@Tyler Purcell,
Thank you for being so honest and sharing your personal story. It cannot be easy to reflect on good and bad times. Money is not guaranteed, and it was made clear to me when I started. Many get uncomfortable about this question, at least when I ask fellow camera operators and creatives.
It's not easy, and it's been made clear by everyone. It's not swaying me at all. Personal projects are cool, and I hope to work on them more with my friends. We're just about to run our first indie short. It hasn't been easy, and it's the first time I will fully control the camera and lighting. (Nervous and excited at the same time)
Can I ask what you mean by "results weren't good enough"? I hear this from other DPS, some gaffers, and producers at the time. Does this mean failing to meet the quality of the client or marketing results? Does it vary from case to case?
People will come and go, and I am used to it. I don't believe I have ever met the "ride or die" coworker, colleague, teammate, client, or boss, but I am glad you found your path. I wish you success.
I think you guys make it clear that in this career, you need to combine saving, trying to plan, having a backup plan, or a secondary job to back up in case the brown chocolate hits the fan.
Thank you for your advice, sharing your story, and taking the time to answer my question. It has offered me a lot of insight.