Player-Made Missions

Not all missions must be Johnson bringing you in to go on a special run for them. Sometimes the month is coming up, rent's coming due, and the players need some kind of payday. Here's some ways players can come up with their own missions.

Mugging:
Players looking for a quick couple bucks could go on simple muggings to get some cash, but we're talking about cash in the $100s here, probably not much of a payday.

Robbery:
Planning a robbery of a store, bank, armored car, jewelry store, or other facility can be a fun way to make that payday without having any johnson to answer to. Usually these are difficult missions, but since they aren't dealing with "the most advanced development in the X field" or anything, security isn't as tight as they're probably used to. Deckery-style robberies should be made into full missions in the same sense.

Con Job:
Getting a bunch of PCs together to pull a crazy con job can be fun too. GM: don't be tempted to make people act smarter than they should- people believe what they WANT to believe, and the two biggest motivators are GREED and FEAR.

Shipments:
Finding a shipment of weapons, drugs, etc to break up makes for a straightforward gang-style mission full of shooting and looting, and in the end they can get some guns, some drugs, or some crap to sell for money.

Prison Break:
Sometimes people get caught and it's up to the other PCs to break them out of jail. This can be a very difficult but rewarding mission that builds teamwork and trust between members, though it can greatly increase wanted levels (especially if they're using lethal force).

Elimination:
Whether it's a witness, a nosy detective, a loudmouth reporter, or whatever, sometimes a mission or identity is close to being compromised and you need to shut someone up. This can be as simple as a bullet, beating, or threat, or as complicated as getting them a better job further away which makes them forget all about their business here.

Just some ways to break the old formula of Meeting-Mission-Meeting.