I can bet my next pay cheque (whenever that is coming) that there comes a time in life where everybody toys with the idea of working for oneself instead of for someone else.

Many situations may trigger this notion, but I think they are triggered mostly when:

1. You feel unappreciated working for someone else (underpaid, overworked, ego not stroked enough, etc.);
2. You feel your supreme talents could be put towards making money for yourself and not to benefit some faceless shareholders;
3. You reckon time is running out for you to make a REAL change in your working life for you to do what you really, really want;
4. You want better/shorter work hours (not yet quite realising that working for yourself usually means more hours) or better control over your own schedule;
5. You have made enough money in the rat race and squirreled away enough savings so as to embark on your own business which may not pay well (or at all) but will provide you with more satisfaction (in other words, you have moved up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and are now in search of self-actualisation); and/or
6. You have looked long and hard for another salaried corporate slave job and have not been successful in your search, especially when the stumbling blocks are that you are too old/senior/expensive for all the roles at which you have been looking.

My favourite personal trigger is situation five, but alas, a quick check of the bank account does not provide the comfort that I have arrived at that position. So I keep at applying for corporate jobs. The Boy is currently at situation three and is motivated enough to have started researching various types of small businesses that he might be interested in. He has written the first draft of his business plan, has ideas on sourcing for funding, and has delegated research into regulatory requirements to me. In the evenings, we sit across each other and toss around ideas and play Devil’s Advocate (mostly me).

Word at the Boy’s work is that they might sell off his division, so he’s praying (in his own non-religious way) for redundancy. My mental reservation is to 'Be careful what you wish for, it might come true', because life may get a wee bit too interesting (in the sense of the ancient curse 'May you live in interesting times') if we are both unshackled from our corporate chains at the same time. But I guess the best position to take for now is 'Que sera sera'.

Here Is The Writer : bobo-gal

bobo-gal is a Sydney-based bourgeoisie-bohemian masquerading as a corporate suit in financial services for the last 12 years. She has been constantly dreaming of having a flea market stall selling crafts and baked goods, and trawling auction houses for vintage furniture to re-sell to city workers with too much money and too little time. However, with her imminent departure from her job in the city, she might soon be just bo-gal, having to drop the bourgeoisie portion of her name as she dabbles in reupholstering chairs.

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