When I gleefully shared with one of my parents and their partner that I was going to start my own equestrian school I was told, "You should get a real job doing something people actually need. People don't need horses." I did it anyway because, obviously.

Now 40 (and a bit), I have spent 19 years of my adulthood self-employed. As PIVOT's founder, it would be sensible to the bottom line for me to sell you on the idea of the freedom, luxury and limitless opportunities that come with being your own boss. (A few presidents clubs and many millions in revenue generated suggest that I am very good at selling ideas.) I'm not going to sell you anything without being explicitly clear of the difficult realities of being self-employed.