Three years ago I embarked on a professional journey I dreamed of for 16 years prior - working on my own. I had climbed the corporate ladder, stood at the top, and felt empty. It just wasn't the challenge I wanted. And I was sure being solo or have a small company myself would be the way to go. I was right - kinda.

Having a small business is a lot of fun, and as entrepreneur .com come points out�...Freedom is a major perk of freelancing. As a full-time freelancer, you'll work when you want. You can take vacations when you want, for as long as you want. Weekend getaways won't have to be confined to weekends, and business suits are mostly a thing of the past. There's no boss breathing down your neck, nagging you. And there are no irritating co-workers slacking off at the water cooler, driving you nuts.I'd add a few things to their list: on top of your day job you have to keep the books, be your own IT person, negotiate every deal, handle every complaint, rectify every problem (including the interface with facilities management), make every major decision, and usually carry out the trash, vacuum the floors, and pick-up office supplies at your local business supply office. None of these things are onerous; non are overwhelming. They just never end.

I worked long hours in traditional employment. I work even longer being self employed. It's part of the deal. And I love it.

Entrepreneur.com tells you how to make the most of being solo. Checkout the full article for some great tips on getting started. Fell free to contact me if you'd like to discuss your decision or challenges in going your own way. I welcome the conversation.

For those of you working solo�...how many hours a week do you work and what extracurricular chores do you have that surprised you once you struck out on your own?