You did it early, like me :-) My father had me selling candy/chips around 10 - 14. It, too, was a massive success. Lines around the block. That was my first "job", so when I got a W2 job, I was like, "What the hell is this?!" I couldn't keep a job for longing than 30 days since lol. Our brains are wired to be entrepreneurs, especially so if you're first few ventures were successful. I'm 35 and I still don't understand the concept of "job". It's also why I stayed single and no kids, for the reason you mentioned - higher risk tolerance. I'm fine with doing what it takes to win, but not at the expense of a wife and children. I can deal with the struggle until I succeed, but I refuse to put others I'm responsible for in the trenches with me. The risk paid off. After years of trying and failing trading stocks, I'm successful. There's no way I could have done it if I had a car note, mortgage, wife, kids, etc. To make in a single day what most make in a week is insane, but it took a LOT of trial and error to get my process and strategy down to "1hr A Day" - it's like a matrix hack - becoming your own money printing press. But it didn't come easy. Took TONS OF emotional energy and money I can afford to lose because I didn't have all the normal "adult responsibilties", which are just traps. Therefore, it is my belief, every man should strive his best to achieve HIS dreams and goals FIRST, and THEN 'settle down' with a family to enjoy the accomplishments and raising a family. But it depends on each mans ambition. If working a 9 to 5 works for a guy, he should go straight into starting a family, because he achieved his goal of having a steady 9 to 5. It's cool you can re-call the moment you took that risk, and now you can share that story of success. Most men have similar stories, but they kept that dog instead, and now their story is, "What if..." Their story is of regret. If you can't work a 9 to 5 (and I can tell, you sound/think just like me, which means you're telling the truth), seriously consider learning to trade forex/stocks. I think you'll be surprised how fast that cash adds up, especially if you use prop firms instead of your own capital to trade.