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.

Jess Sato

The short answer to this question is yes, I’m a happy business owner. I’ve been an entrepreneur for a long time now, and I wouldn’t trade the freedom and flexibility that comes with it for anything. But in answer to the second part of your question, I’d be lying if I said I’ve never thought about what it would be like to have a regular job. Running a business is tough sometimes, especially when you feel overloaded, burned out, or frustrated. There’s always this thought… maybe it would be easier if I just had an office job. Read more>>

Lindsay Gordon

Owning you own business is so rewarding and so fulfilling and so much work all at the same time. I would not trade it in and go back to work for someone else ever again. If owning your own business was easy everyone would do it. Not everyone has the mindset to lead or to run a successful business! Read more>>

George Davis

Overall yes. Having worked previous jobs I already know what it feels like to have a “regular” job. Mainly as a supervisor in the past. I started seeing a pattern with having a direct supervisor over me. I didn’t like it. Most of the time I was great at my jobs. I sacrificed time away from children and my fiancé. I pushed myself to go above and beyond standard results. I trained people to get them ready to take their careers to the next level. Never used vacation time. Never took sick days. Read more>>

Kelsey Reed Armbruster

Being a business owner has its major ups and downs. When I think about whether I am happy with the choice to be an entrepreneur, I know that my inspiration comes mostly from within and I believe that is the truest form of passion and purpose. When living in one’s purpose, every day is one of authenticity, There is no show to impress people or game to play for promotion, there is only you and your ideas and how they can manifest through action and intention. Read more>>

Jennifer Carmel

I am incredibly happy running and owning my own catering, events and retreat business. It is an incredible amount of hard work, but the payoff with grateful and happy clients is so worth it. I often think about what it would be like if I was still working for others in restaurants or wineries. For me, many of my unique skills came from working with the many chefs I apprenticed under.I wouldn’t change any of my work experiences for the world, Read more>>

Kay McKenzie Sam Daniels

Sam and I both had regular jobs up until we opened up our shop in July 2021. During that year leading up to opening our doors we were both working full time as well as building our Hatmaking business on the side. We were spending countless hours working and were both exhausted during that time. When we finally opened our shop Sam had quit his full time job to run the shop and I was still working part time at my job as well as the hat shop. Within the first week of being open we realized we could both be working at the hat shop full time and it was an exciting step in our lives. Read more>>

Nicole Vanderburg

One thousand percent!! I was definitely raised by my parents and grandparents to have an entrepreneurial heart and mindset. They pretty much passed that motivational energy on to me. I think to be a happy business owner it takes somebody that is a go-getter with balanced energy. From experience, being a business owner can be exhausting and unfavorable without a work-life balance. As I have been able to find that balance, I am indeed happier as a business owner. Read more>>

Beverlee McMillen

I love being a business owner! Sometimes I have had that fleeting thought of what it would be like to not have to wear so many hats that go with being a business owner and stylist. It never ends! I look at my husband in the corporate world and I don’t think I could go back to being a worker bee for someone else. Being a business owner is so rewarding. Read more>>

Linnet Harris

Having a business is not for the faint of heart. I took a leap of faith and heeded the call to become my own boss when I decided to quit the nonprofit industry after 15 years of service. I had a plan in mind and hoped against hope that it would work! For the first six months after quitting my 55k a year nonprofit director job, I was booked solid for psychic readings and energy healing services. My family mocked me for taking the risk and refused to trust in my aspirations or ability. They soon realized how busy I was! I wasn’t surprised when relationships ended. I was expecting it. The more I excelled in my practice and in entrepreneurship, Read more>>

Clara Sanchez

I’ve had regular job and I would say that I was happy working at my 9-5 because I liked and enjoyed what I was doing, now that I’m a business owner I’m living my best time, I’m still doing what I like (crafting drinks), but what it makes me feel happier than ever is that I have time freedom for my family, if I need to work I can take my kids with me and take care of them while I’m working. I’m working hard to take my business to success and not going back to a 9-5 job. Read more>>

Steve Yancar

Being a business owner is great! Of course it comes with its fair share of challenges, but I think that’s all part of it. It’s the constant hustle, getting no days off, all the work that gets done behind the scenes without getting credit or a pat on the back…that kind of stuff isn’t for everyone, or else everyone would own their own business. Read more>>

Danielle Roy

I am the happiest I’ve ever been working for myself!! Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have the consistency of a 9-5, but then I realize that I can have that schedule AND still work for myself. It’s a risk, and definitely takes times to build but it’s been so worthwhile!! Especially seeing my schedule become a bit more stable. Read more>>

Leah Murray

Yes I am happy as a business owner. I sometimes do think where would I be if I took the traditional route and finished nursing school and pursued my career in the medical field, but I know for a fact I would not have been as happy as I am now. Everyday I wake up and someone books an appointment just to see me and get in my chair. Read more>>

BeeLax

As a business owner of a record label, rental property and CBD store I am learning that working on things that you are passionate about is more rewarding than working for a company that you don’t own. In the past, I have worked multiple jobs while being a entrepreneur and it isn’t easy. You lose motivation to do things you enjoy due to exhaustion of working a 9-5 but you must stay motivated. If you give your all to someone else and make them richer, you deserve that same respect for your craft. I believe I can do it all. My 9-5 jobs paid for my investments in some way and I learned how to run a company so one day I could run my own. Read more>>