I think it depends on your personality.
If you are at all risk-averse, I would recommend you go make money for someone else, work on their projects on their terms, and get your stipend.
If you can handle not knowing where your next check is going to come from (cannot stress enough how important that one "skill" is, because it will happen) then do some prep, take the leap, and be prepared to work like you've never worked before to keep from crashing. It's constantly over-romanticized (there's so much more stress, and you WILL be absolutely broke for extended periods of time), but it really is rewarding on less-quantifiable levels (maybe not your checkbook, right off the bat, but definitely in your confidence).
You'll have to excuse the tone; I just got back from a meeting with one of my favorite clients and THEY brought up keeping me on a monthly retainer (some good steady money, from a client I love, earned on my terms . . . ). A small victory, but I can't tell you how good it feels. It's moments like this that you can't possibly appreciate unless you've cut the cord.
That's all I'll say . . . the Zealot has left the building!
|