When times are good it’s easy to feel like entrepreneurship is the only path for you, but what about the times when your hit with multiple crises at once? We wondered if all entrepreneurs have moments when they wonder whether they should have gone with (or stuck to) a more standard job where they worked for someone else.

Megan MacGrath

As a filmmaker in the creative space, I find myself mostly happy in this passion career I’ve chosen. I say mostly, only because they are not without difficult times in this profession. Read more>>

Ravena Grewal

I love having a flexible schedule and being my own boss but I do crave a bit more structure at times. Being an influencer is an amazing thing but there are a lot of unpredictable aspects to the job so sometimes I do wonder how a regular, stable job would be like. Read more>>

Erene Mastrangeli

I’m definitely happy as an artist, I could never not be one. Songwriting, playing, singing and performing are just a central part of my life and when I have dry spells I just feel off. Read more>>

Taylor Peterson

I am very happy as a creative in the wedding industry. While it can be incredibly difficult to manage a small business, while raising a young family, it provides the flexibility to do so, at all. Read more>>

Christine Romanell

I used to have a regular 9 to 5 to pay the bills as an art director. I spent many years giving my creativity to my job instead of myself. It was draining and hard to find the time to make but I did it. Read more>>

Ana Sanchez

I can’t truly say being an artist doesn’t come with a big amount of vulnerability and risks. We literally pour our souls and bodies into our crafts and sometimes don’t get the response we want/need so there is definitely a lot of heartbreak and anxiety. Read more>>

Zhiheng Gong

As a creative worker, I believe this is a very meaningful thing, because I express my understanding and thoughts about the world through my work, and influence others in this way. Read more>>

Rachel Christine Nelson

Actually, I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a world that acknowledged that it is a “real job,” and a very necessary one at that. Read more>>

Susan Klinger

I can honestly say I am happy being an artist. It is not always easy, but I don’t know how to NOT be an artist! Creating is as important to me as eating and breathing. Read more>>

Qimeng Chang

I would say I did wonder a lot about what would it be like if I studied something else and what if I am doing office work now everyday. I would say both paths would make me happy. Read more>>

Ann Tilley

I’m sure I could never be happy in a career that didn’t allow me to be creative or exploratory… however, I do think you can strive for a dream job that turns out not to be so dreamy when you get there. Read more>>

Lucyr Ritter

My name is Lucy Ritter. I am 23 years old and have been drumming professionally for three years. I am living the dream, of course; I play drums for a living! That said, this lifestyle comes at a cost. Read more>>

Bryan Johns

I’ve always had a very high output for creativity. I have a really active imagination and I feel the need to engage my environment constantly. Read more>>

Laurie Kaplowitz

I’ve always approached my studio practice as a “regular job”. Regular in the sense of getting up every day that is available to me to go into my studio and paint. Read more>>

Lynsea Schurbon

I’ll preface that I don’t believe happiness is the goal. Am I fulfilled as an artist/creative? Yes. Without it, the world is robotic, formulaic, and sometimes cold. Read more>>

Jess Wagner

I’ve struggled with my mental health for as long as I could remember. I do attribute this to working full time for others, juggling 2-3 jobs almost constantly at one time for atleast a decade of my life. Read more>>

Murat Savaşkan

Maybe the basic difference of art from other “professions”, for me, art is a body and soul snatcher; it possesses; It controls your diet, sleep architecture, your whole attitude… Read more>>

Stephanie Sandoval

Yes, I am happy as an artist! Like any other field, it’s not perfect, but I wouldn’t change it. And yes, I often think about what it would be like to have a job outside the artistic world, Read more>>

Nate McCall

Making a living as an artist can be extremely stressful. Some months are great, but others can be very lean, and with the rising cost of living, that makes things hard. Read more>>

Jeremy Piering

I do both! I am the bassist for The Effinays and Loyal Sally but I am also a fire inspector and former firefighter. I have been in the fire service since I was 18 and have balanced music and work for the last 25+ years. Read more>>

Anaka Weiss-Jones

Yes, I am happy as an artist. In all honesty, since I am working as a freelance dancer right now, I do have a regular part-time job that helps pay the bills, but I cannot imagine only doing that. Read more>>

Nina Nguyen

On the financial side – definitely! Being self-employed definitely has a lot more work in to be able to keep a roof over my head, and the thought of being financially stable is probably the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating taking a regular job. Read more>>

Vick-Knew- Zeus

Of course. It is my passion to be an artist. It is something that is within you. I enjoy it, and I hope to continue creating my manga ( Project Bruja) and future projects. Read more>>

Anna Noel

I love being an artist. I’ve always told my friends and family I couldn’t imagine my life any other way. I don’t think there is any other career path out there that would make sense for me. Read more>>