and I absolutely LOATHED working as part of a company, no matter how sweet I made my compensation package and perks post-acquisition. Yes, you have more engagement with others, more responsibilities... but there's also more drama, more situations where you lack control due to others' mismanagement. I always stuck around for as long as my golden handcuffs required... no longer.

If you can support yourself through consulting, then maybe switch up the projects that you're pitching to people to see if you can scratch the itch that way... with the direction that Product Management is heading now, so many are outsourcing even senior product managers to lower-cost countries (UK, Ireland, etc.).

I'm currently doing consulting, I set my rates at $750/hour and I am booked for the next 18 months with different clients. Ain't no way I'm ever going to be a long-term employee again.