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?

Maria (Mae) Lundberg

As a creative business owner I’ve learned that everything in life is an ebb and flow. There are the literal happy dance days when celebrate your hard work paying off. You feel alive, renewed, and reassured that your craziest creative dreams are manifesting into reality. All those hours spent rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty in the studio and those financial freedom mantras are coming to fruition. Read more>>

Dreah Photography

Being a business owner is challenging but so worth it! I could never see myself doing anything else than what I’m doing now, capturing people’s love stories. I appreciate my life and the opportunity on doing what I love every single day and I thought about how my life would look like if I had a different job, a 9-5, and honestly… it makes me sad only thinking about it! Read more>>

Audrey Tasiaux

Yes and yes, I certainly often do envy the luxuries of a regular job. In regards of Happiness as Inner Peace, well…! There is no off-switch, especially as a new business in an industry based on constant re-invention. “Clocking out” isn’t an option, there is always something on the stove. Although pretty euphoric, it can be exhausting to keep up with – ask my boyfriend who sees me switching from Buddha to Jaffar from one minute to the other! …You may recall what Nigel in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ tells Anne Hathaway “Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke, that means it’s time for a promotion!”. Read more>>

Priscilla Locke

With any job, there are definitely pros and cons to any industry and career. I actually have a Masters in Education and taught middle school for 9 years prior to jumping in full time to my business. While I was teaching, I was slowly building a brand and career. I would take on a few clients a year, network and build a supportive community and went through plenty of trial and error. Read more>>

Amy Lee Gonzalez

This is something that has actually been on my mind for about 3 years. I lived in Chicago, I had a very busy lifestyle, and then I moved to Atlanta where I really didn’t know anyone and I didn’t start connecting with people until after a year and a half of being there. This gave me a lot of alone time, something I hadn’t really prioritized while I was in Chicago. “Am I where I should be? Is my business growing in the right direction? Am I happier owning a business?” These questions kept coming up. Read more>>

Vivian Co

Yes, I am incredibly happy to be a business owner. I get asked a lot if I would ever consider going back to a regular 9-5 job but I feel like once you have experienced being an entrepreneur, you realize that there are more opportunities in life than what you were told when you were growing up. Being in my mid-30s, I was told to study one thing and work in that one area for the rest of my life. However, my parents were entrepreneurs so I had a taste of what it could be like being a business owner. Read more>>

Lisa Gloff

I love being a business owner, I have worked for myself for over 15yrs within the floral industry after working for other companies for roughly 17yrs. There is nothing more satisfying and nerve wracking than knowing I am the only person that can make or break this company. I have a great group of people that work for the Rosy Posy and have been with me since the company started. They support me and my business completely and quite often go over and above anything I ask of them. That gives me great feel good feels knowing that I am a fair and kind employer. Read more>>

Raquel Reyes

While owning and running a business certainly has it’s ups and downs, I wouldn’t change my path for the world. Before I started my Astrology practice, I struggled to find jobs that were in alignment with my true calling in life. I continually felt like something was missing and never felt satisfied on a deep soul level. Once I had my a-ha moment and started to pursue entrepreneurship doing what I love, it’s as if the entire world opened up to me. I immediately started to experience a new level of personal and creative freedom. Read more>>

Bri Logue

Being a business owner definitely has its ups and downs, and there are days when I question whether it’s all worth it. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade the freedom that comes with entrepreneurship for anything. I remember the last time I thought about what it would be like to have a regular job. It was a particularly tough day – we had just hit a major roadblock in a deal we were trying to close, Read more>>

Katie Wires

I love the flexibility that being a business owner allows me! I love being my own boss and getting to set my own schedule. However, being a business owner can be difficult in terms of motivation and responsibility. As far as motivation goes, when you are your own boss, no one is giving you a deadline; you are responsible to set your own deadlines and goals, and then make sure you stay on top of them! Read more>>

Colter Olmstead

Being a small business owner/your own boss comes with pros and cons. It’s awesome to have the freedom to work the hours you want, but it’s also tough sometimes because I have to constantly be looking at the horizon and what jobs I can try to get in the next 3 months. I’ve had a desk job and that’s nice and comfortable, but I think that I prefer the uncomfortable situations sometimes because that’s where real problem solving and growth comes from, especially from an artistic standpoint. Read more>>

Lily Hernandez

I am happy as a business owner. Being an entrepreneur is not easy by no means, but the freedom it has given me is why I am happy even on the hard days of owning a business. I hold on to the way of life this entrepreneurial world gave me, which brings me happiness. When I started as a business owner, I didn’t even do it because I knew it would give me the freedom to design my life and the days how I wanted. Read more>>

Layla Khafaga

Being in the beginning stages of developing and growing my business, this is a constant thought. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about this weekly or even daily. I always thought I worked hard when I was in the Corporate world. Little did I know, being a business owner you are always on. Whether it is physically in the Kitchen or just mentally the constant ideas running through your mind. I sometimes think maybe going back to a regular job would be “easier” and simple. Read more>>

Mallory Duncan

As a small business owner who works on commission and has to find their own clients, I often wonder if I made the right choice. I came from a salaried position where I had the opportunity to earn bonuses and often did. The monthly direct deposit was consistent and led to a financially sound life. The thoughts about knowing how much my pay would be each month often creep into my brain. There are some months that sales are lower and some weeks that go with no sales at all. Read more>>

Tiffany Voyles

Am I happy as a business owner? Yes. Most days, yes. Do I miss working a 9-5 job, rarely. To be completely honest, I have mixed feelings about having my own business, bc I feel like I am working harder now to maintain my business, to build up my own reputation, build strong relationships within my community and existing clients, trying to figure out ways to attract more of my dream clients, plus juggle a husband, three WILD kids, a house that is literally never clean, and my sanity. So I went from working 30-40hrs a week to feeling like I am working 24/7. Read more>>

Paul Donofrio

I am happy as a business owner. I have had a regular job, a few of them, and they were fine, but being a business owner, for me, works out much better. I enjoy creating ideas and following through to build those ideas. I have always been fortunate to find the right people to join and support me. Of course, there are many challenges and responsibilities as a business owner and sometimes, at the toughest times, it’s hard not to think of just having a regular job. Read more>>

Amanda rae Pierce

I am a very happy business owner. I loose all sense of time when I’m “working”. I’ve worked way more as a business owner than I ever did at my old 9-5 job, but it doesn’t bother me one bit. I know I’m building a legacy to leave to my two girls. I know every single day I’m showing my girls how to reach for the stars and how to have BIG dreams. Read more>>

Brandie Pyburn

I am very happy as a business owner. I do not give it a second thought about working a regular job. I remember the micromanaging I use to have to deal with. The aggravations of feeling overwhelmed and smothered building someone else’s business. I would spend hours completing task only for others to get the credit. After years of dragging my feet I finally decided that I would take a leap of Faith. I started multiple businesses and although it has been a journey. I honestly can say it was one of the best decision I have made concerning me. Read more>>