Part 2/10:
For many, the allure of self-employment lies in the promise of freedom—freedom from the rigid structures and expectations that come with corporate jobs. Yet, the narrator delves into what is immutable in the world of work: the underlying stresses and pressures that can exist regardless of employment status.
A foray into corporate life reveals acute stressors, such as strict quotas, constant performance scrutiny, and the looming threat of termination. The feelings of dread that accompanied waking up to clock in at a job were chronic, juxtaposed against the more manageable, albeit latent, stress of self-employment, where the narrator feels an enhanced sense of control over their work and deadlines.