Turning Pro

[fdegrove]

Grif,

I admit I haven't read the entire thread so if my opinion has been expressed before,so be it:

FWIW,life is short.

The older you get the shorter life seems.
I've always been lucky to be able to do what I like for a living.
Nobody can do it as well for you as if you'd done it yourself.
You can find as much information discouraging you as encouraging.
Me,I would never hesitate to do it,deploy all my talents and go for it.
The more information on this (on fiscal and accounting aspects) you can gather the more you will feel secure.
My experience with this is that a lack of knowledge on how to run your own business is the killer,not a lack of knowledge in the field of business.
It is of course always a good idea to be just that bit paranoid and cover your behind.

If you're afraid you'll be listening less to music,that may well depend on your professional occupation.
Can you get paid for listening to music?I think so,up to you to figure out how and whom you'll charge.
Another side effect is a nice gain of general percieved value in society:after all you'll be the president of that company.
No company is likely to garantee you that status as an employee.

Last piece of advice:try to provide for a fallback in case economy plummets.

In a nutshell,nobody can make this decision for you.

Err,and sorry if this a mess to read.I'm rather tired.

Wishing you the best of luck,

[griff]

Thanks for the great reply Frank, I have come to a decision on the matter because of it. Tell me what you think of this, as soon as exams are over, hope to get into Melbourne university to undertake a Commerce degree specialising in Management or something similar, and at the same time registering a business name and setting up the appropriate channels of supply, also setting up an internet shop front and possibly send some product to the local street press, the Herald Sun's Connect etc. This was I figure that even if the business sinks like a stone, I will still have the qulifications to get a well paid job.

[pinkmouse]

Just to stick my oar in...

I have been self employed for 15 years, and have had some good times and some bad times along the way. I have never earnt enough money to be any more than comfortable, and sometimes a lot worse than that, but would I change a minute of it....No...

I have had a wonderfull time meeting new people, travelling the world, and helping create some wonderful events that made a lot of people very happy, and being very satisfied when a design concept comes to life in reality, rather than in my head.

But I have learnt one major thing in that time, as a small business, the only thing you can rely on is what's in your head- kit and designs can be, and are copied and sold cheaper than you can, suppliers will stitch you up at the first opportunity, and rivals will steal your clients as soon as you set a foot wrong.

So- in conclusion- if you want it you can do it- but its damn hard work, much harder than working for someone else, less well paid, more stressful, but extremely satisfing when it all comes together!

[promitheus]

I prefer working for someone else full time and after in my free time do my own work at home.
No stress, minimum working hours, no responsibilities, good pay.
The extra hours I would work if I had my own company I work at home and make a few extra bucks as a hobby.
You have the best of both worlds.
This is not allways possible in all jobs. Just have to find the right one.