I still had a ton to learn about life after the point that I decided to consult. However, just that leap taught me many things about people and human relations.

Most people in business are super petty to the extent that they will go out of their way to spoil your win if it galls them. Even and especially owners and business people.

Co-workers are almost always the ultimate cowardly normies. They stay in their ostrich holes, they don't want to hear about reality outside their holes, even reacting with anger and resentment when shown reality. And they desperately avoid appearing to not conform.

Co-workers are as a result always envious and miserable.

Most employee/FTE types are a cross between North Korean citizens and dopey NPR listening brainwashed liberal normies. They have attributes of both. (Specific example: co workers will usually rat out acquaintances to management. That's basically totalitarian social behavior.)

Watching my money closely became a high priority once I started contracting. A heads down employee can count on the paycheck. As a contractor you have to have the funds every quarter to pay your withholdings+FICA as well as just pay your bills... but taxes come first. I would hear about dumbasses that I used to work with who got out of contracting basically because they failed to accumulate the quarterly tax payment and then were in the hole and had some interest and penalties. They blamed contracting but it was really that they were thinking like 10 year olds and lack any semblance of financial self control.

In general most grown adults think like 10 year olds about their own affairs.

Also, being on the outside I started to see more clearly how childish and gossipy most of my peers were.

In short - I stopped being a "civilian" when I decided to turn down jobs and contract.

A small step compared to other life steps, perhaps, but I know so fucking many people IRL who wouldn't ever take even a baby step like that.