Venturing off into the land of freelance was a scary path to take. I was giving up the security of a consistent paycheck for the uncertainty of finding work on my own. Bills don’t care if you have a steady income, the bills must be paid. Big company long-term incentive programs are there for a reason. It’s a carrot on a stick. Carrots on a stick are meant to lure you ever onward, down paths that you might not normally take on your own free will. They are referred to as “golden-handcuffs” for a reason. It took my longer than I’d like to admit, but there came a day when I realized that I was being led down a path I didn’t want to be taking.