I must say , in 37 years of being self employed( cutting tools) that I have only lost it twice and both people deserved it. I have been very fortunate with my regular customers , some have been with me since the beginning . The only thing is they keep worrying about me retiring as I am the only one in my area . I learned the trade in the early seventies and after ten years bought my own machines and started taking on work while still working grave yard at the aerospace company that I served my apprenticeship at. After a couple of years I had enough to go full time. At times it can be challenging and the hours long , but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. The bonus is I have a shop to store a lot of bikes!!