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?

Lindsey Wicker

I love this question! I’m not a parent yet, but from what I’ve heard, being a business owner is similar to being a parent. Nothing about it is easy; every day brings new challenges, and my feelings on this topic are always conflicting! Some days I wonder why I am working so hard for so little, and some days, the smallest thing, like seeing that only 35 people viewed my website, makes me ecstatic. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it is also one of my most rewarding undertakings. Read more>>

Laura Iosifescu

Absolutely. The power of being in control of my own time, destiny, future, and ideas has been one of the most liberating aspects of running my own business. When you’re your own boss, you have the unique opportunity to craft the vision that drives everything forward—whether it’s the events you host, the artists you support, or the messages you send out to the world. You get to decide the people you want to represent, the causes you champion, and the direction you steer your business. There’s no hierarchy to navigate, no one above you telling you that your ideas need tweaking to fit someone else’s agenda. Every decision reflects your vision. Read more>>

Laura Orr

Prior to starting aussie glows, I worked as the Vice President of Property Management at a startup. It was an incredible learning experience. I got a lot of autonomy to operate as I felt was needed, to grow a team of 150 people, and make fast decisions to accelerate growth. The company grew so quickly that I really learnt a lot about growing a business and a team. However, I wasn’t really involved at the corporate level in a way that I could really impact the growth and direction of the company. It was at this point I realized that I was ready to start my own business and to own that journey. I have always been passionate about beauty and have been fake tanning myself for over 20 years so I started to explore competitors and the spray tanning landscape in Dallas. While there are a lot of salons and many do mobile, I found that there was a gap in the luxury end of the market for mobile spray tans. The quality and ‘cleanness’ of the product was really important to me so I spent time exploring different brands until I found Naked Tan. I chose this brand because they are Australian, they use all natural ingredients, and their mission is similar to mine, inspiring women to feel like their best selves both inside and out. Since starting my own company I have found myself re-energized to work and build something that is uniquely mine. I have creative license to make the brand feel right to me, and that is really exciting. I can continue to iterate and grow as I learn. I am constantly experimenting and tweaking to be better. And I am truly passionate about my products and what I do, which makes it easy to be my own best salesman! I plan to continue my growth and expansion in the future and look forward to growing an amazing team. Read more>>

Ethan Jewell

I’ve been working for myself since I was 17. I took the leap and created a personal brand on social media and have released 5 albums on all music platforms, as well as 70 podcasts episodes, allowing me to live off of this as a full time career for 5 years. During these 5 years, I’ve watched every single one of my friends go to college and get a “real” job. It’s been difficult. There’s always been a lot of doubt about how real my job is. After all, it’s hard to grasp anyone making a living off of art and turning it into a full brand and business. I’ve had to battle with friends doubting me and telling me I should follow those same footsteps, I’ve completely lost friends because we simply didn’t align. I’ve spent many days and nights wondering if I should just “settle in” and go work a regular job. However, I’ve realized – even though my form of work is less traditional and less reliable than others, it’s having an impact larger than me. I create music and art around mental health awareness, and have been told by fans that my music has made a deep and lasting impact on them. No matter the uncertainty of pay or future within this career, I wake up every day excited to give it my all as I know I’m making a difference in the world. Read more>>

Abby Barroll Brown

As someone who became an entrepreneur later in life, having been married for many years and raising children, starting a business was not something I anticipated. Becoming vegetarian almost 12 years ago lead me down the path to where my passion lies today. I could have never imagined cultivating a vegan and cruelty free brand all those years ago. I am often asked if I miss eating meat. Over numerous meals with friends, I am often asked ” Don’t you ever crave a steak?” Far from feeling I am deprived, I infact choose to remember the abundance I have gained from not having meat on my plate. Becoming vegetarian allowed me to discover a creative streak I did not know I had by forcing me to learn how to cook in an effort to stay the course of being meat free. It then lead me to revaluate my entire approach to my lifestyle. One small positive change at a time over the course of a few years ultimately resulted in Willa Phoenix and a real sense of self discovery on a very personal level. I sometime can hardly recognize the person I was all those year ago. Read more>>

Platinum Nexx

Yes, I am happier as a business owner because of the freedom and creativity it allows me, but it’s not without challenges. There’s something deeply fulfilling about building something from the ground up, especially when it aligns with your passions. However, it’s also a role that comes with a lot of responsibility, and sometimes that weight can be overwhelming. I do think about it sometimes, especially when things get tough. Having a regular job offers more stability and a clearer line between work and personal life, which can be appealing. **The last time I had that thought…** It was about a month ago. I was in the middle of juggling several projects: KAPRishaa, EloQiva, and my YouTube series. That particular day, everything seemed to be going wrong. A supplier delayed shipment, an episode didn’t go as planned, and I was behind on some deadlines for my fashion lines. I was exhausted, and for a moment, I thought about what it would be like to have a regular 9-to-5 job, with set hours, a steady paycheck, and weekends off. Read more>>

Jessie Snyder

I would consider myself happier as a business owner, yes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s by no means an easy feat, but it is more satisfying to know that everything you’ve done is going to better yourself and your business. It’s a lot of hard work, and at the end of the day it’s entirely on my shoulders, but there is freedom in that that I could never achieve unless I were self employed. It’s 100% my call, my decisions, and my actions that keep things going, and I find that to be very fulfilling. Read more>>

Bell Duong

Being a business owner has to be one of the hardest yet rewarding jobs. Often times I get asked how is it like being a business owner? Lets just say it’s not all glitz and glamour like how some people portray it to be. When I was younger I’ve always wanted to own my little salon. I always had a vision of having something to call my own and becoming my own boss. Once I started working in the beauty industry I knew this is where I knew I belonged. But once I started to work in salons I realized how different the environment was and how things were not how they seemed. Not saying all the places I’ve worked at were horrible but that one bad experience kind of changes your perspective on working in a salon. From then I knew I just needed to work for myself and create a space for other individuals who’ve also had those certain salon experience.  Read more>>

Madeline Pace

Yes, overall, I’m happy as a business owner! I’m grateful to have turned something I enjoy into a full-time career that supports me financially—something I once dreamed about while working for someone else. Looking back at the variety of business owners I’ve worked with and the exciting projects I’ve taken on, it brings me a lot of joy. I don’t think I would have gained this range of experience or met so many interesting people if I hadn’t taken the leap to work for myself. There are days when I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I run my business from home to cut down on expenses, which means I work remotely most of the time. While this gives me flexibility, it can also be a bit lonely. But even with the occasional challenges, I wouldn’t trade it for going back to an office or working for someone else. I think a lot of business owners can relate, especially since remote work has become so common. Having experienced both sides as a business owner and a full-time employee, I’ve learned that on tough days, it’s easy to think the grass might be greener on the other side. Both paths definitely have their pros and cons! Read more>>