Hey Phil....what you just explained doesn't sound all that unusual. I think we let these kinds of things happen a lot of the time for just the reason your wife stated "you're just too nice of a guy". Sounds to me like you enjoy helping and being productive. Sometimes we find out that after helping as best we can, that it's not really where we want to be as there is little in it for us. And I'm not saying that to sound selfish or uncaring. I mean it as with anything in life, there has to be some kind of payback to what we do. The payback may be monetary, emotional, intellectual, whatever is important to us.
And then there is another way to look at it too....nothing ventured nothing gained...and you don't know if you don't try

So, you gave it a try, it didn't work out for you and you moved on. Not a dang thing wrong with that now is there??
Best of luck to you in your self employment!

sabby