anyone successfully escape the 9 to 5 life?
 

anyone successfully escape the 9 to 5 life office drone life for something else? this could mean switching to a drastically different career that went well, starting a business that took off, etc. just looking for stories from people's own experiences :)

Escape it? Took me 30 years to obtain it! Not giving it up for anything.


People that change to a drastically different career have to start at the bottom and work their way up again. Often resulting in being the 9 to 5 drone only doing different work.
People that succeed at their own business generally have to work 9 to 9 or more. There is no get rich quick business that succeeds without massive hours put into it. Being your own boss usually means that you work for a jerk that expects 110% all the time.

I have to agree with Tcoat, I work a weird shift from Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and sometimes Saturday as well from 10 AM to 9PM. I'd kill to be able to go to work and leave after only 8 hours on normal work days.

Escaped it 25 years ago. I work a 7 to 4.

After a few years... Some assets start looking like liabilities.




Even if you start a successful business, it can run it's course after a decade or two. Working for yourself is great, but you only have yourself to blame when something goes wrong. Oh yeah, and no health insurance. I get the days off I ask for though...

You can have health insurance in your own business. It just costs a lot. Escape 9 to 5 by making your own business and working 24/7, but then if you're good, you can retire earlier. Every year I cut back the number of hours I teach, and every year I spend more time managing the business. I was up until 2 last night getting a schedule ready. But... I have money.

I had an uncle work a 3 day work week in the tech field working 12 hours a day, but that's the only real escape I've ever seen.

Unless you are really good at sales then you can go sell houses and make your own hours.

Every other 'escape' means you work harder and longer hours.

Yes, I now work 8-4:30 M-F and love it.

People see the end result of successful small businesses. They do not see the time, money, or blood sweat and tears that went into getting that business to where it is profitable and you can relax. I do not envy anybody that takes on their own business but I do admire them if they can make it work!

True. "a lot" = 10% of my income.

I did, got old and retired. Now there is no start or stop, just keep working.

what type of business?

I guess you read a lot about people who make ecommerce businesses (SaaS, dropshipping, amazon private labeling, freelancing etc etc) work with very flexible and reduced schedules, but hard to hear those stories firsthand as they are rarer.

Tutoring.