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.

Christine Csencsitz

As with any job, there are pros and cons to being a business owner. What is important is that the pros outweigh the cons. The independence that owning my business gives me, for one, is a major advantage, especially as a creative. Relatedly, the flexibility it gives me in regards to my own time — that is, time spent working on Cats & Coffee, time spent running errands or managing daily life, and the time I have strictly to myself — is something that I could never have with a traditional job. Read more>>

Grace Cousins

I am anxious, excited, worried, and stressed as a business owner, but everyday I choose to do what I am passionate about. I am happier as a business owner because even though I do experience these thoughts I get to choose how my day is spent and I get to choose to be creative. I would be lying if I said I don’t think about working a regular job. Read more>>

Mariam Yelda

As a makeup artist and proud owner of my own salon, I couldn’t be happier with the path I’ve chosen. Every day, I have the privilege of unleashing my creativity and enhancing the natural beauty of my clients. Building my own business has been a rewarding journey, allowing me to set my own schedule, create a unique brand, and cultivate a loyal clientele. Read more>>

Alyssa and Ray Wyatt

We often joke what it would be like to have weekends off… holidays off… sicks days or even vacation time. Ok, maybe not joke, we are super envious of those that pack up to go the beach on the weekend whilst we pack up our ice cream cart and get into our VW Bus to go to our next event. Read more>>

Brandon Cheng

I am definitely happier as a business owner. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about what it would be like to have a regular job. The thought of working a regular job crosses my mind often. Owning a business is very overwhelming at times. Read more>>

 K.C. Lindsay

Explaining what it’s like to be a business owner to a person who never has been a business owner before is extremely tough because the entire experience, in many different aspects is not relatable to those who have only held a standard or corporate 9-5 job. When I first started my own business, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would build the business to what it currently is, so there are many days where it’s hard to steady my feet and it can be quite overwhelming. Read more>>

Leo Cuesta

I’ve wanted to have my own business ever since I thought about what I want to do for a living. My father is an entrepreneur and I grew up helping out in his businesses. My adventure travel company has nothing to do with my dad’s companies but growing up around his independent businesses is certainly the main reason why I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Read more>>

Shelby Hay

I am definitely happier as a business owner. I have more flexibility and time to spend with my daughter and the ability to make decisions about what I do day to day is very empowering. For some reason I always struggled in regular 9-5 jobs, I had a lot of things I was working through in my life and I never felt like I could find the right fit. Mental health issues have always been a part of my life and now that I have my own business I feel like a new person. I am able to control my day and what I do and it makes dealing with my mental health struggles much easier. Read more>>

Lily & Cassidy

As we reflect upon your question about whether we are happier as a business owners and if we ever contemplate having a regular job, we can’t vividly recall the last time we grappled with that thought. Being an entrepreneur can be particularly demanding and the stress that comes with being an owner, visionary, and integrator can definitely build up over time. But realistically it is such a joy for us to walk side by side in this business vs working for someone else. Read more>>

Cara Slade

I love being a business owner, but it comes with ups and downs. When your business is dipping a little you are constantly thinking of ways to fill the pipeline. Trying to think of more creative ways to bring in business, thinking of current trends or motivations. It’s a constant haul to keep the “ship” moving forward and it never turns off. The thought of working a “regular” job has crossed my mind and sounds like a breath of fresh air, in regards to not having to worry about the business in its entirety. Read more>>

Yeli Romero

I am very happy as a business owner. I like that I am doing different things and working with different clients each day – I never feel bored. Sometimes, when we are very busy with many different projects, I think of how much easier it would be if I had a regular job. But life isn’t interesting without the challenges and being involved in the community is what drives me to continue to be a business owner. The work I do fills my heart – to help others and work with people form a variety of backgrounds. Read more>>

Kayla Cameron

I am so happy as a business owner and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. With that being said, it is so up and down and do unpredictable. The last time I had the thought of having a regular job was after the holidays in January or February and sales were super low. I was just feeling discouraged and questioning if I made the right decision to expand my business and take it full after graduating college. Read more>>

Laura Anderson

To say Im happy as a business owner, would be an understatement. It’s hard to put into words how much I love what I do. It fuels me every day and fills me with so much purpose and gratitude. I get to make my own hours, and in general, choose who I work with/photograph after establishing a connection, and I not only get to express myself though my art, my clients get to treasure it as their own heirlooms, which is just second to none, the best feeling in the world. Read more>>

Caroline Delmont

I am so beyond happy to be a business owner but it is not always the easiest job to have. I do not have anyone else to answer to. Therefore my success solely relies on me being persistent. I have worked jobs in the past where I have a boss and it never worked out for me. I remember telling my parents when I was seventeen years old that I wanted to be my own boss and create my own schedule. Read more>>

Victoria Sunny

Being a business owner i definitely did become more happier . When I first started my business at the age of 16 it was a lot of work because we was in lockdown and also because I didn’t get that much support nor did I study it in school . So I would educate myself on YouTube and book zoom call meetings with other business owners . In the process of starting my business and before the launch people who I called my friends switched up so I did loose alot of friends , which made me more independent . I don’t regret any decisions I made when starting my business . Read more>>

Ladonia Spence

I am Happy to have a business. But I’m not happy as a business owner. I’ve experienced a lot of unethical clients, that make it hard being the catering business, especially as a pacific Islander from St. Catherine, Jamaica. There’s a time where I have to withdraw my service, because the prices that the clients want to pay would have resulted in not earning. The Positive part is, they know and trust that I will deliver and go above and beyond. Read more>>

Beth Kuhar-Miller

In my lifetime, I have had many, many other jobs with a lot of different bosses. Some bosses were great, and some were pretty horrible! It wasn’t until I was forced to quit my day job in 2021 that I realized that I honestly couldn’t work for anyone else. I needed to be my own boss, and launch my business full time. In the past two years, Read more>>

Jason Mathe

As a entrepreneur I own several businesses, I started at a young age, straight out of high school I started working for my dad, he at the time owned a landscaping company and still currently owns it, I worked for him for a few years and learned the craft. Which was a semi ordinary Job 7-330ish every week day and most Saturdays for only a half day. Read more>>

Sherrie Willis

I feel like I’m my happiest as a business owner. I’m a stay at home mom and can be there for my son, and fiancé while also doing what I love. It’s definitely a win win for us all. I never have thoughts of wanting a regular job, because I don’t feel like it would fit my lifestyle. Being with my family is most important to me. I’m glad my fiancé put us in a position where me having a 9-5 is an option, and not a must. I’m able to build my business because of that. Read more>>

Chasity Snow

I believe that happiness is a temporary feeling that stems from events or experiences. Personally, I strive for a deeper sense of joy rather than fleeting happiness. As a business owner, I feel fulfilled and passionate about serving others. I have worked various jobs in the past, including driving a school bus, dispatching, working in a call center, and retail. However, nothing compares to the sense of purpose I feel as an entrepreneur. When you work for yourself, you are accountable to your customers and yourself, which motivates me to keep pushing forward. I cannot imagine returning to a traditional job. Read more>>

Cara Lemus

Yes, many times but to go back to a regular job? Never. I have wanted this for too long that even if I wanted to, it’s too late to turn back. I had to learn most of the business along the way and by doing so, I also had to step into this new role that does not come easy. I am a yogi first, and then a boss. I never anticipated the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges I would have to face, I often laugh and tell people, “I just wanted to teach yoga.” Even though it gets demanding at times, I would not change one thing about it. Read more>>

Aliana Pipolo

I am very happy as a business owner! I am my own boss, I get to create my own schedule, and I get to use my business as a creative outlet. I love everything about it. However, sometimes I wonder how my life would be different if I went to college after high school or pursued my other interests. Before Covid hit, I was training to be a phlebotomist at UCLA. My goal was to work as a emergency room phlebotomist, and eventually an emergency medical technician. Read more>>

Charryse Berry

Being a small business owner is difficult. You must remain creative at all times. What was effective at year one won’t be effective at year three, five, or ten and burn out is a reality. In 2022, I felt much burn out with Academic Writing Consultants, LLC (AWC, LLC). I felt exhausted with what I believed weren’t quality customers – not that there is a bad customer. All customers are profitable whether they result in monetary gain or teach you a lesson. Read more>>

Morenike Akintoba

For the past year and a half, I’ve had a full time job while running my cake business, and I would say that I’m happier as a business owner. There’s a level of security and structure that comes along with a regular job, but there’s no freedom or flexbility. My business allows me to be creative, I can dictate my own schedule and run it my way. Read more>>

Jasmine Brown

I always tell people that being an entrepreneur isn’t for the weak. You have to do your best to show up as the greatest version of yourself even when you’re still building and figuring things out. It’s all part of the process! The beautiful thing about the process is the ability to learn and grow from your mistakes. It’s not always easy but, you have to keep a “by any means necessary” mindset when it comes to the success of your business. Read more>>

Meg Paul

I am most definitely happier as a business owner! It gives me the freedom and flexibility to be there for my family yet the chance to offer the world my talents and be financially empowered. Being a mother involves wearing many hats and I am grateful to live in a world I can be home with my children yet make money online by serving other toddler parents. Read more>>

Christina Chang

I’m THRILLED to be a business owner! It’s empowHering and exciting everyday! I get to wake up, connect and network with people, utilize my creativity, empower others to believe in themselves, and elevate a business to their full potential. When I launched The Sticky Advisor almost 2 years ago, my vision for other’s to have the confidence and courage to grow was my platform. Read more>>