>>I started out as an independent when the fourth software house I'd worked for in two years went broke. I figured if things were going to be that unstable, I might as well be self-employed.
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>You have the same luck as I have. I had four jobs last year and I'm on my second this year. I left all but one job because of finanical instability in the companies

I've been self-employed twelve years now. The way I look at it, employees dread insecurity and consultants just assume it's part of the landscape!