Smooth W2 life or bumpy 1099 life?

As a W2 employee, your life is "smooth" for the most part. Sure, some jobs are more exciting, but in the government contracting world, every day can begin to look the same.

As a 1099, there is more variability, both good and bad. It's "bumpy."

When you land a better 1099 gig or negotiate a higher rate you would, as Leo Dicaprio says, "Feel on top of the world!!!"

The flip side is that things can also go badly. For example, I lost around $200,000 in income due to various security clearance and admin issues that were out of my control because I wasn't actively billing hours.

While the smooth life may seem more attractive in some ways, a more variable life is more interesting and certainly less boring.

I'm not saying one path is better than the other. If the other parts of your life are more chaotic, a stable W2 gig may be a huge relief, something you can count on.

But being stuck in an "Office Space" type career will wear you down over the long term and if you're beginning to dread going into work every day even when nothing is wrong per se, it's probably time to take some more risks. Perhaps going 1099 is the right risk to take.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.