Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
This is kind of a spin-off from my recent post, lol.
A Rough Comparison of Annual Incomes Between Office Workers and Full-Time Craftsmen
Which Is Better: Being a Salaried Employee or Going Independent?
I gave that some thought.
Should I go into business for myself or stay a salaried employee? Which is better?
What do you all think?
To get straight to the point,
It's not a matter of which is better or worse!
This is a matter of human nature.
It's just a matter of whether it suits you or not—that's all there is to it.
The Path I Chose
I left my corporate job to start my own business as a slope engineer.
For 10 years, I worked as a company employee on slope stabilization and civil engineering projects, and then went into business for myself.
I guess it’s been 19 years now, hasn’t it?
To be honest, I still don't know if that decision was the right one lol (I mean, it was so hard!!)
But I don't regret it.
One thing is for sure!
The Good Things About Being a Salaryman
First, let's take a look at the benefits of being a salaried employee.
Stable income
This is definitely huge, isn't it!
My paycheck is deposited on a set day every month.
There's also a bonus.
I get paid even if I don't have any workThat's right.
There's no way I could do this if I went independent, lol.
If I don't have a job, my income is zero! If the company isn't making a profit, my income won't go up.
Social Insurance and Employee Benefits
Social insurance, half of which is paid by the company.
Retirement Benefits Plan.
Paid time off.
Once you go independent, you're on your own for everything！
National Health Insurance and National Pension: fully self-funded.
A severance package? There's no such thing, lol.
Paid time off? If I take a day off, sales will drop to zero lol
Clear Scope of Responsibility
Office workers,Only my area of responsibilityJust take responsibility.
Even if the company goes under, it's not my fault.
Even if a client goes out of business, my salary is guaranteed.
This is huge!
The Benefits of Being Self-Employed (for Sole Proprietors)
Next, let's talk about the benefits of going independent.
I can decide everything on my own
This one's the biggest!
You can choose your job.
I can say no. (I don't do work for people I don't like, lol.)
I can do only what I want to do.
No need to worry about what your boss thinks!
"The conditions at this job site are too poor, so I won't take it at this rate."
You can actually say that, right? lol
Back when I was a salaryman, the sales team would bring in the work, and since the on-site contracts were already set, I couldn't really say no, lol.
The more effort you put in, the more you get out of it (for self-employed individuals)
If sales go up,All Mine
Don't let your company exploit you.
No middlemen take a cut.
My skills and hard work have,Directly reflected in income...will be done.
This really boosts my motivation!
Flexibility with Time
Well, when things get busy, I work 24 hours straight, lol.
But when I have free time, I can rest as much as I want.
If I go see a movie on a weekday, no one will say anything.
I can decide for myselfThat's right.
You can't buy this kind of freedom with money.
So which one is better?
If you've read this far,
"So, which one is better, after all?"
You're probably thinking that, right?
The answer is,
It depends on the person!!!
That's right lol
These Types of People Are Well-Suited for Corporate Jobs
- People who want stability
- People who don't want to take risks
- Someone who is responsible for supporting their family
- People who enjoy working within an organization
- People who feel anxious without a steady monthly income
This isn't a bad thing at all!
If anything, it's a smart choice.
After all, stability puts your mind at ease, and there’s no need to rush!
People Like This Are Suited for Self-Employment
- People who want to make their own decisions
- People who enjoy taking risks
- People who can cope with an unstable income
- People who hate organizations lol
- People who absolutely hate having to read their boss's face lol
- People with poor social skills lol
This, too, is a matter of personality.That's it.
Why I Went Independent
So why did I go into business for myself?
It's easy.
The corporate life just wasn't for me.That's right!
When my boss—whom I dislike—told me, “Take charge of this project,”
I couldn't say, "I don't want to." (I know, I should've just done it since it was work, but I was young back then, so cut me some slack lol.)
In response to the unreasonable demands of that shitty general contractor,
It's work, so I have to go along with it lol
You mean we have to keep creating pointless, useless internal documents forever or something!? lol
But this isIt's a personality issue on my part.(Pretty much here)
Some people don't mind following their boss's instructions.
Some people can put up with it as long as they have a steady paycheck.
That's fine!
There's no right or wrong answer, after all.
Challenges I Faced After Going Independent
Well, it's not all good, though lol
Unstable income
For the first few years,I seriously couldn't eat a thing.。
I thought I was going to die with just 2 million in sales my first year, lol.
I'm desperately trying to land jobs while dipping into my savings.
There were actually quite a few days when I had no work and could only sleep at night, lol.
I’ve never thought, “If I were a salaryman, I wouldn’t have to worry about this” (I’m generally an optimist).
It's all my fault
If I make a mistake at work,It's all my fault。
If a client goes out of business,I'll take the hit。
If an accident occurs on site,I'll take responsibility。
There's absolutely nowhere to run—it's laughable.
If you were a salaryman, the company would have protected you.
But once I go independent,It's just me。
This pressure is pretty intense, lol (I'm totally in masochist territory now).
I can't take a break
"Let's take tomorrow off."
Even if I think that,
"But what are we going to do about this job site?"
"When are we going to send out this quote?"
"How long will this design be in use?"
In the end, I just can't take a break, lol.
When I was a salaryman, if I took a day off, someone else would take care of it.
But once I go independent,All of it is me。
Taking a day off = Zero salesThat's why!
*The illustration looks serious, but it's not really like that lol
But I don't regret it.
I've written about some pretty tough stuff so far, but,
I have no regrets!
Because,
Because it's the path I chose for myself。
No one forced me to do it.
I made my own decisions and walked my own path.
Whether I fail or succeed,It's all my fault。
That feeling just felt right to me.
What I Want to Tell Today's Young People
What I want to say to young people thinking about going independent is,
It’s not like “being self-employed is great” or “being a salaryman is bad”—that’s not the case at all.
That's the point.
Just because I've gone independent,It's no big deal.Right?
Even people who are working hard as office workers,So cool!That's it.
The important thing is,
Choosing the path that's right for you。
Don't let yourself be swayed by the opinions of others.
"I have to become independent."
Even if people tell you that, if being a salaryman is the right fit for you, then go for it.
"Stability is the most important thing."
Even if people tell you that, if you want to go out on your own, just do it.
Decide your own life!
That's the point.
When you get older, you'll definitely regret 1000% the things you didn't do!
So the point is: “Decide for yourself, take charge, and do it yourself!”
Corporate Employees and Self-Employment,There's no such thing as "which one is better."。
Whether it suits you or not...That's all.
I chose to go independent.
But there are plenty of people who work hard as office workers—they’re cool, and I really respect them!
The important thing is,
Make your own choices and take responsibility for them。
That's all.
Young people, too, shouldn't just go with the flow,
Choose your own path!
I'm rooting for you! ^^
See you later.
We're also looking for people who want to work as slope maintenance workers or machinery mechanics at our company!
I'd appreciate it if you could send me an email ^^
