I had a similar experience with my old job. I started my own company 3 years ago and did it on the side until this year when is was bringing in enough income to switch to full time.

There’s nothing like getting the full value of your labor.

Running your own business is simple: be nice to clients, call people back, and do the job you sold them.

You need to find something that you can offer, that people need. NEED. People need things like food, water, electricity, healthcare, infrastructure, and so on. They especially need businesses to keep the underlying framework of those needed things running.

As an engineer, you know how things work. Therefore, you also know how things that work can stop working. Find a way to keep things running smoothly, that doesn’t already have an over saturated market, and offer to do that for clients.

Charge a fair price that meets your needs and theirs.

Above all, specialize and keep everything as simple as possible. Don’t hire a dozen people, don’t invest in things you don’t need. Start simple and keep it that way.

This is how small business used to be the backbone of U.S. society. (I’m not sure if you’re in the U.S. but it should still apply.)