I left a job making six figures almost twenty years ago to focus on HEP full time. Six figure incomes were extremely uncommon and were absolute dream jobs in my profession at that time.
The first years were exciting as I could justify the struggles and lean times in that I was trying to build something from the ground up.
The middle years were probably a little bit more of a cruise control.
Now at 50 having dedicated everything to it the last twenty years I realize it wasn’t the windfall I had envisioned in the beginning. I honestly was making more money twenty years ago without the headaches and all the “red tape “ that comes with running a business. This one in particular.
The one thing I have enjoyed that I could have never achieved without it though is my true freedom and independence. I saw my boys off to school every morning,I ate three meals a day with my wife,if I felt like a nap I took one. If I wanted to drink a beer at 3PM on a Wednesday I did it. If I wanted to work at 7PM on a Sunday night I did that too. There were no rules only tasks that needed to be completed. Taking the forced structure out of a job was what I needed.
I don’t think there is ever a completely stress free job but if you are happy or at the very least satisfied then that is sustainable regardless of income.
If every move you make or don’t is in the name of money then you are falling into a trap that will really limit your happiness.
So many people are all about the long game but the only thing you can truly count on is here and now .Find the best way you can to enjoy it!