When times are good it’s easy to feel like entrepreneurship is the only path for you, but what about the times when your hit with multiple crises at once? We wondered if all entrepreneurs have moments when they wonder whether they should have gone with (or stuck to) a more standard job where they worked for someone else.

Cassandra Vilicich

Imagine it’s a busy Friday morning at Beachside Wax and Glow. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since 8 a.m., appointments are fully booked for the day, and you’re running between clients trying to stay on schedule. Then, out of nowhere, the power goes out, and the Wi-Fi dies. You’re mid-way through a lash lift, and everything comes to a screeching halt. Clients are anxious because they have places to be, and you can’t reschedule because you’re already fully booked for the next two weeks. Read more>>

Jenee Staicer

Having worked regular jobs before, I can confidently say that being a business owner brings a unique kind of fulfillment—one that allows me to pursue my passions, express my authentic self, and inspire others. But sometimes, the pressure can make me question if it’s all worth it. Just this past month, I had one of those moments of doubt. I was invited to be part of a powerful and impactful show for an activist group, a cause I truly believe in. They asked me to create a painting for the show, but there was one catch: I only had 13 days to complete it. The excitement of being part of something so meaningful was overwhelming, but so was the deadline. I knew it was an incredible opportunity to contribute to a cause that aligned with my values, but the timeline was brutal. I was already juggling commissions, client meetings, and ongoing projects, and I wondered if a regular job, with its predictable hours and boundaries, would make things easier. Read more>>

William Trostel

Being a business owner is the most challenging but also most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. Being your own boss can create ultimate flexibility in your life and it’s schedule. But at the same time it can be severely challenging because you are the head person in charge and when issues arise it falls on you, the owner. No boss or board members to fall back on. Thats all on you. Work/life balance is absolutely crucial in operating a small business because at times it feels like work will never end and you can just keep working 24/7 trying to get things done. And if you can’t develop that balance mental health issues are sure to develop. Read more>>

Daniela Cordero

As someone who is currently studying to become a nurse, I think about this statement quite a lot. I love what I’m studying and the change I can make in people’s life as a nurse, however, as a photographer I also feel like I also get to make an impact. Being a photographer means I get to capture someone’s most special day, their milestones, and memories they will look back at for the rest of their lives. This makes my job extremely fulfilling and makes me grateful I am given the opportunity to be a part of my client’s lives. Being a photographer has given me the opportunity to pay for school and to support myself through nursing school, I have been able to make my own schedule which has been extremely helpful as I have very limited availability with assignments, clinicals and exams. Additionally, photography has given me the resources to keep traveling and exploring the world which I am forever grateful for. Although I will be working as a nurse in the future full time, my photography business will keep being a huge part of my life and I hope to keep making an impact in other’s as I work in both of these fields. Read more>>

Tashi Pearson

Yes, it has definitely changed my life. As a content creator building her own brand, I found that my previous 9-5 world has helped me tremendously from dealing with vendors, producing quality work, marketing myself and investing in myself as hard as I would for my 9-5’s. It has given me perspective that joining both worlds would make a lot of sense, thus far granting me many success. From training employees, speaking with customers, getting promoted to General Manager and starting multiple businesses & failing at it, are all the highlights in building my brand today.  We all go through seasons but its carrying the lesson you learnt to build your own empire. To answer the question, yes I’m happier as a business owner T and no, I wouldn’t go back to the 9-5 world but I’m beyond grateful for what it has taught me. Read more>>

Charity Taylor

I’m definitely happy as a business owner, but every now and then, I catch myself wondering what life would be like if I had stayed an employee. The last time that thought really hit me was after a long day of working with clients, managing appointments, and handling the behind-the-scenes of my business. It was one of those days where everything felt overwhelming—the constant juggling of responsibilities, the pressure of making sure my business stays successful, and ensuring my clients are taken care of. I remember sitting in the salon lobby, staring out the window, just thinking, “What if I was just clocking out right now, heading home without any of this weight on my shoulders?” I imagined the simplicity of leaving work at work, not having to think about numbers, strategies, or keeping everything afloat. Read more>>

Katherine Swanson

I absolutely love being a business owner! I think it’s normal to think about having a “normal job” when finances ebb and flow in our small businesses. Especially with the state of the economy & prices of literally everything almost quadrupling in the last few years. This being said, I know how mind numbing and soul sucking it feels to be in a 9-5 job…at least that’s how I feel in them compared to running a small business. A lot of people can feel safety & security in having a 9-5 job and that’s wonderful. I’m just the person that feels trapped like I’m on a hamster wheel when working for someone else. It’s all about what makes you happy individually. Everyone is different and there’s so much beauty in that. Read more>>

Marhiah Montoya

Yes, I am definitely happier as a small business owner. Castorena Creations LLC is my outlet for creativity and stress relief, powered by ADHD with a dash of autism. I make handmade crochet and knit items, along with digital art, often science-related. The process of creating something tangible that will make someone else smile brings me a sense of peace and fulfillment that my “regular” job as a postdoctoral associate can’t always provide. My business lets me manage the challenges of daily life while doing something that nurtures my mental health. But there are moments, especially after a long day in the lab, where I wonder what it would be like to have just one “regular” job. I remember one evening, after hours of fungal research on Cryptococcus at Duke University, I felt drained. I was analyzing complex data, troubleshooting experiments, and trying to meet tight deadlines. My brain was exhausted from the intense focus required in the lab. That night, I caught myself thinking: wouldn’t it be easier to just have a single job, something simpler, with less weight on my shoulders? Read more>>

Karlie Lacoste

Oh man, I love this question. There are so many layers to this and the thought crosses my mind on a regular basis. I have been a stylist in the beauty industry for 15 years. Upon graduating high school in 2009 I enrolled at the Aveda Institute knowing that this job would afford me the time to explore myself and what I wanted to do with this one, precious life. In 2011 I began my study of Energy Work when I was introduced to a Reiki practitioner. Since then I have studied many healing modalities (reiki, yoga, tarot, astrology) and began teaching virtually during the 2020 lockdown while the salons were all closed. This experience allowed me to see a life outside of the salon, although I love the salon I always knew it would be a means to an end and the timing of the pandemic was divine for me. When the world opened back up I cut back on my salon hours and began experimenting with ways to make money in the healing world. I have loved every second of this exploration, but cutting back on my hours, losing clientele, downsizing my salon space, and jumping head first into a new endeavor has been incredibly challenging. The self doubt, the anxiety, the tough conversations, and the choices that I would rather someone else make for me, made it so easy to fantasize about a 9-5 job with benefits, PTO, and a boss that could shoulder the things I would rather not.  Read more>>

Pantea Bionki

I am 100% happy as a business owner. It’s something I’ve worked hard to maintain through building strong connections, continually educating myself, and ensuring that the work is emotionally fulfilling. Starting this business is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. As for wondering about having a regular job, the thought does cross my mind occasionally, but it never takes more than a few seconds to realize that it’s not for me. Working for someone else often means adhering to a set structure, which limits creativity. I love the freedom to be creative both within my business and in shaping its direction, and I wouldn’t trade that for the constraints of a traditional job.  Read more>>

Brooke Bruce

I am happier as a business owner because being a business owner comes with a lot of independence and the ability to create my own schedule. There are days where my schedule goes according to plan but having the flexibility to pivot on days where that is needed either on the farm or with my son’s schedule is a huge business owner perk. I get the benefit of setting my own schedule and making decisions that align with our goals. On the really hard days or seasons of owning a business, I have thought about getting back into the corporate world. During those moments it feels like that would be the “easier” or less stressful option but the reality is the corporate world has its pros and cons too. When we first started livestock farming, other/more seasoned farmers would tell us not all animals will make it and not to beat ourselves up about it. That is the hard truth about what we do. In those moments of losing an animal and my heart is broken I would love nothing more than having a regular 9-5 job that I could clock out and not stress about until the next day. The corporate world could provide stability and structure and maybe less stress, depending on the job. It ultimately comes down to what I want most and in this case independence and flexibility is what works best for me and my family. Read more>>