> In theory, shouldn’t I find a nice cushy corporate job?
... where your outcomes are determined by currying political favor, gamesmanship, and your boss's shifty whims. Yeah, that's not a recipe for relaxing if you ask me. I'd also like my kids to view me as someone of integrity and not some sycophantic corporate douche.
Most companies operate on the same ridiculous performance review process that puts the judgement of your value to the organization into the hands of one person, your boss. OR they try to use objective goals that are obsolete as soon as the ink dries, so you spend your time either hitting irrelevant goals or managing up so you can work on the right things. It sucks. It's toxic.
It makes you a less-whole person and that makes you less-good as a parent.
Not making what you like should have a negative effect on your self esteem and therefore on your family.
There is no simple answer.
I personally began to choose work and I wasn't so happy with it. Then I choose my family and I feel better. But you have to consider I had the chance my corporate job didn't pressure me too much.
Furthermore my wife work at Hospital in a field where, last month, she saw four children die. It is something that make you think about priorities. And clearly, now family is my first priority. But I also don't forget my feeling have direct consequences on the happiness of my family.
> In theory, shouldn’t I find a nice cushy corporate job? I’m good at getting along with people, so I could probably nestle into the underbelly of a big corporation and make a ton of money without having to exert myself too much.
Wrong, wrong. You'll control much more your time if you're on your own. In a corporate environment, lots of people will pressure you. All by yourself, you just need to have the balls to not work more then 28 hours a week or whatever limit you want to set.
That's not a good answer either. You've got no backup, so often it's even less flexible and easier to suddenly devote huge amounts of time to make it work and keep your family fed. Fear is a big motivator.
"It depends" is the best answer unfortunately, neither is panacea. Corporate culture, the success (or not) of your own business, where you are, what your SO does, healthcare, etc..
You don't necessarily have a "backup" at a corporate job either. Anyone could lose their job at any time at a corporate job. One might actually be better off by having experience with being self-reliant.
I meant backup as in having someone else available to do the work when you're on vacation, sick, etc. You don't have that solo. You're right that it might be better, but as I stated - depends on many factors.
Prioritize:
1) Health
2) Family's health
3) Marriage
4) Reputation
5) Education
6) House
7) Savings
8) Job
That doesn't mean there is nothing left for the job. Just don't fool yourself into thinking you can support one of these when anything more important is threatened.
... where your outcomes are determined by currying political favor, gamesmanship, and your boss's shifty whims. Yeah, that's not a recipe for relaxing if you ask me. I'd also like my kids to view me as someone of integrity and not some sycophantic corporate douche.