I don't see all businesses as a rat race. Tech is. The business that I've been building skills towards starting is a fun hands-on product, which involves a bit of artistry and a fair amount of labor and materials costs, and brings people joy. Tech can keep paying my bills, unless my side project gets bigger than I foresee. And if I lose money, I made some nice art along the way and had fun learning new skills.
Sure, but then I am confused as to why the mention of 'the rat race' at all. If your business is a fun hobby, then it is unrelated to you having to still be in the rat race. It would be no different than taking up reading or photography as a hobby. You are still in the rat race, you just also have a hobby.