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.

Becca Mohler

Being the owner of Cal Heights Music has brought an unexpected and profound happiness into my life. I still can’t believe how fortunate I am that this journey found me. Read more>>

Karina Montes vizcarra

I am a Painter so I am my own boss. When I was younger, I had various types of work, saleswoman, waitress, hostess, etc. But my path went hand in hand with creativity, so I started making hand-carved jewelry, bags, etc. Read more>>

Meghann Basque Nicholas Peters Bond

We have had to pivot several times since the start of Kitchen to Aisle. During Covid is the most recent example of having to restructure your business temporarily and was the definition of making it work. We have the ability to adapt and think on our feet. Each event is a learning experience and a chance for us to grow as a business and partnership. Read more>>

Melissa Rodriguez

I can honestly say that I am very, very happy being a business owner. I have worked many “9 to 5’s” and never felt like they fit me or my lifestyle very well. I started working in the medical field in my early 20’s and quickly realized that as much as I loved helping people; what I really wanted was to be out in the world, traveling and taking photos. Read more>>

Delcina Brown

Being a business owner has its ups and downs, but I absolutely love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else! I have worked for other businesses in the past and I can tell you that the owner/manager can make or break things for the employees. Micromanaging is the worst. Who wants to feel like someone is constantly watching them and breathing down their neck? Read more>>

Alf Palacios

Since making the decision to leave the corporate world three years ago, not only have I found a new way of living, but I’ve also tapped into a happiness and fulfillment I didn’t know existed. Being at the helm of my own business has been enlightening in every sense. Yes, there are challenges and hurdles to overcome, but the journey is entirely worth it. Read more>>

Carly Garrett

I am so happy to be a business owner. There are days when my schedule is full and things are crazy but it takes me almost no time to remember how lucky I am to be working for myself. I don’t have to book off when my kiddos need me, I can do a lot of my work remotely and I love the flexibility of the day to day for both my clients and myself. Read more>>

Donna Smith

Being a business owner has taken me on an emotional journey from the very start of my decision to pursue photography professionally. I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t shed many happy and sad tears along the way. While I can’t pinpoint an exact moment when I last wondered about my choice, there’s a constant balancing act between my passion for capturing moments and the challenges I face running my own photography business. Read more>>

Ajia Minnis Cruz Lanham

Being a business owner is extremely rewarding and it is the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. It is also the most stressed out I’ve been in my entire life which for me manifests in hair loss which is really frustrating because I am a hair salon owner. It’s forcing me to follow my own advice, partner with dermatologists and my stylists here to make sure I’m maintaining what I have and bringing vitality back to my scalp, it’s forcing me to make sure I’m continuing to eat healthly, stay active, workout, stretch, practice gratuity, and decompress doing other things I love including dancing more often and spending quality time with my husband and our two dogs ‘ Read more>>

Destiny Roxas

Running a business is not always glamorous. It may look like it, but it’s a lot of self-accountability and self-admonishment. If you fail… it’s all on you. No one else to blame, and for the most part, you have to be able to push yourself through adversity, often without much support from others. Read more>>

Joseph Kuras

Honestly, this is a daily thing. I’m not one to enjoy monotony…. Business phone calls, accounting, cleaning, going to several markets around town while sitting in seemingly endless traffic .. all before we even open. And did I mention I HATE shopping ? Lol And then to deal with the public right after can be such a drag, especially when their work day is done and they’re looking to throw a few back. Read more>>

Amélie Saint-Jacques

I love being a business owner! After finishing my master’s degree, I always chose to be self-employed, in large part because I’m in better control of my schedule. I wasn’t fond of an office building environment, either – I once worked in an office where you had to ask the front desk for the key every time you wanted to use the washroom, and that was so dehumanizing, I just couldn’t imagine living my life that way! Read more>>

Lauren Dee

The truth about being a small business owner is it is really hard sometimes. You don’t have a big corporation to fall back on for funds, time, inventory, supplies, etc. You are the person/team deciding what your business will be. It can be a lot to do everything all at once, all the time. Keeping up with making products, ordering the right supplies, finding funds to make the products, and social media, which seems to be a full time job alone. Read more>>

Paul Francis

Overall I would say yeah, I am happiest being a business owner. I have always been somewhat of a business owner since a young age. I started my first business at 19. I can tell you that it was much easier at 19 to start your own business and become satisfied with the outcome vs today at 47 and realizing I don’t have as much energy, carefree attitude and sometimes drive I once had. Read more>>

Antalaya Israel

Being a business owner brings me unexplainable happiness and freedom. This is definitely my lane and I’m loving the entire journey, good or bad. I grew up seeing my dad as a business owner so it seemed to rub off on me. I saw his good days and his bad days but even through all of it, I loved how he actually enjoyed what he did and was successful at it. That was exactly what I wanted and I knew one day I would put fear and discouragement to the side or down the street, lol. Read more>>

Ariel Willow

As a business owner, I think it’s easy to get to points where we face doubts of whether or not the business we have is worth pursuing and that can happen for a variety of reasons- whether due to difficulties or struggling with imposter syndrome and doubting if we have what it takes to make things work. But inevitably, we make it through. Read more>>

Christy Lee

It’s 10:30pm and my eyes are starting to dry out from staring at my screen all day. My head hurts from trying to think about the best way to redirect and progress my patient with hip pain while organizing my week because I have been behind on admin work. I think “I wonder what it is like to have a job where you clock out and don’t think about work anymore”. Read more>>

Robin Bouricius

I never seriously think about going back. While I sometimes miss the social dynamic of a conventional workspace, and I appreciate the illusion of stability in a paycheck, I was laid off during the Covid economy. I was propelled to make a change. Necessity is the mother of invention. It was worth it! I like doing my own thing– I like the freedom of expressing my vision; financially, I am much better compensated for my time and talent. Read more>>

Nikki Lian

I used to be a school teacher. I had to be in my classroom at 8am and be there until 2:40. I couldn’t take my students outside, even though we had a big, beautiful campus. I had to teach them from a set of “standards” they were required to learn. I got my regular paycheck on the 5th of every month (even though it was garbage I still knew it was coming). Read more>>

Stephanie Lee

Am I happy as a business owner? Do I sometimes think about what it would be like to have a regular job? Read more>>

Meaghan Semple

Being a business owner has its ups and downs. Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about having a so-called “regular job.” The steady pay, the predictability, getting to check things off of my to-do list. It sounds so dreamy at times. If you haven’t caught that I am a planner, an introvert and an Enneagram #1 (improver).  Read more>>

Assyria Enoch

I am very happy as a business owner! I am also happy having a regular job in addition to owning a business. There is a misconception that owning a business automatically means you quit your job. While most business endeavors do require one to leave “Corporate America,” that is not true for all. Read more>>

Jonisha Garcia-Lindsey

I try my best to live a very uncomplicated and somewhat “predictable” life so entrepreneurship has been interesting to say the least. I wouldn’t label this experience as “happy”, but I am not sad about it. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able do it because of the benefits of being a business owner. Running a business has given me the time freedom to be my creative self, offer financial stability for my family and I and have allowed me to positively impact the community of women we serve. Read more>>

Jaime Foley

I’m definitely happier as a business owner although depending on what job I look back at I have more stress. I have my moments where I wonder what life would look and feel like having a ‘normal’ job. It’s been a long and strange few years, I know for all of us. Right before the pandemic I felt like my business was really starting to pick up and I was making dependable income and then boom. We were all thrown off kilter. Read more>>

Natasha Keel

I never intentionally set out to be a business owner. I was never one to take on leadership roles, I’ve always been a very laid back, go with the flow kinda gal. However, when I fell in love with baking, I wanted to do it more on my own terms. I taught myself by constantly reading and trying new things. Read more>>

Andrea Rodriguez

I am very happy being an entrepreneur and having my own company, since I decided to open my company together with my husband, God has blessed us greatly. Being an entrepreneur is not easy, one goes through many problems, uncertainties and situations that are not always what one expected. Read more>>

Sarah N. Jackson

In February 2022 I went full time in Photography and Real Estate. Prior to that I had been a server and bartender at various restaurants around the Chicago suburbs and eventually Coachella Valley. I had a total of 18 years in that industry and I was very comfortable there. Read more>>

Sedrick Montano

As your own boss you’re able to grow more everyday and not stress out as much , a big stress as a human is to work for someone else and stress day to day because you’re not happy. I’m tattooed head to toe so owning my own business is essential . I couldn’t see my self working a *regular* job I really don’t know where I would be if I didn’t elevate and grow my self to be able to branch off and be a solo artist. Read more>>

Megan Parker

I am definitely happier as a business owner. Being able to have more flexibility for my personal life is a huge plus. Even more important than that is the ability to contribute to my community. The valley of Los Angeles is often over looked and definitely underrated. Many of us who were born and raised here are becoming business owners and doing everything we can to lift each other up. Read more>>

Tea Miller

I guess I always thought I’d be a business owner in some capacity, I come from a family of all business owners/entrepreneurs. There was never any alternative in my mind. But to answer your question. Im absolutely happier being a business owner. Read more>>

Pia Beck

One of the things I don’t think many people realize is how lonely it can be to be a business owner, especially if you employ people. Read more>>

Erica Mer

Being a a successful business owner is a powerful label that I happily acknowledge. As a freelance creative, there are definite ups and downs that come along in the entertainment industry. For me, the pros outweigh the cons. For one, I am able to work with artistic, creative, open minded (for the most part), people on a regular basis. Read more>>

Chris Lang

Short answer: Yes, absolutely! Long(er) answer: Yes, but sometimes I have small second thoughts. I made the decision to run my own show about eighteen years ago, and it’s been a long process of learning, perseverance, sacrifice and gain, and ultimately success and… more perseverance. In the beginning, I only knew what I wanted to do for a living; coach as many actors on as many accents in as many exciting movies and TV shows and plays as possible. Read more>>

Robert Lo

Being a business owner allows me to to impact a lot of people. For example, we are giving the opportunity to serve many guest throughout our regular business hours. While it is not seen by many people, we also have to communicate with the company we lease our store front from, making sure every payments and agreements are fulfilled. There are numerous vendors we work with, and we have to make sure deliveries and shipments are received on time. Read more>>

Julia Strouk

I thrive as a business owner. Yes, it’s tough. It’s a lot of pressure and responsibilities. But in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons. As a business owner, I get to choose what impact I want to make on the world. I get to spread values that I believe can make this earth a better place, and I get to inspire others to do the same. Read more>>

Lena Gill

My story is pretty wild actually. I guess I don’t have to necessarily wonder what it would be like to have a regular job since I’ve been working one and owning a business simultaneously. I also teach photography and graphic design to high schoolers and college kids. It’s been a hard juggle with how my business has grown though so 2023-2024 will be the first year I don’t teach. It’s bittersweet but I’m excited for a new journey and the time to focus on my business growth. Read more>>

Maegan Swabb

Have I ever felt like tossing in the towel and becoming a Trader Joe’s bagging pro or a floral artist extraordinaire? Yep, I’ve been there! As the brains behind M. Swabb Interior Design Collective, I’ve danced with the idea of ditching the business owner hat for something a bit less intense. But you know what? Read more>>

Priscilla Mitce=hell

I am happier as a business owner, but it definitely comes with it’s own stressors. The one thing I like about regular jobs is the consistency, and that I wasn’t just answering to myself, as in I had a commitment to a job, so I know I would fulfil what I had to do. Sometimes, I have a hard time with schedules, getting things done, distractions, and self motivation. Read more>>

Isaiah Hageman

I have an interesting take on this question. As I just graduated college, I’m currently navigating decisions related to going full time as a coin dealer versus taking a “regular” day job in my degree of geology. Since both geology and numismatics are passions of mine, there is a constant struggle to choose one or the other to make a career out of. I currently am working to fulfill both dreams, also knowing that there will be a point in the future where I’ll have to make a choice. Read more>>

Alexandra McCullough

Van Life is beautiful and unique, my husband Frankie and I have traveled to so many gorgeous and remote places and seen more of the world in the last 4 years than many people do in a lifetime. We are blessed to have found this way of life and can easily see ourselves doing it for a long time. But, trying to run a business on the road and earn enough income to pay for all these epic adventures does come at a cost. Read more>>

Rebecca Kessler

The shift from working for someone else to being a business owner is a big one! There were so many parts I thought through— the learning curve of LLC formation, taxes, licensing and a million other practical details that I knew would require a lot of work. It seemed more than worth it for the trade up of being my own boss. But, there were also a number of things I hadn’t stopped to consider. Read more>>

Nick English

I’m much happier running my own business. I’ve had both corporate jobs and funkier startup jobs and while I’ve never had to wear a suit — jeans and collars were all that was required at the corporate one — I’m far happier when I can set my own hours. I haven’t woken up with an alarm in years, which I’m grateful for every day. Read more>>