Seriously. I'm 32, and never had a "boss" per-se. I've had consulting clients, and I've been at a company before, but always on my own terms.
I recently started work with a part-time client in a more traditional arrangement and it's quite...trying. I had thought it'd be the opposite: someone else is running things, you just show up and get things done. If they make poor decisions, whatever, it's their money and time. In practise, I'm finding it extremely difficult to deal with. I'll stick it out because I said I would but it is not as pleasant as I had thought.
It's not a good thing, and I wish as a teen I had been subjected to higher work discipline. Yes, I know, I'm whining about first-world problems (while living in a third-world country).
I am not yet 32 and I have worked for companies as an employee. Also, when I was utterly broke I did freelance work on the side and different languages and skills. It helped me get another job in fact!
I think the important thing for me now is that at the end of the day I can go home and not really have to worry or think about work until tomorrow. If money was the most important thing in life (or I was deeply in debt again), I would be working all evening as well, but money isn't the most important thing. Time is. Time to read, time to play with my cats, time to reflect.
My know a few who work for themselves and they seem constantly restless and with worry about how to make ends meet when not enough work is coming in.
The idea of working for yourself seems romantic and "free" but it can be quite stressful, particularly with a family and children.
I was hoping it'd be like that: "Clock out" and then forget about things. Except it's not, and I have dreams revolving around exactly how to solve a certain problem. Maybe if I became a lumberjack I could rest at night.
I find the drive home is the time to unwind for that. It isn't a long drive but I try and force myself to forget it.
Of course, I might end up tinkering with stuff in the evening but I try and make it my own code, not works, to keep that separation. But mostly I will attempt to avoid computer "work".
I think if it gets too much I will become a gardener for the council and mow lawns. All that green is quite therapeutic, and you can see where you've been and where you've got to go on a lawn, so it is good.
It seems like you are the one who has the higher work discipline already, and that many people who find it trying to become a freelancer or entrepreneur should have been subjected to such an experience as a teen.
Being self-organized, selling solutions instead or just fulfilling a specific role (even if done excellent) is awesome!
It's the same with me. I can usually do it for about 3-4 months...and then the mis-management, ridiculous decisions, and the blame game (IE: I get blamed for a poor planning decision) gets to me and I want leave.
Now, I only work part-time for someone while my company is growing. It makes enough now to pay me and the other 2 founders a comfortable salary..but I can juggle both until my company gets too busy.
I would bet my arse that if Bill Gates woke up tomorrow in a world where he had no money and no options, he would go about getting a job wherever he could until he could get back to doing what he wanted to be doing.
Seriously?