Most of this is pretty good. I'd add:<p>- Planning is good. Failed plans allow one to re-evaluate. Plans may fail but one shouldn't fail to plan.<p>- Be professional. There is very little difference between someone who is paying you $2 for a job and someone is paying you $2000. As long as they are paying you, they expect you to be professional. That payment includes the price of keeping your personality from getting in the way of your working relationship.<p>- If you deliver and keep people in the loop as you work on things, they will hi-five you.<p>- Save money. My father's thumb-rule is to have at least two year's worth of savings to sustain his current standard of living. This allows for much more freedom in choosing future clients and projects.<p>- Making big mistakes sometimes means getting fired. You can make big mistakes and apologize. You may still get fired. It's just business. Keep it professional, walk away and learn from your mistakes.