Becoming a full-time maker, what should one expect?

[Fletch Helical]

I was a one-man, self employed goldsmith for 30 years, operating a retail studio for 25 years, at the same location. I closed my studio in June of this year because I had found that I lost the passion for making jewelry. The special order work that paid the bills just sucked the creativity out of me and led to a total jewelry "burn-out".

In those 30 years I was able to be my own boss---NOT. I had to be at the studio in sickness and in health, in any weather, at any time needed (including weekends) In those 30 years, I had 6 vacations of a week or longer and 3 of those were going to Tuson for the gem show. I had to be very friendly and calm to customers while I had and unfinished project to be delivered in an hour.

This kind of reminds me of a sign that is hanging in an office where I work that reads:

By faithfully working 8 hours a day you can eventually become the boss and work 12 hours a day.