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.
Martina Bell
I am profoundly happier as a business owner. Building Quiet Mile Pictures isn’t just about making films; it’s about creating a universe that didn’t exist when I was looking for it. Read More>>
Milton Putman
Yes, I am happy as a business owner. Entrepreneurship has its challenges, but I genuinely enjoy the freedom, purpose, and opportunity that come with building something that creates value and impacts others. There have been difficult seasons when the pressures of finances, long hours, and uncertainty made me think about what life would be like with a regular job. Read More>>
Ricardo Gudino
Am I happy as a business owner? Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t moments when I wonder what life would be like with a regular job. The last time I had that thought was during wedding season. It was one of those weeks where everything seemed to hit at once. Read More>>
Dr. Erica Franks, PT, DPT, OCS
Yes, I am happier as a business owner, but there are definitely moments when I think about what life would be like with a traditional job that offers steady income, benefits, PTO, and the ability to truly disconnect at the end of the day. Read More>>
Audrina Henry
Well, as some people already know, I am a true jack-of-all-trades. I actually balance a demanding 9-to-5 position while simultaneously running two businesses. When people ask if I’d be happier just doing one or the other, I have to be completely honest: it doesn’t matter if you have a regular job or own a company—both are incredibly hard when you are dealing with people. Read More>>
Conrad Wright
I’m extremely happy to be a business owner considering the obstacles I overcame. I started out hustling in the streets at an early age before I was old enough to get a job. When I became of age my first job was washing dishing at a small restaurant. Read More>>
Kisha Washington
I have to say, being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. Its hard work. Its takes up all your time, and you constantly have to be engaged in all aspects of the business. I started my personal chef business in 2014. I had a full time job as well. It was a lot keeping up with both. Read More>>
Laura Anderson
I can say, with my full chest, despite what others would lead you to believe- I am MUCH happier as a business owner. Is every day perfect? No. But every day as a business owner, even the bad ones are MUCH better than the best days as an employee. I have full autonomy over my own life. Read More>>
Alexa Nahas
It’s kind of hard for me to answer whether or not I am happier as a business owner, as it is technically the only thing I have ever really been outside of a few part-time jobs in high school. I grew up watching my father run his own business and my mother working in the public school system. Read More>>
Miyoshi Garrison
Before becoming a business owner, I worked as a Medical Assistant for 17 years at Piedmont and 2 years at Benton House. Those experiences gave me the knowledge, confidence, and courage to step into business ownership because I was already working in the healthcare field and serving others every day. Read More>>
Tyronsa Lawrence
I am very happy as a business owner. Of course it has its ups and downs and some days when it gets really slow I think about getting what people consider a ‘regular’ job. Believe it or not the holidays are the slowest times for me because most people are doing their own baking and focusing on getting gifts for the holidays. Read More>>
Johanna Ceballos
The answer is yes most days. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have days where everything feels chaotic and unaligned. The reason I say that is because, being fully honest, running a business has tested me in ways I could have never imagined. Read More>>
Briana Autran
I am happy as a business owner. I get to work my own hours and enjoy slow mornings, which feels especially meaningful given how stressful mornings always felt growing up – everyone rushing out the door for work and school by a certain time. Once I got older and realized there were other options, I knew I wanted to work for myself. Read More>>
Kristen Morgan
On occasion, I do think about what it would be like to have a more traditional job — getting a consistent paycheck from someone else, having set hours, and being able to truly clock out at the end of the day. Read More>>
Songa Kim
I am beyond ecstatic being a business owner. I know intimately well what it is like to have a ‘regular’ job having been an accountant for twenty years before pursuing my daydream as a full time career. Read More>>
Maggie Morrison
I am happy as a business owner, and that I get to be my own boss. The old adage of ‘do what you love’ is accurate for my career working with animals. I love seeing the smiling faces of the dogs I walk every day, it truly brings me joy. Read More>>
Harry Acosta
Becoming my own boss is the best decision I’ve ever made. I work every day, nearly all day — but if I want to run to the store or grab a coffee with a friend at 2pm, I can do that almost any day I choose. That freedom is the whole thing. Read More>>
Kasey Darlene
Owning this dance studio is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. At the same time, during my time owning the studio thus far, I have had to work harder and longer hours than I ever have before… even in comparison to when I was working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Read More>>
Ashlee Marie
This is one of the questions I am asked most frequently by those who have watched me navigate the entrepreneurial world since 2019. I still remember the day I submitted my notice to my former employer, and more specifically, the words of encouragement from my corporate boss. Read More>>
Jonathan Brown
I can honestly say I’m happier as a business owner. Every morning I wake up grateful because I found something that allows me to make a real impact on people’s lives. It’s not just about helping someone lose weight or get stronger—it’s about helping people become better versions of themselves. Read More>>
Cynthia Akita
Am I happier as a business owner? Absolutely. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not immune to the highs and lows that come with entrepreneurship. There are seasons that are exciting and rewarding, and there are seasons that are stressful and uncertain. But when I look at my life as a whole, I’m definitely happier. Read More>>
Leila Baroudi
Am I happy as a business owner, and do I ever wonder what it would be like to have a regular job? Yes, I am very happy as a business owner. I also had a regular job as a teacher, a profession I have proudly served in for over 35 years. Read More>>
Qwatisha Atkins
Yes ! Being a business owner has definitely made me happier because it gives me freedom to create something that’s mine. I get to turn my ideas into reality, set my own goals, and build something that can create a better future for my family. That being said, there are times when I think about what it would be like to have a regular job. Read More>>