I've been self employed for almost 20 years, various businesses. Started in my early 20's, I was too afraid and had a job as a backup safety net. It wasn't until I was 31 that I took the leap and fully focused on building a business. I have failed a lot, and each failure was a lesson.

That business went really well, sold it and took a salaried job for a couple of years and hated it (crazy opportunity I couldn't pass up, and added to my skill set). Started a side business while working that job, COVID hit, lost the job and my business suffered (travel related).

I had to work part time restaurant jobs, did some consulting, whatever to stay afloat the last two years. This year is my best year yet, I've since started two other businesses and incorporated.

It's crazy busy so I'm working way too many hours, but I'm doing what I love and I feel alive after two years of shitty people in my life telling me to "get a real job, you need benefits, work somewhere that will take care of you". My fiance is working for me part time, and will be full time in a few months.

I now make 3x than my highest salary, and it's just the beginning. Don't be a pussy, live your life on your terms, just know how to play the game.

Don't have expectations, don't take anything personally. Read more nonfiction, focus on the path not the end goal. God will take care of you, stop living in fear and fully trust.

The easy way is to start your own business and be your own boss.

The hard way is to live well below your means while working for someone else, save a lot of money, and invest in something that you hope will go up in value faster than inflation. And maybe you'll eventually have enough passive income to be able to retire young.

Some people make it happen, but the past year has been a bitch for almost every type of passive investment (stocks, crypto, PMs, bonds, etc).

I did it by being a contract worker my entire adult life. Started in IT, putting bids on small jobs, worked up to buying materials in bulk and always finished ahead of schedule. I could outbid nearly everyone because I'm not retarded, lazy or looking to exploit Whites. Took my knowledge and experience, invested into more tools to expand my scope and trades (general contracting). After a few decades, I eventually landed on milling my own lumber to build furniture, sheds and unusual dimensions for agriculture buildings. In my opinion, no Man should work as a wagey, and all jobs should be negotiated as a contract - the way Western nations worked for thousands of years. I've never had an employee, but I've made a lot of Men a lot of money by paying them X to do Y in Z amount of time.

Retired 22 years ago at 32. Wrote..famous software.

Not entirely, but partially made some money from crypto.

That said, it is entirely a scam, pyramid scheme, and used for money laundering. Once we finally bottom later this year, we will get at least 1 more good bull run for institutions to offload via the finally approved spot ETFs.

Im still working because I like too, and I have huge opportunities in front of me. Im in this position because of good, not great, decisions my great grandpa, my grandpa, and my dad made. I like to think I'm making great choices, and the numbers are telling me I am. Im not fuck you rich, but I could potentially become fuck you rich over the next 5 years, even if the economy stagnates or slides some.

I could sell almost everything right now, pull a mortgage on a homestead, reinvest in low income housing and make like 80k a year while probably working 10 hours a month. But I dont want to be the one that chops up all the work me and my family have done, so I'm gonna keep pushing my money and time forward. My job is really easy too for the most part I just have to be available, kiss the butts of my employees, customers for a couple hours a day and come up with solutions to problems as they happen. Im expecting the bottom to fall out at any time, but even if it does, not including the assets my parents have(they would help me), my debt to asset ratio is fine, I own outright a few nice work vehicles, i know a lot of people with a lot of skills, ill be able to figure something out.

Working for wages is only worthwhile in certain situations. More often than not you are better off working for yourself.

I highly recommend learning how to sell. Basic sales is easy.

When the economy is good or bad, you can always get a job in sales.

Working for commissions instead of wages is very similar to self employment.

I'm mortgage free, but still need at least £20k p.a. to live - so technically still slaving

I get a yearly salary, not an hourly wage... but I'm sure that's not what you mean.

What do you mean by "slave"? I work, but I could readily work elsewhere or conduct a different type of work. That's not slavery, just acknowledging TANSTAAFL.