What even is a “regular” job? Semantics aside, the heart of our question is about those moments when the stress of entrepreneurship is mounting – do you ever sit back and wonder what if you had just been working for someone else, what life would have been like without all the stress?

Danielle Forgione

We are definitely happier as business owners. When we think back to what we were doing prior to opening the studio we now cannot imagine our life without it. While owning our own business is a lot of work it also allows us to create our own schedules and to be there for ourselves and our families as needed. We are also able to prioritize that work/family balance because we have an amazing staff at Raise The Barre. Read more>>

Jessica Manfre

Running the Inspire Up Foundation alongside my three other partners has been the greatest blessing I’ve ever experienced. Here, we pour our passion to create impact in the world. I can’t even imagine having a “regular job” again, honestly. From managing the nonprofit to freelancing as a writer and Case Manager for the Coast Guard relief organization, my time and projects are determined by me. I love the ability to control my work schedule! My two children are 11 and 5, which means I am so much more present than I could be if I was working the typical 9-5 job. I’m also happier, too. Read more>>

Ambery Bowman

Being a business owner is not for the weak! I still have a “regular” job but I am grateful that I have my own identity (business) outside of my regular 9-5. Like some business owners, there are moments where I still second guess if I am capable of having and growing my own business. There are times where I am getting sales consistently and there are times when things are quiet. In those moments I think about my why. Read more>>

Miriam Muhammad

I am absolutely happier as a business owner. As a “Mompreneur” I have the flexibility to create my own schedule and work at my own pace and be as present and involved as I need to be for my family. Although being independent has many benifits at times I do sometimes wonder if I should polish my resume and once again work a 9-5 and within a few hours and weighing the pros and cons I talk myself back to my senses and get to working on improving whatever area is causing me to doubt my decision. Read more>>

Zackery Willis

As a business owner, I am definitely happier, in fact often times I think about before I was a business owner, how close I was to working a regular job and limiting myself. In my past jobs, I often hated the feeling in the corporate world of being able to be easily replaced. I remember being fired as a photojournalist and afterward laid off as a digital marking specialist for a different company and asking myself if I were to get the next job, what would stop the same results from happening? Read more>>

Yuriko

Becoming a business owner was the realization of my career-long goal. Having opened and worked in restaurants for other people for the better part of two decades, it was my dream to eventually have my own place. Despite the constant chaos of owning a restaurant, I am pleased to say that I am absolutely happier as an owner versus an employee. Read more>>

Jesse Luxe

I won’t lie to you, being a business owner is the easiest and hardest job I’ve ever had. Why I say this is because doing something you love and are truly passionate about is easy when it flows to you naturally. Maintaining that passion and turning it into something bigger and more expansive than just a hobby is another journey in itself. Read more>>

Trish Couture

To wake up everyday and put your time and energy solely into what you love is rare. I know most people will never work for themselves, will never understand the many ways being an entrepenur is rewarding, exciting, and frankly, terrifying. But, it is most importantly, worth it. I’ve always had the entrepeneral spirit. But, I’m very new at this, I’ve only been in business for four months. I’m very proud of the amount I’ve achieved in such a short time, and what I have learned along the way is invaluable. Read more>>

Brian Podgorski

I think as a business owner this is something that crosses the mind often enough to remember the feeling. Anyone can have those days where it seems like this could be the end to the life of your business. It is not an abnormal feeling I think until your business reaches certain sustainability milestones. Everyone has a different threshold when it comes to what they are comfortable risking for their business. Read more>>

Jasmin Hunt

I am happy to be a business owner. It does have its ups and downs as any business but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I am a mother so it works great with me being able to control my schedule as well. The last time I felt like I should’ve gone back to a 9-5 was when the pandemic hit. I didn’t know what it would mean for my business at the time. Read more>>

Troy Green

I have always sought out leadership roles. Nearly every job has given me a promotion or raise, but it has always been a goal of mine to be a business owner. I’m extremely excited to be starting something new in addition to my music label. I am now a partner in a new restaurant called Gumbo 2 Geaux. This restaurant is a concept from my wife Kyndra Green. I couldn’t be happier with this idea becoming a reality. Read more>>

Kriss Betancourt

Since I was a child, I visualized myself doing multiple things , while children of my age watched cartoons, I watched food/ beauty and home decor shows, admiring various people who inspired me to be like them when I grew up ( As soon as I finished my beauty career in my country Venezuela, I started working in a SPA for 5 years. later become independent and create my own company, then when I emigrated to the United States and with the pandemic, I had the opportunity to cover another area that I’m passionate about, which is the kitchen, but due to time factors/studies and full-time work I couldn’t achieve before. Read more>>

Matika Maple

I feel I am happy as a business owner because I love making my own schedule, I only have to play by my rules (as long as I’m following state laws, lol), I have the freedom to be myself. I’m a beauty professional, going to work with pink hair is amazing. I do think about what it would be like to have a regular job. And it’s a quick thought. Even when I worked for other Nail salons or call center jobs I always never it wouldn’t last long. Read more>>

Jeanette Vargas

I am passionate and love my catering business. Ever since I was a child I grew up in Mexico watched my elders cook and that sparked my love for food. I went to law school and thought that was going to be my career. Being a native born American I came back in 2007 when I 25 years to Arizona and started as a dishwasher in an IHOP. Moved to KS and had jobs as janitor, working in a optic office and was florist. Read more>>

Austin Tran

Am I happy as a business owner? Yes. Does being a business owner sometime drive me crazy to the point of having too many grey hairs? Also yes. But at the end of the day, being a business owner is an absolute blessing, something that I am grateful for everyday. Although it is not to be underestimated in the extent of challenges and hardships it can present. To be able to be responsible for the entirety of an operation, the liabilities it presents, every facet of a system running 24/7, Read more>>

Kendra Clay

I feel like being happy as a business owner is situational for me. Like in the present moment I feel like having consistent clientele and steady income would make me happy, but on the other end, being able to do what I love does make me happy. I ended up injuring myself at work last year which has slowed down my business this year and it has lead me to feel discouraged at times because it is like I have to start from scratch, Read more>>

Alyssa Harper

As a business owner, I am extremely happy! I enjoy being creative and making women look and feel beautiful. I love having full creative control when it comes to branding and marketing as well. It is great being able to make your own schedule and use all of your time as you please. Although there are a lot of pros to being an entrepreneur, it is not always easy. It takes a great deal of self discipline. I have had regular jobs in the past, but they did not allow me to fully express my creativity and fulfill my passions. Read more>>

Lewana Kidane

I am beyond blessed and thankful to be in the position I’m in, and wouldn’t want it any other way. Furthermore, I know being a business owner is the path that I’m suppose to be on and couldn’t imagine having a regular job, but I totally wouldn’t mind venturing out and exploring other fields. Since a kid, I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur and have my own business that I would be operating and instructing my only regret is that I wish I joined the industry sooner! Read more>>

Phoebe Morrin Gross

I recently made a shift in my business and processed this exact question. For the first 2 years of growing my business I was part of the South Congress artist market every weekend. This gave me stability and I found out- most importantly, face to face interactions with my customers regularly. As a new business owner it was so impactful to get the positive feedback from my customers and peers, it fueled me and kept me going because in knew I had a good product. Read more>>

Kila Whitson

I am very happy as a small business owner! I am a single mom of 2, and working a 9-5 was impossible. School drop-off & pickup, among other things like homework, dinner, & time with friends takes up most of our time & I wanted to be there for them as much as possible. By opening my shop, I am able to set my own hours & work in what (little) free time I have! When my children are at school & after they’re asleep is when I get the most done & I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Read more>>

Chrystal Cuellar

I am definitely happy being an entrepreneur and business owner! I think having the the thought of getting a “regular job” always crosses our minds as an entrepreneur, because being an entrepreneur is probably the toughest personal development “course” you can take. You are constantly being tested and if you’re like myself, trying to have a kingdom driven business, it requires a certain level of faith, that even when things don’t look the way you want them to, that Gods got you. Read more>>

Elio Calabrese

Deciding to be my own boss and own a business is one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I would also preface that by saying it is a lot harder than it ever was working for someone else, but MUCH more rewarding. The idea or thought of working for someone else again certainly has crossed my mind from time to time. Specifically dealing with issues whether customer related or business that can be difficult. So many things that I may want to overlook or move past have to be dealt with. There is a lot of fun in operating my own business but also comes with many other challenges. Read more>>

Kasia Johnson

Yes, I am way happier working for myself. I love the flexibility of my schedule and that I have a choice when and how long I want to work. If I don’t feel too well, I’m tired I can just stay at home and relax all day. On the other hand, I work every day. Sometimes it’s just 20 minutes, 2 hours or 12 hours. I know that some people need the routine in their life, some structure to feel the stability and safety. Having my business I discovered that I actually function better when every day is different. Read more>>

Becki Chesnes

I am in a rare situation where I am a business owner, but also still have a career at another company. I would say both are challenging, but in different ways. Being a business owner gives me an incredible amount of freedom and being able to guide the direction my company goes is incredibly gratifying. Every sale is like a tiny victory that you can claim for yourself. The ownership of it is my favorite part. However, it’s also a big responsibility; everything rests on your shoulders, both good and bad. Read more>>

Kainalu Kamai

After my time serving in a military deployment to Afghanistan in 2019-2020, I wasn’t expecting to come back home and start a business with my mother during pre-Covid era. My mom decided to put together a clothing and boutique store(an idea she had for years before) and I agreed to help out and design our logo and designs for our business name, 3Kai Clothing Company. I knew it was going to be a lot of work and investment but in the long run, we were able to build a steady clientele and recognization for our business. Read more>>

James Johnson

Becoming an entrepreneur is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. There’s nothing like being able to provide for yourself through your passion. As a journalist, I always had a dream of creating and cultivating my own platforms for media coverage. I also had desires of working for certain companies,,and while I did achieve those desires, I used the experience as fuel behind my own projects. Read more>>

Bella Hernandez

I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I worked regular jobs for ten years before I started my business, so I have a pretty good idea of what it would be like. But that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it–especially during months when I don’t make as much money. The first few years of running a business are hard because you’re building it while mastering your skills. That’s a lot of work. So there have been times when I’ve missed making the same amount every paycheck, but when it comes to my mental health, I know it would never be worth it to go back. Read more>>

Tenaiya King

I am happy as a business owner, but I also currently have a job that isn’t so ‘regular’. Working both for my business Tenaiya Imani LLC doing Social Media & Website Strategic Development (primarily), with the addition of Affiliate Brand Partnerships (with Glossier, Amazon, Adobe & Rakuten), and being a published author of The Metamorphosis of Me (available on Amazon). As I am developing other books as well, I am currently developing an education software, solutions for the homeless, and real estate opportunities. Read more>>

Marisa Roberts

Am I happier as a business owner than a “regular job”? Absolutely! I went to culinary school to become a chef. My goal was to open a high end restaurant in the Kansas City area that focused on great food, cocktails and wine. But, after working at several restaurants, and getting married, I realized that owning a restaurant doesn’t leave much time for a new marriage or starting a family. I wanted to work in the hospitality industry in some capacity as a chef, so I gradually started catering while I was working at a restaurant. It took off! Read more>>