Comments on: How to Work For Yourself By Age 26, and Keep It Up http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/ Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:58:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: AD http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-63165 AD Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:54:01 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-63165 Hi Matt, Where have you disappeared to? :) Since 2009 I haven't seen any responses, but I have to say reading this in 2011 is quite amazing to read through. I could not agree with you more and would like to gain your further thoughts on some of the roadblocks that people face when they want to do something that they love - but are forced to work in a job due to the 'norm' ? Any thoughts/ideas? Thanks Andrew Hi Matt,
Where have you disappeared to? :) Since 2009 I haven’t seen any responses, but I have to say reading this in 2011 is quite amazing to read through.
I could not agree with you more and would like to gain your further thoughts on some of the roadblocks that people face when they want to do something that they love – but are forced to work in a job due to the ‘norm’ ?
Any thoughts/ideas?
Thanks
Andrew

]]> By: JT http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-63061 JT Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:45:55 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-63061 Matt, I have come to have the same realizations as you. I have been working full-time as a web developer under a partner who pushed for success at a rapid pace. My percentage was meager compared to his, but I figured he would be my driving force to waking up every morning and getting things done. The plan was simple, he would do sales and I would do the programming. As time rolled on we acquired more developers and I was simply becoming less important. He would talk to clients and close deals and essentially toss work into our lap that we did not have time for due to previous unfinished workloads. Then he stopped paying my percentage during months where sales were slow, he never shared the actual financials. After enduring almost a year of this agony, I finally put my foot down and quit. I am now working at home making more money than ever before. The crazy work ethic has remained with me. As of now, it is cool cloudy day in Southern California and I am busy at work with a client. Saving a bundle on food and gas and the comfort is just incredible. To those of you who worry about socializing with others, go join a gym or sports league. Go out drinking with the buds on Friday! During the week, you should remain focused on attaining your goals. Great article! Matt, I have come to have the same realizations as you. I have been working full-time as a web developer under a partner who pushed for success at a rapid pace. My percentage was meager compared to his, but I figured he would be my driving force to waking up every morning and getting things done. The plan was simple, he would do sales and I would do the programming. As time rolled on we acquired more developers and I was simply becoming less important. He would talk to clients and close deals and essentially toss work into our lap that we did not have time for due to previous unfinished workloads. Then he stopped paying my percentage during months where sales were slow, he never shared the actual financials. After enduring almost a year of this agony, I finally put my foot down and quit.

I am now working at home making more money than ever before. The crazy work ethic has remained with me. As of now, it is cool cloudy day in Southern California and I am busy at work with a client. Saving a bundle on food and gas and the comfort is just incredible. To those of you who worry about socializing with others, go join a gym or sports league. Go out drinking with the buds on Friday! During the week, you should remain focused on attaining your goals.

Great article!

]]> By: Tim http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-47356 Tim Mon, 13 Dec 2010 06:09:30 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-47356 Matt, I am 40 years old and was a corporate executive for many years and had many of the same thoughts you do/did but could not find out how to act on them. I began to find going to an office, sitting in a meeting, commuting, hearing the same soulless corporate tag lines..actually physically painful. It was so depressing. I started two business last year after a layoff and have varied degrees of success. I think you have some great thoughts here and it appears you came to some of the same conclusions I did far before I did..which means you are far ahead of the game in my opinion. Cheers to you! I hope things are continuing to go well for you. Tim Matt,

I am 40 years old and was a corporate executive for many years and had many of the same thoughts you do/did but could not find out how to act on them. I began to find going to an office, sitting in a meeting, commuting, hearing the same soulless corporate tag lines..actually physically painful. It was so depressing. I started two business last year after a layoff and have varied degrees of success.
I think you have some great thoughts here and it appears you came to some of the same conclusions I did far before I did..which means you are far ahead of the game in my opinion.
Cheers to you! I hope things are continuing to go well for you.

Tim

]]> By: D Speck http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-39723 D Speck Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:22:25 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-39723 Hey Matt; I am mezmerized by you article and your intelligence and witt. You have quite an abliity to write and get your thoughts on paper. I am taking an anylytical writing class and trying to find source material but got totally sidetracted by this article. What are you doing now it is 2 years later? Hope all well young man. Dannette Hey Matt;
I am mezmerized by you article and your intelligence and witt. You have quite an abliity to write and get your thoughts on paper. I am taking an anylytical writing class and trying to find source material but got totally sidetracted by this article. What are you doing now it is 2 years later? Hope all well young man.

Dannette

]]> By: Fran Civile http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-37635 Fran Civile Sun, 09 May 2010 17:54:13 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-37635 Hi Matt, I haven't read this yet but I will! "Thoreau’s Life Without Principle. This paper convinces me again and again that humans were not meant to spend eight hours a day in an office. “What is it to be born free and not to live free?" I enjoyed reading your interesting article and I want to congratulate your ability to your capacity to combine your aspirations for free agency with enough flexibility to be able to adjust to a variety of pressures along the way... and getting into a steady relationship with a caring human is very good ... All in all it seems that you're able to blend your need for independence with unavoidable outside pressures... it can't all be on your terms all the time! you're a wise young man! I'm just writing a short series titled "Working for Yourself: Is this for you? and that's how I found your article... while checking google out for similar subjects. Good luck to you, Fran Hi Matt,
I haven’t read this yet but I will!
“Thoreau’s Life Without Principle. This paper convinces me again and again that humans were not meant to spend eight hours a day in an office. “What is it to be born free and not to live free?”

I enjoyed reading your interesting article and I want to congratulate your ability to your capacity
to combine your aspirations for free agency with enough flexibility to be able to adjust to a
variety of pressures along the way… and getting into a steady relationship with a caring human is
very good …

All in all it seems that you’re able to blend your need for independence with unavoidable outside
pressures… it can’t all be on your terms all the time! you’re a wise young man!

I’m just writing a short series titled “Working for Yourself: Is this for you? and that’s how I found your article… while checking google out for similar subjects.

Good luck to you,

Fran

]]> By: Ohis http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-30767 Ohis Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:00:44 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-30767 I'd like the idea of doing free jobs so you get known for what you do. And i just started to make myself known too. I’d like the idea of doing free jobs so you get known for what you do. And i just started to make myself known too.

]]> By: Alastair http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-25684 Alastair Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:47:52 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-25684 Hi,very intersting comments so far.I would also like to work for myself although there are some challenges.I fear that i will become too lazy at home by myself and won't push myself hard enough!I also come from a low-income fanily and worry about money in the survival sense. How do you keep the motivation levels high?.. Hi,very intersting comments so far.I would also like to work for myself although there are some challenges.I fear that i will become too lazy at home by myself and won’t push myself hard enough!I also come from a low-income fanily and worry about money in the survival sense. How do you keep the motivation levels high?..

]]> By: Yan http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-23905 Yan Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:54:51 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-23905 Hi Matt, I'm thinking working for myself for quiet a long time now. I just don't know how to star it. I'm 25 this year.I think it is a good age to start my own business. but it really need encourage to do so. I have a stable full time job with monthly paid. if I work at home by myself. it is more risk to gain income. and I feel I will become lazy to work at home. I just get confused and don't know where I should start ! any advise ? Thanks ! Hi Matt,

I’m thinking working for myself for quiet a long time now. I just don’t know how to star it. I’m 25 this year.I think it is a good age to start my own business. but it really need encourage to do so. I have a stable full time job with monthly paid. if I work at home by myself. it is more risk to gain income. and I feel I will become lazy to work at home. I just get confused and don’t know where I should start ! any advise ?

Thanks !

]]> By: Tina http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-20831 Tina Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:04:17 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-20831 Matt, I just read what your article. You gave good advices. Also,it is so true - to work in the area of my interest. I incorporated my company in 2007 and have been working as a part-time job until, god knows, when I am ready to leave my job. With the economic down turn, my boss gave me more responsibilities. Oh, Great! It is not my skillset and not my interest. Thank you. My question is when do I know I am ready to leave my job. I asked myself that question but I have no clue. I am a little scar about leaving my steady income at my full-time job as well. Any suggestion I should take? Matt, I just read what your article. You gave good advices. Also,it is so true – to work in the area of my interest. I incorporated my company in 2007 and have been working as a part-time job until, god knows, when I am ready to leave my job. With the economic down turn, my boss gave me more responsibilities. Oh, Great! It is not my skillset and not my interest. Thank you.

My question is when do I know I am ready to leave my job. I asked myself that question but I have no clue. I am a little scar about leaving my steady income at my full-time job as well. Any suggestion I should take?

]]> By: Matthew Burton http://matthewburton.org/wordpress/selfemployment/comment-page-1/#comment-13871 Matthew Burton Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:42:24 +0000 http://www.impublished.org/wordpress/how-to-work-for-yourself-by-age-26-and-keep-it-up/#comment-13871 Scott, the entire purpose of working for yourself is that you get to do something that YOU think is valuable, instead of doing SOMEONE ELSE'S bidding. (The exception is due to the instability of self-employment: sometimes, you can't get by solely on meaningful work, so you've gotta do some odd jobs to stay alive.) I found myself in your situation a few years ago, when I was working full-time on something that didn't satisfy my curiosity. So I did extra work for another organization in my evenings, for two reasons: to move my career forward, and to relieve myself of the worthlessness you're feeling. Because your boss isn't watching you while you work, I recommend you do something a little rebellious: slack off on your meaningless job and spend a bit of your day doing something you care about. Then, when you can't take your current job anymore and are ready for something better, you'll at least have SOME experience in that new career. Scott,

the entire purpose of working for yourself is that you get to do something that YOU think is valuable, instead of doing SOMEONE ELSE’S bidding. (The exception is due to the instability of self-employment: sometimes, you can’t get by solely on meaningful work, so you’ve gotta do some odd jobs to stay alive.)

I found myself in your situation a few years ago, when I was working full-time on something that didn’t satisfy my curiosity. So I did extra work for another organization in my evenings, for two reasons: to move my career forward, and to relieve myself of the worthlessness you’re feeling. Because your boss isn’t watching you while you work, I recommend you do something a little rebellious: slack off on your meaningless job and spend a bit of your day doing something you care about. Then, when you can’t take your current job anymore and are ready for something better, you’ll at least have SOME experience in that new career.

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