“I Just Want a Job, Not to Be the Owner”

I’ve been a business owner for the past ten years, and it’s become repetitive and lonely. I hate the seasonal cycles, where my income wildly fluctuates throughout the year. I love working with people and have managed teams before, but it doesn’t make business sense to maintain a large team. Plus, going into the office doesn’t work well for me now that I have a baby. I think I’m at a point where I just want a job — a steady paycheck, colleagues to work with, and the ability to be creative without the responsibility of constantly having to think about every aspect of the business.

OH, the coffee does smell so much better on the other side of the desk, doesn’t it?

Dealing with the headaches of business ownership can make even the lowliest of roles look like sipping a latte instead of planting and grinding your own beans. It’s easy to forget what all that hard work is for when all you feel is stress, lack, and loneliness. But is it really the solution? Or will potential, ownership, and flexibility seem even more enticing from the other side? Let’s consider what’s really brewing before you pour the entire pot down the proverbial drain.

One challenge you mentioned is irregular income. Many entrepreneurs make decisions based on the balance in the bank account that day — and so when that number is low, you feel like you have to tighten your belt, and when it’s high, you may book a vacation. Here’s a suggestion: Treat yourself like an employee! If someone else would hire you and you’d expect a consistent paycheck, why are you treating yourself any differently? Act like a boss, and treat your favorite person at the very least like an employee.

“It’s lonely at the top,” is a common refrain heard from entrepreneurs. But it doesn’t have to be. Hiring a team just to have a social life is a very expensive and unnecessary proposition. You’re not the only one with this problem — most small business owners and solopreneurs struggle with this. Find your people, and create your own network of business owners who support each other. There are many associations, mastermind groups, and coworking collaborative environments that can solve this problem and help grow your business at the same time.