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. 

Mari Martin

I would say that overall, I am happier as a business owner. Although, I sometimes feel like the grass is greener on the other side. There are a lot of things that having a ‘regular job’ brings that I am envious of. Read More>>

Kelly Simmons

Honestly, it’s a bit of a give and take. I really value being able to run my own business. I set my own schedule, choose the clients that are a good fit, and have built a career around something creative that I genuinely enjoy. Read More>>

Chun Tan

The honest answer is both. I am happier and more anxious as a business owner, and those two are not taking turns. Most days they run in parallel. I have a short reference frame for the alternative. My first job was three months as a civil engineering intern doing strength calculations for one of Singapore’s underground expressways. Read More>>

Carina Fleckner

Yes… But that doesn’t mean the other thought never crosses my mind. It mostly shows up when I’ve said yes to something that didn’t feel aligned and I’m sitting with that low-grade regret wondering why I did it to myself. A slow season will do it too. That’s when my brain goes there. And it’s why alignment isn’t optional for me anymore. Read More>>

Gabrielle Stahlschmidt

I can honestly day that I’m happier as a business owner, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t days when a regular job sounds tempting! The last time I had that thought was during one of our major student showcases. Anyone who sees the final performance experiences the excitement, the applause, and the celebration. Read More>>

Martha Elena Sanz

I am happy as a business owner because I love the creativity, independence, and being able to build something that reflects who I am. Before owning my boutique, I worked as a teacher, so I understand the structure and stability of a regular job. Read More>>

Scott Stephens

Yes, I’m happy as a business owner, but I wouldn’t pretend it’s always easy. Being independent means freedom, but it also means there is rarely a clean line between work and life. When you own the company, the problems don’t clock out at five o’clock. They come with you. Read More>>

Michelle Überreste

I know what it’s like to have a regular job, and I never want to have one again. There are tradeoffs, of course. There is no steady paycheck. There are risks. Projects consume you in your “off time”. There is a lot of direct responsibility, you have to assume every role… but I wouldn’t give it up to have someone in charge of me again. Read More>>

Juliana Meidl

This is such a great question. I am happier as a business owner—but that doesn’t mean I don’t have moments where I think about what a “normal” job might feel like. The last time that thought really hit me was during a particularly intense stretch of projects. Read More>>

Savannah Rose

Any business owner, entrepreneur, or creative knows that freelancing comes with a pretty wild mix of highs and lows. Some days you feel on top of the world, and other days you’re convincing yourself that refreshing your inbox again absolutely counts as productive work. It’s a rollercoaster, no question. But despite all of that, I truly wouldn’t change a thing. Read More>>

David Perales

At times it is very difficult being a business owner and when i say at times i mean almost all of the time! The best quote i ever heard about being a business owner is ‘you have all the time in the world, but you don’t’. Read More>>

Kate Nichyparuk

I’m happy as a business owner, and I genuinely enjoy being busy and solving challenges. I like the freedom, creativity, and feeling that I’m building something meaningful. Running a business keeps life interesting because every day is different, and I think that fits my personality very well. At the same time, there are definitely moments when I think a regular job would feel easier. Read More>>

Sneha Santhosh Kumar

Absolutely happy with the decision I made to startup my own Business aligning with my passion. I run my own dance company called ‘Praanah – The essence of movement’ established in 2022 in India and currently functioning in Canada. Looking back at the initial days, it was overwhelming throughout the process. Read More>>