Katie McManus tells the story of a client who built a successful coaching business but quit to return to a 9-5 job because of loneliness and stress. She argues that starting a business teaches you skills and clarity, but going back to traditional work is a completely valid choice if it makes you happier.
One of my former clients just recently quit the business that she built with me to go back to a 9 to 5 job and I am so proud of her. She came to me several years ago because she was super burned out at her job and she wanted to build a coaching and consulting business where she could work fewer hours, have a lot more flexibility and make more money. It took about a year to build, but she surpassed her previous highest salary and got to do work she absolutely loved. The only problem was she hated how lonely it was, she didn't like how stressful it could be sometimes, and she found it really hard to disconnect. At the end of the day, she felt like she was living at work because she was always thinking about the business. So she ultimately built a successful business, but it wasn't making her happy. So she updated her resume with all of the skills that she had developed while building her business and landed her dream job for a company she loves doing collaborative work and yes, making more money than any of the roles she'd previously had. And she's working fewer hours because she really understands her worth. Now I tell all my clients this ultimately being a business owner is not for everyone, but if you have a dream of doing it, you should absolutely give it a try. If you love it, then you will be set to have a really happy and fulfilling life doing that. And if you hate it, you can always go back to a 9 to 5 with a whole new set of skills that will make you a far more desirable candidate. But if you don't at least try, then you're always going to wonder. Hi, I'm Katie, your practical business coach. And new business owners work with me so that they can leave their corporate 9 to 5 and replace their 6 figure salary by doing work that they love that actually helps people. Follow me. If you have a dream of starting a business.