There aren't many ways to get out of a stagnant wage rate, but owning your own business is one of these methods. It can provide a lifetime of benefits, provided that you run it successfully.
When you (and your significant other) make a decision to go on a journey that ends with one of the biggest and most important transactions in life - i.e. buying a house or an apartment - looking into your real estate agent is not the first thing on your mind.