Two different career objectives

[SagaLore]

I have been debating in my mind which direction I want to go.

I have made great strides in the systems/networking field these past few years. My focus is security.

I have been developing my skills to work towards a Chief Security Officer or Security Architect position. But a few years from now when I apply for such a position, it will have to be in a larger city or perhaps in another state.

There is another option though. I can start a security consultation business here in this area, where buildings and labor would be inexpensive, and the cost of living is cheaper. There would be no competition and the demand for contracted network security services is skyrocketing. Plus the local college has started a new security specialist bachelor's program, one of only a few in the state.

So now I'm looking at the pros and cons. In a corporate environment I will make more money, have benefits, have job security - but my wife and I will be away from our families, I will be stressed from corporate politics, and the cost of living will be higher. As an entrepreneur I will have full control over a team and the projects, there is a potential of making a lot of money, and we will stay close to our families and an area we're already familiar with - but there certainly is a lot of risk (potential failure or low income) and I won't have benefits.

I still have a few years to decide but this has been bugging me.

 

[Mo0o]

If you really think that where you are living there will be demand for your skills and you will be one of the , if not only, people with said skills, then you should stay where you are. but only do it if you are sure the conditions are there.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Are you implying the stress of dealing with corporate politics would be worse than that associated with running your own business?

-geoff

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss
Are you implying the stress of dealing with corporate politics would be worse than that associated with running your own business?

-geoff

No way. I'm debating which stress I want to go for.

 

[ggnl]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
In a corporate environment I will make more money, have benefits, have job security - but my wife and I will be away from our families.

That's not entirely true.

The only thing keeping me from a career in business consulting is all the travelling I would have to do. As a independant consultant, you often have to take any business you can get, and sometimes the clients won't be in the same city/state/country. You said you live in a smaller town, that just reinforces the probability that you will have to travel to find clients.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: ggnl

Originally posted by: SagaLore
In a corporate environment I will make more money, have benefits, have job security - but my wife and I will be away from our families.

That's not entirely true.

The only thing keeping me from a career in business consulting is all the travelling I would have to do. As a independant consultant, you often have to take any business you can get, and sometimes the clients won't be in the same city/state/country. You said you live in a smaller town, that just reinforces the probability that you will have to travel to find clients.

Yes that is true! But my wife (and our future children) will be closer to our families. So I have to decide what is best for my wife and children too - that is where job security and family distance comes into play.

Maybe I should just take up gardening.