Pursuing a creative or artistic career can certainly be fulfilling, but it’s far from certain. Over the years, we’ve heard about the struggles from thousands of artists and creatives – it’s incredibly challenging and it can be tempting to wonder – what if you hadn’t pursued this path. We asked artists and creatives from across the community if they’ve every had those doubts themselves.

Maggie Gentry

I think it’s common for us as humans to weigh our options and think about what might be. I regularly have the thought of going back to a “regular job.” For me, it’s a healthy thought experiment to ask myself this question often, to check back in that owning my business is still something I honestly want to do. I know that at any point this no longer makes me happy, I do have the option to find employment with a company. It’s that freedom of choice that feels so empowering. Read more>>

Laura Palacios

Sometimes when I wake up in a different part of the world after being flown from Miami to capture someone’s proposal or wedding. After I’ve grabbed my camera and strolled over to meet a couple on the happiest day of their lives, I wonder — what would I be doing if I wasn’t doing this. I think back to when I was in college, stumbling through classes, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. Read more>>

Abigail Medlin

I am happy, It’s fulfilling for me. Of course it’s important to me that my client is happy with my work but I love getting to interact with people and get to know them while planning for the occasion or event. I have met so many wonderful people and made client turned friends through my work, that in itself has made it all worthwhile. I did, and I do now actually. I like the stability it brings and prevents too much burnout for me. It keeps things fresh. What made me decide to find another job was that I needed a different set of goals and a new vision, I wanted to do what I went to school for. So far it’s been a good balance for me. Read more>>

Kim Fischer

I think my story of becoming a business owner is a little different from most. I always see “how to leave my 9-5″ or how to quit the desk job and travel the world” in the online space, but that was never me. I was at uni over in the UK, was working as a bartender living the nightlife/service industry lifestyle. I had finished my master’s program, was applying to hundreds of jobs (by hundreds, I mean over 900 jobs), getting a handful of interviews, and no job offers that would meet the visa requirements. That’s when I started working on 13 Emeralds, and my life completely flipped upsidedown then COVID hit, and it flipped again. Read more>>

Elizabeth Osondu

This is a great question that requires an intricate response. Yes, I am happy as a business owner, but at the same time I do not think about what it would be like to just have a “regular job”, because I am a Woman in Tech at Microsoft as a Sr. Azure Specialist in our Retail & Consumer Goods industry, while being the CEO & Founder of EO&Co. where our mission is to “Empower all women to truly channel their purpose, while redefining the standards of beauty.” I personally love the dichotomy of the life that it consists of. I am happy in both areas for many reasons. I am able to feel fulfilled, creative, and in control, while being challenged, learning at such an accelerated rate, and making such an impact on my clients and community. Read more>>

Robert Wright

This is a loaded question… Am I happier as a business owner? Some days my answer is yes, but other days my answer is Heck to the no lol. I often think about it being easier to have a regular job because you don’t have to worry about overhead, if you’re not in management, and you don’t have to worry about others or their performance. You only think about yourself and perform. The last time I thought about working a regular job was recently. I had multiple truck repairs repeatedly. Truck repairs are normal, but when you have multiple trucks, and more than one or two have issues, it can become a headache. Read more>>

Andrea Sager

I love owning my own business because it gives me the flexibility and opportunity to show up each day as my full self. We are all multifaceted people. It’s so rewarding to be in a position where I am able to be dynamic and fully engaged each and everyday. In my experience, that isn’t something I’ve ever been able to get at a regular job. I’ve never really been interested in working for someone else. I tried it shortly after law school, and it was that position that pushed me to realize I’m my happiest when I am my own boss. The responsibility of running a company pushes me to be my best everyday, and it’s a responsibility I take very seriously. Read more>>

Cemone Glinton

Am I happier as a business owner? Being in business has it’s pros and cons for sure, but there is nothing like it. It is the feeling of seeing something that was once an idea manifest itself. Getting your first client, or executing your service successfully for the first time. There is nothing like it. Does the thought cross my mind – the idea of having a job? Absolutely. It sometimes happens when things are slow or when I have a difficult client – then I remember that this is what I love and I’m doing what I love. Having a traditional job is not for me, I remember that despite minor frustrations I’ve come so far and the good outweighs the bad. Read more>>

Jude Charles

On October 10, 2020, I woke up that morning and could not physically get out of bed. My heart was racing. My teeth clenched shut. My face was drenched. My arms were stiff at my side. The next 2 hours brought a soup of anxiety and emotions. I wasn’t sure what was happening. I wasn’t paralyzed. But no matter what I did, I could not move. I had been through tough challenges before and prevailed. There was the 2008 recession where I didn’t make any money for 6 months. Read more>>

christi friesen

Being a full-time creative is an odd life. A wonderful, perplexing, stressful, free, exhilarating, exhausting life. I wouldn’t trade it for a “real” job ever. But there are sometimes I have thought about what it would be like to have dependable structure and the option to leave your work at the workplace. It’s tempting sometimes, but…. nah. I’d choose this life every time. I remember a few years back, well, maybe a decade by now, that my creative life was almost too much – constant traveling to teach and do shows then staying up late in hotels to finish deadlines for articles and books and projects. Read more>>

luna Palazzolo

I think there’s a misrepresentation about artist and work. I work hard every day, I wake up and go to my studio, or convince my self to write a 4 page grant, or send emails or do research, I do not do it between the hours of 9-5. However, when I get a rejection letter it is a bit a of a low blow. Recently I received 3 rejection letters together and I thought I was done with art. I got a normal job at a gym and I went to work religiously… for 2 days ! I think it’s more often than not than I say that regular jobs aren’t for me. Read more>>

Betsy Youree

Being a creative means using your brain and heart simultaneously all the time in every situation. It’s a lot of energy being constantly used up. That said, I ALWAYS dream about having a regular job. I dream of being a barista or bagging groceries. I dream of being an art therapist or having a life full of volunteering. As a kid, my only dreams were to travel and meet people. After brainstorming a million different possible careers (90s kid forced to choose one way too young), I finally landed on the Tooth Fairy. Read more>>

Martine Bois

I’m the happiest I will ever be as long as I am creating! I love being an artist is it what I was meant to be. I always think about what it would be like having a “regular” 9 to 5. However, I know that those environments are not beneficial to me and my mental health. I always think about it especially when times get tough and business slows down for me. Wondering what it’s like what it’s like not stressing about when the next “paycheck” is coming. Because being a full time entrepreneur is so glamorized in this society, but no one wants to mention those low moments when they feel like they want to quit. Read more>>

jennifer olson

I often think about what it would be like to have a regular job. Honestly, depending on what phase I’m at on a project, I probably think about it almost daily. Being a picture book author and illustrator is definitely my calling and I absolutely love it (most of the time), however I’m constantly questioning myself about whether or not it was the most responsible career decision. The stability and consistency of a regular job can be very tempting, especially in between projects. Ultimately the flexibility and creativity of what I do outweighs the uncertainty. Read more>>

David Jordan

Honestly, being a business owner isn’t easy. Some people think that being a business owner is easy and that we have lots of money, when in fact it can be just the opposite. When you open a new business, it takes a while to build up customers and get the word out there, so its a struggle to say the least. But, at the same time, it can be so rewarding. I love the feeling knowing that customers love the food we create here, from the flavors of the sauces to the portions they get. I also love seeing their faces when they walk around the shop and see all of the memorabilia, as the shop is a little museum, paying tribute to ALL 5 branches of the military. Read more>>