What even is a “regular” job? Semantics aside, the heart of our question is about those moments when the stress of entrepreneurship is mounting – do you ever sit back and wonder what if you had just been working for someone else, what life would have been like without all the stress?
Iris Leonardo
Originally from Los Angeles, I have since established myself as a photographer, videographer, and content creator, presently centered in the Pacific Northwest. My professional journey has spanned a diverse array of domains within the realm of arts and entertainment, including engagements at red carpet events and runway fashion shows for the renowned Hollywood fashion designer Alexis Monsanto, coverage of live musical performances, documentation of destination weddings, affiliations with modeling and talent agencies, participation on Hollywood production sets encompassing commercials and cinematic productions, and professional LA basketball games. Read more>>
Alyona Shcherbina
Becoming a business owner comes with many varying emotions and experiences. From one side you live through pure elation seeing your vision come to life and watching those first customers walking through the space you only envisioned months ago. From the other end you lose a part of your daily peace you had before. Now instead of working a finite number of hours per week/per year, you move along to infinite hours. You now find yourself working through the night, day after day; being on call 24/7, and taking on the highs and the very lows onto your own shoulders. Responsibility in the restaurant world isn’t a light load. From day one of Cooper’s Coffee + Eatery my husband and made a decision to take on the project from a rather amusing point of view. Read more>>
Jamie Cox
I’m happy as a business owner! I wouldn’t say happier and I wouldn’t say any of this work is easier than having a “regular,” 9-5 job, but I feel a sense of peace and control now that I own my own business. In my daily work as a founder and strategist, I make so many decisions—for not only my business but for my clients, too! There’s an element of decision fatigue with all of that. Sometimes, I fantasize about going back to a 9-5 where someone else calls the shots and I just do what I’m told. Read more>>
Anna Robertson and Karl Roberts
We’re happy as business owners but like everything, you do have your moments of questioning why you do this. Karl and I both worked in the corporate world for the majority of our working life and we were definitely ready to do our own thing. The ability to make all of the decisions is liberating but can also result in decision fatigue (as an example, towards the end of decorating the cafe we were presented with 10 different shades of white to pick and our decorator ended up picking it as we had no more brain power left that day). Read more>>
Will English
I’ve had the experience of working a regular job and owning my own business. While the routine and security of a regular job have their appeal, I vastly prefer working for myself. While it is true that being independent is much more work, I find the sense of ownership and accomplishment more than make up for it. Plus I enjoy the challenge of thinking for myself and making my own decisions. Read more>>
Karina Gaspar
Well this has been a roller coaster for sure! I opened my business during pandemic! January 2020 & I am grateful to have survived. The imposter syndrome has been so real. However the audacity & passion for my craft seems to save me from the pitts of mental doomsday every time. I simply couldn’t picture the mondaying 9-5 ever again. My days are filled with high frequency energetic exchanges all day. Clients come in bushy tailed & bright eyed excited for their makeovers & eager to fill me in on all their milestones since our last appointment. Read more>>
Anthony Feghali
When things are going smoothly and well, being a business owner is the best job in the world. However, I often think about what it would be like to have a regular job during times when I am dealing with rough patches and large problems in the business. Sometimes it would be nice to be able to have a supervisor to push the problem up to and go home and forget about it, but as the brand owner, that doesn’t exist. Read more>>
Jen Villaruz Benitez
I love every minute of it. The flexibility, the time I have with my children, and the ability to problem-solve creatively every single day! Each day is nothing like the other and I thrive in that. Read more>>
Kamry Steger
I can honestly say I’ve never had the desire to return to a regular job. The average child typically has a “dream occupation” that they desire to have when they become an adult but I was never that child. I just always knew I wanted more. My mother is the most ambitious woman I know, but I watched her work tirelessly for corporations that never gave her the respect she deserved. I worked numerous jobs out of high school that ranged from the auto industry to human resources so that I could provide for my children. And though I was always blessed to have a steady source of income, I knew that those “regular jobs” weren’t meant for me. I can’t imagine going back to missing out on precious moments in my children’s lives and not having the freedom to move on my own terms. Read more>>
Ariana Word
This is something I often consider! Running a small salon has brought a unique set of challenges and rewards. There have been moments when I’ve reflected on whether I miss the days of simply showing up to work and focusing on my craft without the added responsibilities of ownership. Those were times when decisions were made by someone else, and I didn’t bear the burden when things didn’t go as planned. However, there’s a profound sense of achievement and personal growth that I’ve experienced as a business owner. I’ve had the opportunity to learn different aspects of the business that I wouldn’t have encountered as an employee. You would never have to consider them! This continuous personal and professional growth is immensely fulfilling to me, and there’s always more to learn and achieve. Read more>>