Being your own boss, setting your own hours, working only on projects that interest you -- all while earning a lot more money -- that all sounds good, right? Of course, you'll also need to prepare for the inevitable rough spots, like financial risk, long hours, and no guarantees.
First tip: Before you write that letter of resignation, think about why you want to become an independent software developer. Do you want to work from home? Do you want to travel? Do you want more money, fewer hours, or both? What are your main motivations for making this change? Write them down somewhere because chances are you won't meet all of your goals immediately. When things get tough, that list will remind you of why you are working so hard, and that can make the difference between giving up and success.
Above all, understand that "going independent" means "starting a business," and a business is very different from a job.
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