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.

Faith Hall

There are moments when I wonder what my life would look like if I worked a typical 8–5 job—one where I could go home at the end of the day and leave work behind. Read more>>

Peter Clausen

I think I am unfortunately stuck being a business owner for the rest of my life. There is a certain sense of freedom that comes with steering your own ship, being a master of your own successes and failures, and I don’t think I would be able to find personal fulfilment at a regular job without that. Read more>>

Marissa Foss

I am happy as a business owner. It has allowed me to make so many amazing connections and friendships with people of all ages and walks of life that I would’ve never met.if I was not doing this business. Read more>>

Brittany McCorkell

I’m absolutely happier as a business owner. From the very beginning, I was all in—no doubts, no backups, no plan B. I am forever grateful how deeply my clients and my business would support me through some of the hardest losses and seasons of my life. my career in the beauty industry and being a creator, an entrepreneur grounded me when everything else felt unsteady. Read more>>

Kaiy Smith-Biesman

Are you happier as a business owner? Yes — but “happy” is too simple of a word. I’m more aligned, more awake, more myself than I ever was in a traditional job. But that doesn’t mean it’s easier. Read more>>

Tobias Redson

Nowadays the market is pretty saturated, you can throw a rock in any direction and it seems like you’d hit a tattoo studio. ‘Slow’ season makes every tattoo artist quake and there’s always that fear ‘Will people forget about me? Am I as good as the many other tattoo artists out there? Read more>>

Zaa’Kiya Green

I am happier as a business owner — but that happiness comes with a lot of responsibility, sacrifice, and growth. I actually still work a regular job right now while also running my braiding business and my graphic design/creative agency. So I’m living both realities at once, and that gives me a unique perspective on this question. Read more>>

Zippy Abla

You know, I’m a happiness scientist who teaches people how to build a life they don’t need to escape from… and yet even I sometimes look at 9-to-5 folks with their neat, predictable calendars and think, “Wow… must be nice to know when your next paycheck is coming.” The last time I had that thought was earlier this year. Picture this: It’s 11:47 PM. Read more>>

Kimberly Salas

I’ve been a business owner for 7 years, I started off as an independent nail technician in my own suite immediately after receiving my license and graduating from nail school. While doing so, I was working a part time job at a nail salon and honestly I loved it. Read more>>