What a refreshing piece! I went out on my own 4 years ago and haven't looked back. I've found an interesting niche -- brands and agencies who are looking for practitioners who can manage their own workflow (and have worked on a similar challenge before) or need someone with a leadership mindset who doesn't mind doing the work. I love switching between all the modes. And yes, it's making me better at what I do, as a practitioner and leader.