Webwork - 11:08 pm on May 16, 2006 (gmt 0)

The essence of effective capitalism is to pay the employee just enough to establish a lifestyle that will enable the employee to continue working BUT NEVER pay the employee enough that he/she will be able to accumulate (save) sufficient capital to free themselves from the treadmill by launching their own competing venture.

Essentially, pay the employee just enough that they have to keep working for you. In other words, they are essentially broke until the next paycheck comes along.

There was a day when I had an epiphany of sorts. It was the day when I thought to myself "I can stay here and be broke OR I can go out on my own and be broke."

That somewhat altered my perception of the risk. :)

That said, plan wisely: Keep your overhead down, line up your friends who might send you some work, and establish a six month line of credit. (Family first, if they won't loan you the money then either they're broke too or you really are a bad credit risk).

6 months should be enough time to put you on a break even plan, of income versus total living expense.

If 6 months is not enough then you are either spending too much or don't really know how to make a go for yourself or just aren't working hard enough. At least that covers about 91% of the reasons.

Just do it. What's the worst that will happen? You'll have to take another 9-5 job? That's where you are anyways - so dive into the risk pool. :)

Good luck.