Did it for 3 years.
Threw in the towel and went back to a "normal" job. Now I timed it terribly. Went full time just a couple of months before the big financial meltdown; however, it's tough to run your own business even during good times. I certainly lacked the salesmanship you mention, and believe me, it's a real good idea to "know thyself." Wish I would have known sooner.
The fact of the matter is it's a LOT of work and, in my case, the easy work was actually the tech work. Dealing with people in terms of things like sales, collections, managing expectations....that can be so far out in left field with some business owners and managers you can scarcely believe you're even having the conversations....was the hard part, and the part that consumed the most time.
Most "geeks" do not have the right skills to make this work. I probably do better with people than many "geeks" do, and I found out I don't really have them. I'm not trying to rain on anybody's parade, but this is not a decision that needs to be made lightly, regardless of the words of motivational speakers and success stories.
