Hmm... the point being made is that all jobs are inherently risky. There are factors beyond your control.
You can't work harder or smarter to keep a job when the world turns against you.
The economy, a new manager, changes in structures, business direction and so on can leave you high and dry. Your previously secure middle managers job can vanish over night.
It's happened to me and many people I know.
Further to this, there is no such thing as a career at a company. You don't have anything. A job title is temporary and once you are out, you are out and that's that.
You might never get a decent position in a company again. You just don't know... full-time work is risky!
You don’t control all of the factors in your own business, either. You listed the economy as a risk for full-time employment, but it’s an even bigger risk for small businesses. Big companies tend to have large war chests to ride out recessions, or even take advantage of recessions.
With a small business, the company’s bank account isn’t that far removed from your personal bank account.
Being in control of everything also means that everything is your problem. That’s a two-edged sword.
> You might never get a decent position in a company again.
That would be extremely uncommon. Moreover, if you’re not qualified to get a job in the industry, I don’t see how you’re going to be successful running your own business in the industry.
Running your own business is more difficult and more work than getting a job in an industry.
Successful, stable businesses with multiple diversified clients don’t come easy. It’s rare to have a single-person business with a product that scales to many customers. Once you scale it, you likely need to bring on employees, which means you now have significant financial obligations to make payroll every month. That’s hardly low-risk.
If you’re the type of person who can build a successful single-person business with multiple customers, it’s not exactly difficult to find a high paying job doing the same work for someone else.
You don’t start a business because it’s easier or less risky than a day job.