Being a business owner isn’t easy. There are amazing highs, but the lows are often quite intense as well. Somedays it feels like the problems never stop – regardless of how much success you achieve. The problems just grow, evolve, morph. So we asked business owners if they sometimes wonder what it would be like to just have a regular job and have shared some of the highlights below.

Jaime Love

I find joy in being a business owner, despite the inevitable challenges it brings. The ability to make decisions and work alongside an incredible staff that contributes to the success of my business is immensely rewarding. Occasionally, I yearn for the simplicity of turning a key at the end of the night and enjoying uninterrupted vacations; however, this remains the only downside. Read more>>

Jasmine Woods

I am extremely happy as a business owner. I have always known that I wanted to be my own boss and becoming a chef was always one of my top three career choices. My very first job was in hospitality and I loved it. I worked as a hostess for about four years and eventually moved on to other opportunities. I was a loan officer, medical biller, even an accountant but nothing felt fulfilling. I worked a ton of different jobs before I finally decided to take the leap and go back to school.  Read more>>

Dave Long

I am genuinely happy to be a business owner, but I do often think about what my life would be like working a regular job. Probably once a week. Usually when things are not going great in the store. When this happens I may have a momentary daydream of where I would be in another company, or how far up the ladder I would be. I know that I could be making more money working somewhere else.  Read more>>

BrAd Steiner

When I worked for a previous video production company, we shot a lot of french fry processing video. I’m not talking about being at a fast food restaurant, dropping a basket of fries; I’m talking about training and marketing video for one of the largest french fry producers in the world. Their own clients ranged from the biggies, like McDonalds and Red Robin, to the small town restaurant down the street. Read more>>

Arthur Judson

I am generally happy as a business owner. Though sometimes, I envy those who have a regular job. Actually, I envy the pay and the benefits of the people who have a regular job. What I do love about having our own business is the flexibility. I enjoy working with my life partner and take lots of opportunities to spend time with our children. Read more>>

Qung Xav

I think being a business owner that generates income through having jobs that help create more jobs is super important. Even though I am a business owner I am still a business owner that uses his business to obtain and create jobs. I don’t believe having a job is a bad thing especially when you are funding your business. I think it’s good to have income that contributes to generating more income is important. Read more>>

Alexa Johansen

I’m much happier as a business owner! Honestly, I never expected, dreamed of, or even wanted to own a business. I didn’t think I was capable to launch or maintain a business by myself; so, it simply wasn’t on my radar! For the first seven years of my post-grad life, I was set on climbing the ladder in the field of higher education. Read more>>

Gabriela Baszton

The last time I seriously contemplated the idea of being a business owner versus having a regular 9-5 job was during a winter vacation in the picturesque mountains. It was a story of mixed emotions, where the beauty of nature clashed with the demands of entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Tony Ferrari

Being a business owner is great! Make your own schedule, flexibility, and working hard for yourself and not a random company. However you are on 24/7 there is never a dull moment. I often think how nice it would be to just clock in make my money and clock out. Once I leave the work place I’m done with no more responsibility or continued thinking about it. That sometimes sounds really nice. Read more>>

Britney Duke

As a business owner, I’ve found the journey to be both challenging and immensely rewarding. The allure of having a regular job does occasionally surface, particularly during moments of high stress or uncertainty. The stability, the defined roles, and, most notably, the ability to ‘turn off’ at the end of the day are aspects I sometimes miss. The constant switching between multiple roles and the blurred lines between personal and professional life are realities of entrepreneurship that I grapple with. Read more>>