with the guy a few months ago because he lives in Seattle and it was fun to talk with him about how he used to work at SEOmoz etc.
http://www.ianfernando.com Ian

@chris not sure about all that rain….
@tom thanks! there is always 2 sides to a story.
@Patrick wife and kids I think that is the next move!
http://www.usedtiresdealers.com used tires

It’s definitely though Ian, and you are right working from home can create Depression. I am still single myself, I think you are as well.. if I am not mistaken, I think in a way when you get married or have a girlfriend that will definitely help the situation, at least I hope so. The best thing you could probably do is find some interactions around you locally, I mean you’re in Jersey right? Plenty of places to get your social on!

Till then,

Jean
http://dangerbrown.com Danger Brown

Yeah, I’ve been full time at this for a couple years myself. I have a wife and 5 kids; 2 teens that I’m stepdad to and 3 little girls. It certainly keeps us pretty busy. But we live out in the country and don’t have any neighbors. So we’re still pretty isolated from outside contact. I only leave the house about twice a week.

I guess what I’m saying is that while a family goes a long way towards enriching my life. I still often feel lonely when it comes to someone to talk to about work related stuff. That’s the only reason I plan on going to ASW this year. Just to socialize with like minded people.

I guess it’s that sense of isolation that motivated me to start my blog and reach out via social networks to other internet marketers. This can be a lonely business.
http://carhireshop.com.au/ Car Rental

It depends on the habits of person, Someone might not like the politics of office and enjoy working from home.
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You’ve brought up some pretty valid points. But I think overall, the benefits still outweigh a 9-5 job. You still have the freedom to maintain your social life. If anything, work is an anti-social place for many due to the office politics.
http://www.spinxwebdesign.com/ Web Design Spinx

I think job is much better and you can also try a side business as their can be a constant source of income.
http://www.mezzi.com/ Laptop Cases

Yes it’s funny how the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. People dream of working from home and being their own boss. When they get there they suddenly realize how much they miss all the little things about having a job. In your case Ian, I’d have to agree that you probably just need a girlfriend/wife.
http://www.bensplumbing.com.au Plumber Sydney

Indeed, working from home can sometimes be a difficult thing to manage. The lack of social interaction can be depressing sometimes.
Volomike

If you need a hand to make it through a bad day, you know how to reach me.
http://www.danlew.com Dan Lew

Good to hear you speak from the heart there Ian!!

You should also get involved with some fitness training get out of the house an hour or 2 during the day to break away from the screen.

The beauty about working from home is we don’t need to be on the computer in the day time, we can be out and about during the day and work a few hours at night!
http://carhireshop.com.au/ Car Rental

you might be able to make some friends who are working from home too and you can set a time to catch up.
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While I understand that running a successful website will take hours of manpower and it does require work, working from home, especially when you are making a lot of money, should definitely be fun. You can schedule yourself however you would like. As long as the work gets done the internet isn’t going to yell at you for doing something at 3 PM instead of 7 AM. I am at a point right now where I am beginning to develop my website but still need another job to support some income, and I haven’t felt any anxiety from working from home. Maybe you could try grabbing a little part time job somewhere to get you the social interaction you desire and then do your real work from home? Just trying to help you as much as your blogs have helped me. Have a good day!
http://www.direct2u-escorts.com/about_us.php Escort Agency London

I like that stuff there from oatmeal. It truly depicts what I am right now. So sad but it’s true.
been there didnt do that

ian, hit me up. im looking for people who want to do am in/from china.
if fun and fulfillment in work is what you want… ill have you over and show you around. seriously. email. your skills are needed in industries that are outside am, but high revenue as well. im dead serious. hit me up IF you want to come to china for prolonged time.
http://www.mezzi.com/ Laptop Cases

@Dan: Good suggestion about exercise. That is the perfect way to break up a dull day in front of a computer. Arrange to meet up with some friends at the gym or for a game of basketball.
http://www.ewanetwork.com Ryan Eagle

Love the pictures, is that a real cat?
http://carhireshop.com.au/ Car Rental

Yes, I would agree with the exercise suggestion. Otherwise you are going to get fat soon by sitting all the time in-front of PC.
http://www.bensplumbing.com.au Plumber Sydney

From my own experience it’s a case of the grass is always greener. I’ve worked for myself for years and worked for others and they both have their benefits. Finding that happy medium is what im all about.
http://www.danlew.com Dan Lew

Try to remember the things you hate most about working in an office such as:
1. People telling you what to do
2. Not arriving on time and getting in trouble
3. Having arguments with co-workers
4. Waiting in Traffic
the list goes on…

I would much rather work from home, it is called Freedom! We are very lucky to be around in this day and age to have the opportunity to work from home, it is something people would die for!
http://www.sosmedicalsuperstore.com/ surgical suture

Everybody has their own working style. It depends how the person want to perform. Very good article. It always come down to good content that people are interested in. Thank you for the guidelines.
http://familylocator.org shako

“surgical suture” you`re right, Everybody has their own working style
http://www.sosmedicalsuperstore.com/ surgical suture

I just love to working from home. I’m doing it from last 4-5 years and fully satisfied with my earnings. The main benefit is i feel you are your own boss, you don’t have to follow the office rule just work freely.
http://www.iyinetfrmtrtrkygnclrwebmasterseoyarismasi10.com/ iyinet frmtr trkygnclr

Yes, I would agree with the exercise suggestion. Otherwise you are going to get fat soon by sitting all the time in-front of PC.

Thanks Ian
http://tej-kohli-page.livejournal.com Tej Kohli

Many times its also happen with me . Even I found that I can do more stuffs in office besides to stay at home
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Many believe that lack of social interaction could make people depressed over time. So it’s very important that along with doing work stuff from home, we – as online marketers and bloggers – allow some time in our schedule for meeting friends and family and doing other social stuff.
http://www.jaysonlinereviews.com Jay@ Earn Online Money

Working for yourself is great I still have a day job just for the social interaction that we need as Humans. I do not really need one I could be full time from home. But I do it mainly for the benefits, and it gets me out of the house. But if I had to choose between 1 of the 2 it would definitely be working for myself. Why make someone else Rich when you can make yourself Rich? Seems like a no-brainer to me. You just have to find a medium where you get the best of both Worlds. But I hear ya at times it can be lonely.
http://michaelmindes.com Michael Mindes

I have a full-time day job (with 30+ other employees) and I am married with 3 small children. And when my wife and kids are out of town, I can easily get discouraged at the lack of interaction.

So I can only imagine…
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Maybe you can develop some online friends to keep yourself company when your family is away, Michael. I know it’s not the same but it would certainly help reduce some of the loneliness if you have close friends or associates on your internet messenger to chat with now and then.
http://www.reverse-email.com/ email lookup

@car battery: You make a good point. Many of us, as the present generation, believe that online friendship is the same thing as personal friendship. Meaning that even though you’ve never actually met someone, but by being friends in social networks such as Facebook or Myspace, you should open up and reveal all – just like someone you’ve known for years. But overall, I consider some of my online friends to be more dependable than my “real life ” friends. I don’t think there is a huge different really.
http://www.gurugrounds.com Thomas

Hey Ian, I completely understand… I’ve been struggling with this problem myself. I’ve been working from home for several years now and for the most part it’s been great, but only because I had an excellent social life in the evening, I would go out every night with my friends and hang out… but there are those weeks or months where my social life takes a dip and it SUCKS! A LOT! Best strategy I find is to just call up your friends and invite them over. Or join a more social activity like kickboxing, toast masters or some other social group.
http://www.moneywitharticles.com Bryan

Ian,

I can see what you mean, but I’ll tell you why I want to quit my day job:

- The feeling of having no control. Growing up, all I heard was, “Get a good paying job that offers security”. Truth is, any business can flop no matter HOW secure it may seem.

- From working in a salaried position, I know that no matter how much work I put in, I will still get the same pay rate. By running my own business, I’M in control. Plus, I know that it’s up to me to pay the bills, not someone else, and I typically work well when put “under the barrel of a gun” so to speak.

- Having to ask someone else when I can take a day off, or more importantly WHY I have to. I understand people have a business to run and need to know when people are going to be there or not, but having to disclose my personal life to get a day off isn’t my thing.

- Flexibility. My brain is usually more active in the late hours of the night than during the day. If I worked at home, I could spread my day out and utilize that time without sacrificing my health by never getting any sleep (as I work on my own business into the late night hours as it is).

Anyway, I understand where you’re coming from as far as social interaction, but the above points (for me) far outweigh the lack of social interaction in working at home.

Everyone is different though. If you’ve always worked at home, then I can easily see why you’d feel like this, and vice versa for those who haven’t. I did work at home with an online business I had a few years ago (roughly 6 months) and it was the best time of my life! I quit that business though (incentivized marketing) because the barrier of entry was incredibly low. People were losing hundreds of dollars to build their brand, and I couldn’t afford to take the hit. Traffic started slowing down and users started migrating to other “fly by night” websites that offered more than what I could afford to. Now, I’m working on projects that provide passive income and stability. That’s what it’s all about!
Pingback: Hey, you! Workaholic! Get off the computer. Remember what you're working for. | Love Your Work Life
http://twitter.com/affiliatetip Shawn Collins

Hey Ian -

I spent 11 years working in cubicles with all sorts of jerk bosses, office politics, and assorted BS (asking permission to take vacation days and whatnot).

Working for yourself is fantastic – I’ve done it the last 7 years and can’t imagine going back to an office.

You just need a different routine. How about getting a couple lunches and whiteboard sessions going each week, as well as something like a co-hosted podcast?

It was a relief for me to get away from the small talk – I was dying a slow death when I’d sit in marketing meetings back in the day and the rest of the team would be dissecting the latest episode of Sex and the City.

This week, I’m hitting a meetup, a couple lunches, recording two podcasts with people, taking a tennis lesson, and some other stuff. I make it a point to have interaction (in addition to the gym) nearly daily.
http://twitter.com/akagorilla Greg Hoffman

Ian, I have a dog, a mother in law, dozens of fish, 3 hermit crabs and 5,000 watts of vinyl in my office. Every once in a while I need to sit at my favorite FireHouse Subs for lunch and be around humans.
Anonymous

I am gettin my NJ meetup (which you never came too, sad face) back up, so it should help again. just time is never on my side.
Anonymous

exactly just to hear chitter chatter I think is a healthy thing.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AZ3N7VWUP6P6LRMIMDXZNRYLNU Filipino Juan

Absolutely Pat!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AZ3N7VWUP6P6LRMIMDXZNRYLNU Filipino Juan

This is the one of the most humbling post I’ve read on here, its real stuff bro.

I used to go through the same ish when I leased office space in 2008 , I mostly found myself in there a lot, alone mostly. I felt the need to grow the company a little for more activity and interaction but never for selfish needs just for the need of the business. Hire a few serious, energetic personalities to work with on a daily basis as a the form of business structured to interact within itself.

Dont see how i missed this post before/.

best wishes!
Pingback: Rohail Rizvi » Blog Archive » My Move to Miami & What I’ve Learned
http://www.shakenutrition.org shakeology

Social interaction is 110% needed and working at home does suck, when you figure out that you barely know anyone anymore. I got over my boredom by adding light to my amazing office, and getting more done durning daytime and more friends and association with people at night and weekends. When you can sit down at your desk and decide its work time if you were working for someone, you know you have made it yourself.
Thiago

In the same position. The problem is finding like minded people with the same goals as you. Here in the UK it’s even more difficult. People know hardly anything about marketing online and most people the same age as me are to lazy to learn anything and would prefer to work at Starbucks. There seems to be more of an entrepreneurial spirit in the US.
http://www.seocorporation.net/ SEO India

You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about an hour. I am a newbie and your success is very much an inspiration for me.

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