Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky • Hacker News Board

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#21

Post by perl4ever » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 3:38 AM UTC

jrumbut wrote: post #18

I've taken a couple not-entirely-unsuccessful cracks at running a small business and worked for others in the same vein and can tell you that, at least for a software business, the dirty secret is that a lot of businesses out there are totally dependent on 1-3 large clients. Established businesses, on the other, hand often do have a diverse customer base and other means to overcome economic headwinds, and they can be…

There are even publicly traded companies that, for instance, build their business entirely on say, customized solutions for Microsoft software. They might have diverse customers, but they are very dependent on the ecosystem that is controlled by another company.

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#22

Post by PragmaticPulp » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 3:38 AM UTC

firecall wrote: post #15

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #11

The obvious fallacy is that this is comparing a stable, successful, established business to a risky job. He’s also assuming it’s difficult to get a new job, but ignoring the difficulty of establishing a stable single-person business. Successful, stable businesses with multiple diversified clients don’t come easy. It’s rare to have a single-person business with a product that scales to many customers. Once you scale i…

>The obvious fallacy is that this is comparing a stable, successful business to a risky job. Hmm... the point being made is that all jobs are inherently risky. There are factors beyond your control. You can't work harder or smarter to keep a job when the world turns against you. The economy, a new manager, changes in structures, business direction and so on can leave you high and dry. Your previously secure middle ma…

> Hmm... the point being made is that all jobs are inherently risky. There are factors beyond your control.

You don’t control all of the factors in your own business, either. You listed the economy as a risk for full-time employment, but it’s an even bigger risk for small businesses. Big companies tend to have large war chests to ride out recessions, or even take advantage of recessions.

With a small business, the company’s bank account isn’t that far removed from your personal bank account.

Being in control of everything also means that everything is your problem. That’s a two-edged sword.

> You might never get a decent position in a company again.

That would be extremely uncommon. Moreover, if you’re not qualified to get a job in the industry, I don’t see how you’re going to be successful running your own business in the industry.

Running your own business is more difficult and more work than getting a job in an industry.

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#23

Post by mindfulplay » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 3:41 AM UTC

Obviously the people who work in your company should then quit and create their own stable businesses.

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#24

Post by gshdg » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 4:02 AM UTC

The difference is that to succeed at getting a new job you need to be skilled at one thing. To succeed at starting a new business you need to be skilled at a dozen unrelated things.

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#25

Post by jrumbut » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 4:56 AM UTC

perl4ever wrote: post #21

jrumbut wrote: post #18

I've taken a couple not-entirely-unsuccessful cracks at running a small business and worked for others in the same vein and can tell you that, at least for a software business, the dirty secret is that a lot of businesses out there are totally dependent on 1-3 large clients. Established businesses, on the other, hand often do have a diverse customer base and other means to overcome economic headwinds, and they can be…

There are even publicly traded companies that, for instance, build their business entirely on say, customized solutions for Microsoft software. They might have diverse customers, but they are very dependent on the ecosystem that is controlled by another company.

Or the App Store of course!

Re: Why Full-Time 9 to 5 Jobs are Risky

#26

Post by lazylizard » Sat, Jun 20, 2020, 5:37 AM UTC

I don't have this problem where i get laid off, run out of savings, and cannot find a new job ever again. Some businesses close down for good. You can accumulate enough liabilities to prevent yourself from doing business again. You can still get a job afterwards though..