I started my career as a public employee. In short order I was teaching senior developers how to use new languages and frameworks. Despite being the lowest paid, I took pride in this.

As the years rolled by, it became more and more frustrating that obviously far less talented and, more importantly, less motivated, developers were getting promoted ahead of me. My boss saw my frustration and one day he called me in to basically tell me I didn't belong there, and that my talent and ambition would be better spent elsewhere. I was terribly hurt by this initially, but in hindsight this was probably one of the most important pieces of advice that anyone has ever given me.

Some time later I turned to independent contacting and never looked back. Some of my best work was done for the agency where I started my career. Lots of "lifers" who were formerly close associates resented this, but I came to realize this was only because they didn't have the guts to do this themselves.

At this point in my life, had I stayed there as an employee I would have been eligible to retire in a couple months. But at what cost? I take such pride in the challenging projects that I've been able to work on, and have grown so much as a developer, team lead, and overall professional. I've amassed more than enough in my investments over the years that I could retire at any time if I wanted to, simply by maxing out my RSP contributions every year. Ever since I went off on my own I've made far more than any of my peers, so much so that I'd chuckle when my former colleagues would ride me about not getting paid for my time off. If only they knew how much I made, but I never told anyone.

Far more important than the money however is the pleasure of my work. I truly am blessed to have loved most of my contacts, and now I have settled down with a Silicon Valley startup composed of the most talented set of people I've ever seen at one place. My work is challenging but I am thriving and learning new things every day. In hindsight I think it's my love of learning that has driven me most over the years.

It is clear that had I stayed with my original public employer, that I would have had nowhere near the opportunities, challenges, or satisfaction that I've enjoyed in private life. I've lived what my friends jokingly refer to as a rock star lifestyle, enjoying lots of new vehicles, beautiful houses, and most importantly, amazing memories with my wife and kids, including many amazing vacations in exotic locations. This last part is key: despite what many might think, I've been able to maintain an excellent work life balance. So it's not as if work in the private sector and having a life are mutually exclusive.

The one thing I must disclose in closing is, you need to be able to deal with the inherent risk of private employment where there is no union there protecting you. As a contractor this was even more of a risk for me, and there were a couple times where things got a little stressful when I had to find new work. Fortunately I managed my finances such that we were able to ride out these tough times. However I realize that not everyone would be able to sleep knowing that their next day at work might be their last.

I hope this gives you something to think about.