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.

Ruth Guerrier

I love being a business owner but I do believe having a regular job would be so much easier. The thought of going back to a regular job has crossed my mind a dozen times since I started my business. Every time I had to take a leap of faith to scale my business, when life at home got more challenging, and choosing the best education for my son. I think about how I could support another business owner and help grow someone else’s vision. Then I remember all the hard work I did put into someone else’s vision in the past. Read more>>

Lindsay Macmanus

Being a business owner has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. Going into it, I wanted the freedom to do things the way I wanted them done, on the time frame I had to give. At the beginning it was fun and stress free as it was a job I did to keep myself busy. But as time went on and my business grew it took on much more responsibility and life lessons. So many aspects go into running your own business, from the “job” of photographing and editing to being a marketing manager, social media queen, location scouter, client communicator, book keeper, and so many more roles. Read more>>

Nicole Eichenwald Braghin

Being in the events industry is more than a full time job. It is a calling and a passion that one must have. The hours and times are different, the boundaries are different, the involvement is different. Whenever we take on a new client, it is a blossoming relationship that then allows us to bring their moment to life. No matter if it is a wedding, a mitzvah, a gala or a corporate event, we want to create an experience that allows the guests to feel what our clients are feeling. For that we need to give the event a soul, and for that we need to understand our clients, and that is when the relationship develops. Read more>>

Karissa Soto

I can wholeheartedly say that I am happier as a business owner. I have definitely thought about what it would be like to have a full time consistent job working for someone else, but that thought has never lasted long. Being a business owner can be really challenging at times and I have had my fair share of tears. I remember specifically, about a year ago, I was really struggling with booking clients and figuring out the direction I wanted to take my photography. Read more>>

TeDi Jansen

Several years ago I lost my job. It was a big surprise and I had no idea what I was going to do next. We had lived on our current farm for a few years and had a little herd of dairy goats that we milked. I had been making goat milk soap and had dipped my toe in the water, selling at a farmer’s market. One day, a week or so after I lost my job I was making a batch of shampoo bars and the thought came to me that I could save the world one bar of soap at a time. Read more>>

Morgan Rizzuti

Completely honest answer – 50/50 yes and no. Before I started my business, I did have a regular corporate job working almost 70 hour weeks, so I definitely know what that life feels like. Sometimes I really do miss it in the sense of security and routine, having a clear path to advancement, a steady paycheck (!!!). But what I do not miss is being completely unfulfilled, overworked, and just going through the lackluster motions. My company is only 2 years old. Since the start, I’ve had the thought of throwing it all away and going back to a 9-5 AT LEAST once every other week. Read more>>

Joye Jackson

I absolutely love being a business owner (although I never intended to be one). Growing up, I always wanted to be a professional speaker and encourage people through speaking. The blessing is that I have spent the last 18 years doing it as a speaker, workshop facilitator, coach and manager. The difference…I was doing it for others. But something happened in 2013. I applied for a job as a Training Manager for an organization in Houston. My (then) manager asked me where I saw myself in five years. Read more>>

Diego Bullara

As an owner of Sharks Burger, I take pride in the work that we do. As with any business, some days are harder than others but the decision to go all in, every day is what keeps Sharks Burger strong. There has truly never been a day where I have thought to myself “I would rather go work for someone else or be somewhere else.” In all honesty, being able to have family support the business, has allowed us to create something special. Each day the Sharks Burger team is proud knowing that we feed the community great meals while allowing our team members to provide for their families. Read more>>

Kayleigh Carter

Being a business owner is a lot of hard work. I have one employee so maintaining the business on a day to day is really at the hands of myself and my assistant. There really is no such thing as delegating work because it is truly my responsibility. On one hand, a “regular” job would seemingly be easier but I don’t believe that was my calling and that is keeps me motivated and happy in what I do. I know that everyday when I’m in my salon, there is an impact I am giving to the world and my clients. I feel a sense of importance with such a huge responsibility. Read more>>

Chris McWatters

There have been several moments along the way where second-guessing business ownership has hit hard. With little children and multiple passions, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to clock out and have all the company’s problems be someone else’s problems. This especially hit hard the most recent time as we have come out Covid-19 mandates. Even though I was full of gratitude and thankfulness our small business survived that craziness, a lot of people may not be able to fully grasp how much work and unending decisions are required as restrictions and what not have loosened up. It’s fatiguing to say the least. Read more>>

Abbey Bruggeworth

One of the most obvious pros to owning your own business is the ability to make your own schedule. You work when you want to and you get out what you put into your business. If you are a person that thrives on a daily schedule and structure, like me, then owning your own business will come with a lot of challenges at the start. You have to structure your days essentially as if you were working a 9-to-5 job. And if you really want to grow your business and grow quickly, those hours are often much longer than the 9 to 5 window. Read more>>

Keera Brabham

I couldn’t be more blessed or grateful to be a business owner. Working when I want to allows me to be more involved in raising my son, and it gives me the time to schedule vacations and self-care. Sometimes I do sit back and think about what it would be like to have a regular job. I feel as though I would be miserable. I wouldn’t have the time or space to be creative. All business owners have had to experience a slow period. Business isn’t always booming. It’s easy to get down in the dumps when it’s not. Read more>>

Kimberly Breitenstein

I am definitely happy as a business owner! However there are plenty of times that I think about just getting a regular job. As much as I love my job and my business it gets scary when the work gets slow or just when there is a lull in activity. Since my whole business revolves around events/gatherings, when those begin to slow down, my income takes a dip too. Also, since there has been a steady increase in cost of raw material (butter and eggs especially) I’ve had to make the choice of raising my prices. Read more>>

Erin Randall

I would be lying if I said that I had not occasionally thought about this. A frustrating day with a client, more “no” than “yes,” learning how to do something for my business that has no tie to how I do my actual work–all of these have resulted in me thinking that perhaps working for regular job might not be so bad. Someone else can design pitches and proposals and thinking about how to budget for training. After all, I’m a coach, not a business manager. Read more>>

Ruoyun Killian

You know there comes a time for many business owners to question if it’s worth the extra stress, work, and risk to run your own business. Sometimes that stems from questioning if we’re actually worthy of the business that we’ve created and sometimes it’s questioning whether this is what we’re truly meant to be doing. When I first started my digital marketing agency, C3nami, in 2015 I knew inside that I had 5 years in me to really get this going before it was time for me to exit. Read more>>

Phillip Ingram

LOVE being a business owner! I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t more work because it is. It forces you to overcome many challenges, be quick on your feet, and expect the unexpected. However, the relationships you build, the experiences you create, and the knowledge that you are helping to provide your employees a way of living is unmatched. I had a “regular” job for many years and while I enjoyed many aspects of it, the feeling of reward is superior. It would be difficult to go back to “regular”. Read more>>

Lorena Sloss

The thought of having a regular job instead of dealing with the multiple headaches that come hand in hand with being a small business owner happens way too often. These thoughts usually come when I feel overwhelmed by the amount of energy and time Innerbloom requires of me, or when I am facing a challenge or struggling to stay on track. Although Innebloom is a small business, it is a big task to maintain it fully operational. It goes deeper than being open and ready to serve the community. Read more>>

Arlene Joseph

I am happier as a business owner because of the flexibility, freedom and self-fulfilled feeling that it brings. I am able to create my own schedule, spend more quality time with my family, and take more vacations throughout the year. However, being an entrepreneur comes with its challenges. Similar to any developing business, I too have faced challenges that have placed me in uncomfortable and risky positions, thus causing me to navigate the familiar thoughts of going back to a regular job. Read more>>

Madison Massaro

I seriously feel so lucky that I get to do this every day. Of course there are days that are more stressful than others just because I am my own boss and have to do everything business-and-creative-wise myself – but honestly, the thought of having to work a regular 9-to-5 job that isn’t fulfilling makes me feel super discouraged, and I genuinely feel bad for people that aren’t doing what they love every single day. Read more>>

Zach Gordon

Being a business owner, especially in the entertainment industry, is one of the most rewarding yet frustrating experiences one can have. I come from a line of entrepreneurs, including my dad who is the certified definition of a hustler and self made man. When it comes to working a regular job, my dad always encouraged me to go my own route. He would tell me that not everyone was meant to be a business owner, but I was. He would tell me that there was no one else who was as made for it than me, and always told me to BYOB, Be Your Own Boss. Read more>>

Jailyn Easley

I think this question really resonates. And honestly, it’s funny to think about because before moving to Atlanta, I didn’t care to own a business. If I’m being completely honest, I still don’t care for the professional side of it. Becoming a business owner for me was always about creating your own lane that didn’t exist in the space you were in. Now that’s not to say studio spaces and creative agencies didn’t exist before 2020, but it was the work that I wanted to do, brands I wanted to partner with, and how I wanted to create my digital footprint by making an impact in the industry. Read more>>

Jennifer Ikel

I have worked in the corporate world and been a business owner. I am definitely happier being a business owner, that being said there are some things I miss about the corporate world. Daily interaction with coworkers, stability of a weekly paycheck, but mostly the interaction with people. What I love about being self employed is the freedom with my time, being able to work as much or as little as I want. Being able to go to Costco in the middle of the week and avoid the crowds. Read more>>

Daishawn Phillips

I’m happy to be a Business Owner. I’ve had regular jobs in the past that were great but being a Business Owner is even better. It gives me flexibility I need to be there for my kids. I’m a single mom of 3 kids (one of whom is autistic and one whom is asthmatic). Having to depend on people to get my kids to and from school, doctor appts, extracurricular activities, therapy meetings, etc. was frustrating. Read more>>

Sarah Stellman

I have found it important to recognize that having a “regular job” in addition to an art practice is reasonable and often preferable. I work as a technical writer and editor and find that working a job that does not require that I expend my creative energy allows me to sustain my art practice. I have witnessed some of my peers struggling to find work in their field after graduating art school, and working jobs that may incorporate their studio skills but leave them with little energy to experiment in their own work. Read more>>

Jodie Fox

I remain incredibly grateful to be a business owner and reflect daily on how fortunate I am to work in the music profession. Teaching piano, voice, and guitar to students ages 5 to 95 years old is always interesting and keeps life full of variety because no two days are ever the same. As a self employed person, I enjoy being available to meet the needs to my clients while still creating a balance in my personal life. Read more>>

Elena Calderaro

Yes, When the pandemic started I found out I could do so much online, it was my time to reinvent myself and go back to doing what I love so much which is being a lawyer, that’s when I studied to become a Paralegal, I know that starting my career here from scratch is complicated and takes a long time, but being a Paralegal connects me with all the immigrants who want to fulfill their dreams Read more>>