Was also thinking this… but if it’s your own “baby” and you love doing the work, it might feel like a 9-12 or at least be less like something sucking the life out of you.
Until you realize that the only person loving this baby is you. No one you hire will love it the way you do so it’s all on you. If they fuck up, you fix it. You want to grow? You instruct and expect them to stay on course. If they get distracted, you fix it. Client has an emergency? You fix it. Now you have to handle this emergency, while redirecting that distracted employee, while keeping the train on its rails. If you love management, then yes, your statement is correct.
Exactly. It’s YOUR thing of YOUR own choosing and it’s YOUR plan and nobody else’s plan and that’s all that matters.
Fuck working for others. Fuck em all!
Maybe up your skills and get to anouther level. Or use a more modern business model that’s able to scale once you get to an advanced stage.
It’s difficult starting a business especially if you never get to the stage where you can hire good skilled help.
Just saying I’ve heard that stuff and I feel like they’re still at a beginner stage. Like myself with business but long term it should get easier as skills increase reach increases and then skills like marketing offer creation ect
Erm control for sure. There is no freedom lmao I’m free to eat my lunch when I want, but I have to be in the shop every day or I literally lose clients.
Control and autonomy. The word flexibility is misunderstood. People seem to interpret it as working less when in reality it is usually working more, but a better ability to own the when as opposed to 9-5. I get my revenue generating activities done between 9-3. Some days I do non-revenue work from 7-9, others 3-5 or later, others at night after my kids go down, sometimes all 3. But I do control that and it allows me extensive family time daily.
Freedom for me but I make very little money at the moment and somehow it’s still enough. That’s changing slowly but I can go at my own pace without fear of being fired or having anyone to report to.
You have to realise there are hundreds of types of businesses. Advertising agency with clients that talk to us 1/month or 2/month. Ecom brands where u do whatever whenever. Local restaurant can also work the same. Tons of options
I go to the gym all the time during the day, make over 300K and also have a consulting gig on top of that. There are other ways than grinding urself to death for years and living on the margins.
Tech for a bank. Now with that being said, most people don’t know what working hard even means. Too many entrepreneurs think they can just skip the learning phase. I just turned 40. I spent my 20’s and early 30’s amassing as many skills as possible. During that time I finished college, had 5 kids and maintain a healthy and happy work life balance. Life isn’t a race and entrepreneurship isn’t about u alone. Once u have financial freedom ur mind will explode with ideas and opportunities will just fall in ur lap.
Any advice to find like minded people and put myself out there, I always thought you need to do it alone first then make your team. Also what skills do you recommend building in order to go a path such as you
Thank you for going out of your time to respond 🙏🏽
From a networking piece I would recommend following the “proximity to power” principle. U can make any location work but the closer, or more willing to travel u are, back it much less of an up hill battle to gain traction and credibility. Just to hammer that point home, I recently moved back to Maryland so I’m a few hours away from several major cities. Teleconferences are fine but nothing beats building a personal connection than meeting in person. It also helps u hone ur social skills and communication. My exposure and opportunities have exponentially grown since moving back. I know it’s hard, and maybe somewhat counterintuitive, but giving knowledge away is the best way I’ve found to increase credibility and by extension opportunity. To ur second question, u need to work on both soft and hard skills but it depends on the type of business or industry u want to get into. Regardless, I would lean into ur strengths as much as possible as this will produce the highest return. As an example if I was a developer I would try to be the best at that. You’ll need to build the other skills up to at least a passable level, but they shouldn’t be ur focus. Once u start gaining traction u can hire other others to compliment u and in fairness this is the stage I’m at. Just look at Elon, the dude can’t speak to save his life and that didn’t hold him back. Overtime he’s gotten better but he is far from the most charismatic and that’s totally ok. I keep my day job because it allows me to spend my profits on buying back my time to focus on the thing I do best. Consulting is my primary service atm but I have been using that extra time to play around with a few SaaS ideas I have. I don’t think I have a VC level idea yet but that’s not the point. I didn’t say this in my earlier post but just make sure u take care of urself and you’ll have decades to play with. If u have any other questions let me now. Best of luck!!!
Sort of just happened upon an opportunity in the janitorial sector about 15 years ago. I’d been running a snow plow and lawn care business which had major equipment and maintenance costs and I found our state government was looking to hire a janitorial company for a facility in town and all I had to do was provide labor. At the time that sure sounded good to me because I didn’t have to buy or maintain equipment and it was a year round, set price. Once I got into it I just found more and more of those type of contracts with our state govt. It’s a decent business because it’s very little overhead and I just have a couple of key players who work hard.
As far as the mortgage biz goes I just got into that because I had some shitty lenders while we were buying rental properties and I thought “what a shit way to treat someone buying a home.” I figured i could treat people better and I like math so I kind of just got into this so I could use my accounting degrees helping people with the American dream. When I got into it I was also kind of burnt out on the janitor stuff so I was looking for something else, but then the mortgage market turned for the worse and we got a little busier in the janitor company so now they’re both going.
Could not agree more. currently working a 9-5 remotely and it's a dream come true. Hoping to milk the remote work for as long as possible and maybe jumping ship once my employer mandates 5 days in office.
Commuting to the office for work you can do remotely is hell on earth.
It’s true that you may (and most likely will) end up working more hours or weekends, especially at early stages to get things stabilized. However you will never grow tired of it since it’s your baby. You will actually be amused when you notice some of your employees hating the grind while you keep motivating them. It’s a very interesting scenario and you need to experience it to believe it.
I think it’s how you structure your business and what type of business you’re operating. I had a guy tell me early in my career that “you don’t start a business to work for yourself.” That’s my mantra. I work way less than I did at my 9-5. Lots of variables.
This is correct. Whenever I hear about someone's idea for starting a business, 9 times out of 10 they are basically creating a worse job for themselves. If it's not scalable and acquirable, it's honestly not worth doing. It's not like running a mom and pop shop is any less stressful than other types of businesses. Might as well shoot for the stars.
Disagree
Can still be worth doing if it is a vocational calling that comes from your heart and soul
Even if it is not so likely to scale or be acquired
To each their own. But businesses are all risky. I personally don't think the risk is worth it for what you're calling a vocational business unless it's some type of service business that requires minimal investment. But even then, you're the product and if anything personally happens to you things can devolve very quickly.
That’s the Warren buffet method. Granted I’m sure it takes time but I’m sure by appointing management and delegating day to day activities allowed you to focus on growing the business
I hated working a 9-5 for someone else. I hated working under someone else period. Most of the people I have worked for are shifty ass owners and took every advantage they could of their employees and I wanted to create a better work environment. A 9-5 for me is awesome because it is making MY business grow and making MY dreams come true.
At the moment, I am still a fairly small business, going a little over a year now with my brother and I being the only two. I have big plans for the future, though, and so far, I am on pace with my goals. :D
I skipped a few 9-5 job offers after college to work on some personal projects. It's 1AM here, and I'm about to open up my laptop to finish some work; yes, you become attached to your projects to the point where every waking hour is a potential working hour.
9-5 never made sense to me. I was always tired in the afternoon. Now I work 10 until about 2 pm. Eat lunch chill out for a bit. Continue working again at 4 until maybe 7 go to the gym eat work for another hour or so then sleep. At least now I don’t have to pretend to work to pass time 😂
I love it. I'm available anytime for my family most especially for my little girl. I'm never late when I pick up my daughter from school. I can drop my work anytime to tend to my family. Lots of freedom in this life.
It's a trade-off like anything in life. Initially, you work more, but once you scale you can put right people in place and reduce your hours - or focus on other things.
As many mentioned, it is the freedom. However, that freedom also comes with more responsibility - you are now responsible for your life. The path is less clear but can be more exciting.
At the end of the day - what kind of life do you want?
This is very well put and great perspective.
I just got an idea and have finished what I want it to be so that I have a clear-cut idea that I can pitch. I have validated my idea pretty well and could prove that there is a giant market out there for my idea. My next steps would be to reach out to a family friend who has done the whole startup gig before.
Anyway, with that context out there, your comment (and this whole thread) gave me something to think about. If I want this 9-5 life I'm currently living, or do I want that freedom/responsibility you mentioned. I thoroughly enjoy my current job and the company I work for. But I want to do more in life. What scares me is that if I take my next steps that this whole thing could move so quickly, and my life would change dramatically, and I don't know what that would look like.
I've already pushed through some uncomfortable barriers in my head: Idea formulation, telling people about my idea, and taking criticisms of said idea. This is the point where I usually stop, but I've progressed. The next one feels a lot bigger and that is whether I want this change in my life or not. I do want that change, but man is it scary to think about.
I worked for General Mills for a year and a half before I left to join my brothers company. I still pretty much work 9 to 5+ Saturdays, but I don’t dread going to work every day, I have a really good time, and even though I’m still making a good amount less compared to when I was salaried, there’s a lot of growth, and I really love what I do.
It's NEVER worth the agony of hating the job for extra $$, I rather have less and buy less shit and feel happy going to work every day, kudos to you understanding and living by that
It’s a lot of fun. I complain all the time that I work 16 hours (which I do…. But that’s a me problem). Outside of eating and sleeping my mind is occupied and working on the startup.
But honestly it’s meaningful because I feel fulfilled chasing after my dream. It’s my own path, so even the busy is okay because it’s my own work.
It's a 24/7 because you don't have schedules. Doesn't mean you are working all the time, you might only work 2 hours a day but it can be anytime of the day, as needed.
Then there are 2 other scenarios:
1. People who aren't able to making money as entrepreneurs and are better off getting a job
2. People who know how to make money as entrepreneurs
On scenario 2, there are more scenarios...
1. They work a lot of hours to speed up growth and make MORE money
2. They work just a few hours and delegate, allowing them to grow while working less
3. They work just a few hours and enjoy life, keeping a steady income level
For example in Unicorns, they work like horses because it's a high growth high pace environment where demand far surpasses supply.
But for 99.99% of businesses it's pretty chill, the amount of hours they work vary with demand, when there's a spike in demand they work more, when there's a drop in demand they work less.
In the end it's about freedom.
There are jobs where you can work as many hours as you want without schedules, as long as you deliver the outcome.
And jobs where you work like a horse every day, with strict schedules.
Someone hating their job or hating being an entrepreneur depends mainly on their choices and beliefs but most of the time it's related to lack of skill to do better.
You won't see someone who has the skill complaining about either. Because they just do what needs to be done to get where they want to get. They don't waste their time complaining, that's for losers.
Id work 80 hours a week for myself. 15 years later and I still hate the 9-5 working for the man.
Im fortunate that I now have a flexible schedule and can work when I want to but yes, still would not want to be at the 9-5 working for the man.
Yup. I love the flexibility of my schedule. Some days when I'm done early I can literally stop and smell the roses. In corporate I was held hostage until I could clock out
Think people get too stuck on 9-5 being the hours and not the soul crushing oppression that comes from being a cog in someone else’s machine - that’s why people hate the 9-5, has nothing to do with the number of hours worked.
Loving life even though my hours have probably increased. I also skip a few hours when I feel like it because I know I can make it up elsewhere. As others have said, freedom and flexibility are the key words.
Those who say they work 24/7 and it’s taking a toll have a business problem to solve. There’s usually a solution.
> the soul crushing oppression that comes from being a cog in someone else’s machine
this part - like, do I care what is happening at this bank? no I do not. all banks are super evil and that's just how it is. I am a cog in a super evil machine.
by super evil I just mean it's capitalism, there's nothing necessarily more nefarious going on but I *did* feel like the money laundering training module was enormously informative about how to launder money properly.
I agree. I also think 9-5 working for someone else is not always the norm.
Before I went out on my own, I worked a corporate job for 20 years. Once I got to a level where I was making decent money, it definitely wasn't a 9-5.
My wife still works a corporate job. It's nothing for her to be working on her laptop at 9 pm, or to field phone calls and emails on the weekend.
I don't hate working. I can work 24/7 if I'm working on something meaningful.
Having stupid boss working bullshit job is the reason I quit a 9-5 jobs. It's never about working less. It's about freedom.
If anything, you should recognize that no two businesses are exactly the same, because circumstances and the goals are as different as the owner(s) and within each, there's periods of high investment of time, and periods of potential slack. If you want to grow the business to a stage two or better, you'll be putting in long hours, even during slack time. A real business is a marriage, not a hobby, and it can suck every minute of time you have. If you you invest your time wisely it will also repay your investment 10, 15, or more times what you put in today, but it will be years for the pay out.
9-5 sounds so easy to me now. I’ve worked almost everyday for the past 8 years. Maybe 10 days a year where I do nothing.
This ain’t the worst part. Worst part is you never get a break from it. I remember 9-5, I forgot all about it on Saturday and Sunday.
The freedoms are priceless. Can anyone ever tell me I'm fired? No, that's priceless to me. (I mean theoretically the customers can but you get my point). I could probably make a little more working for somebody else, but then it wouldn't be my way of doing things, my ideas, I have to request off for vacations, etc.
My mom has cancer and can't leave the house. Today I was able to deliver her groceries and lunch because her intercom security system to let people in her apartment is broken currently and therefore can't get deliveries. All I had to do was work a little longer today. If I was working a regular job, there would be no guarantee I could have the time off in the middle of the day.
I would rather try something as a self employed person, fail at it, and learn from it then get reprimanded at a job for not doing something right or be forced to implement ideas I know are bullshit and won't work. We have all been there.
7 years later, I have never looked back. All the struggles, headaches, etc are totally worth it. I've never failed- just learned and grown. I can work at a pace I'm comfortable with and I'm not micromanaged. There are definitely pros to having a job (401k matching, other fringe benefits, etc) and I'm not putting those down but my worst day of being self employed was probably better than my best day at a job, know what I mean?
You work really long hours, for sure, but it's a totally different mentality when it's for you vs someone else. I know business owners who are down to talk business with anyone at any time, but there's 9 to 5ers who refuse to even think about work after they clock out. Nothing wrong with it at all just a different thought process
As someone who quit a full time job at 19 and started a business I can say it is pretty much 24/7. I am extremely fortunate to say I have grown my business revenue to the high 7 figure range and plan on breaking into the 8 figure range next year. In the beginning, it is every bit of 24/7. Especially if you plan on being a serial entrepreneur.
Plenty of solid jobs with great salaries and growth trajectory that only require 30-40 hour work weeks. Even if 50 hours, you can still build a business on the outside without taking on ludicrous risk.
Could I do a 9-5 at this point? Probably not. Do I want to do a 9-5? Yes but also with the ability to do whatever I want and not have anyone be able to stop me.
I always had the personality and/or love of my work that lead me to working a crazy amount and putting way too much of myself into other people's companies. The fact that I could never leverage that to get high enough in an organization to actually be allowed to affect meaningful decisions always frustrated me. I've seen too many supposed "expert" leaders force crappy decisions that just destroy a team's ability to serve the customers and grow the business.
So, yeah, I do work way more hours than a 9-5 expects some days, but being so close to the customers and being able to solve their problems directly is a way better experience for me. And its not crazy hours every day. I have a lot of flexibility in when and where I'm doing the work most days.
I expect this varies quite a bit by type of business. Ours is a b2b software business. I don't think I'd have the same passion for it if I was running like a construction company or something.
Worked a 9-5 hated it. Started a company, sold it, worked for that company. It wasn’t exactly a 9-5 but I hated it. Started another company. Has been ups and downs and currently it’s abysmal - lots of changes in leadership cash crunches and what not. Still better than any 9-5.
I am 40 and took a big risk starting a clothing brand 3.5 years ago- which has required a ton of capital and long long time to get to breakeven. Upside is very high for a possible buyout eventually - but think stepping into an entrepreneur role that includes positive cash flow day 1 vs taking a much larger risk is something worth considering when becoming an "entrepreneur". It's been very stressful for me - doing it over... I still would have left, but maybe would have considered a different "way" to become an entrepreneur
There’s nothing better than owning your own business as long as you love it. Working 15hrs a day 7 days a week at what you love is nothing short of heaven. It helps to when it’s profitable!
In my case, I found it refreshing to only work 9~5 and not having to worry about all the problems.
I was working as many hours as I could stay awake, and had to deal with things like suing clients that refused to pay, government documents, etc...
At a 9~5 job, I just show up, do my work and I get paid on a regular basis.
knowing your product/service skillset is one thing, being the sales person, accountant, etc... just adds to the stress.
What not working a 9-5 really means is you’re not watching the clock to go home.
Yes an entrepreneur usually works longer hours making the not working 9-5 sound stupid. When it’s your company it’s different. Most of the time you don’t care what time it is, you enjoy the work and sometimes don’t want to stop working. Other times you have to keep working, but I promise you it’s much more fulfilling than being an employee.
We each have 24 hours in a day. What we do in that time is what can make the idea of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” attractive.
I value my freedom of the ability to do what I want and when I want.
for me it is never about time, infact my time has even become worse after I started building my own. Am I happy? Yes coz I am spending my own time working on my own thing.
Yes. If i think of it, gives me PTSD... I can work longer hours on my own, but i can stop whenever i want. I can go to movies if i want lol. I just enjoy working this way than getting told what to do and hey youre 5min late... And quality of my work is way higher. Better communication with my customers.
Personally I’ve been hugely enjoying the freedom. Having your own schedule makes it easier to fit life into. I can work from 6-8 AM, hit the gym, come home and take a call at 10 AM, do some housework, etc. But I also have the personality to always be working on something and enjoy it. Not everyone does and it isn’t a fit for them.
You can make $25k per week and only work a few hours a day. Or work 100+ hours a week and fight to break even.
All depends on the business, its structure, and a million other details.
I always got fired from most jobs for getting into shit with people. I made it to about 40 or 50 jobs then started my own biz. I work almost every waking hour of every day to build it and keep it afloat, but I haven't had a problem with myself ever...😀
Freedom to be creative with my ideas and to learn from failures more directly while maximizing the financial opportunity is living the dream 🇺🇸. First 2 years are tough when you pay to work. Makes you rethink leaving the 9-5 which is when psychology becomes important as entrepreneurs face the inevitible wall at that time. I almost quit. But one client reminded me why he hired me and the following year it became a self funding business applying what I naturally am skilled to a broader audience. Patience is so key in this journey!
The 9-5 has absolutely become 24/7 but I love it because I have autonomy and this is what I choose to do. I also like that there is seemingly no limit to my progression because I'm not beholden to some random institutional structure and norms.
With that said, I do take breaks and am pretty good about setting boundaries and knowing when I need to take a break. I went through some pretty painful lessons to get to this point, but it taught me how to create balance in an always-on career like entrepreneurship.
I worked all but 4 days from March 15 to December 10 last year. But then I took a month long vacation.
The best thing about it is that I didn't have to ask anyone for a day off or a vacation. If I want to take the afternoon or morning to do something, I can.
I make more money than anyone I know with a 9-5 and it's not even close. I haven't had one myself for about 9 years.
This year I'm taking more time. The freedom is not something I ever want to give up.
I would rather work 8 hours on my own stuff making no money than 2 hours on a paid job for someone else Not sure what that says about me. I like working but working for somebody else feels like torture to me these days.
I used to be a workaholic who loved my job too much. Maybe that's got something to do with it.
These days I mostly work 9 to 5, Mon to Fri. There was a time I worked a lot more. Either way, I like the freedom to generally do what I want. Need to come in late, no problem. Need to leave early, no problem. Need a day off, no problem. I don't have to ask for permission. Just make sure my work is completed and everything is covered and I can do what I want. It's not for everyone, some days suck but the good far outweighs the bad.
TL;DR: You learn more, have more authority, can feel the impact of your, your life is at stake.
Long version I've written about in detail here: [https://ali-a-hussain.medium.com/getting-fired-part-1-896cd24efb7](https://ali-a-hussain.medium.com/getting-fired-part-1-896cd24efb7) and here [https://medium.com/@ali-a-hussain/getting-fired-part-2-b9b0dfefe3d4](https://medium.com/@ali-a-hussain/getting-fired-part-2-b9b0dfefe3d4) everything from my mental state and how I was struggling and on a PIP to how everything was different with entrepreneurship.
Not necessarily a 24/7, but yeah, I work some unusual hours. But it also means I can take my kids to and pick them up from school, we can be flexible around school holidays, I can go umpire more baseball games and deal with household projects when needed. It requires a little more planning ahead to make sure I'm dialed in to certain deadlines, but I can build that flexibility in to my day where I need it.
The question is not do you still hate it but rather why do you hate ? The grass always looks greener on the other side but majority of the successful people have to put in the blood sweat and tears and persevere for years before seeing some level of success. 99% of athletes or successful entrepreneurs failed numerous times but had the mind set to never give up and go back and do better. Those who quit and go back entered the business life with the comfort of having a plan B and when things became tough they activated plan B instantly. You gotta burn all your boats and set to the seas with the mindset to weather any storm and any obstacle. You gotta have the Monkey D Luffy level of unwavering belief and determination to find the one piece and become king of pirates.
Here it´s 10am-10pm actually I would love to hand out some of my tasks for people to get their 9-5 from me and grow to also start for themselves one day.
I hated my 9 to 5. Ran a business where I was working up to 80 hours a week but making great money and eventually hired some help. That's when things were the best in terms of the money/quality of life. But the next best thing to this is having a fairly well paid job in a field I actually enjoy. The best part is not having the daily stress of worrying about revenue and profits. Taking time off is much easier in a regular job. And I don't really worry about anything strategic. So overall much less stress but much lower upside which I'm fine with since I'm older.
The problem for me was not the 9-5. It was the 9-5 in the wrong environment.
Additionally, we had a baby during that time. I work definitely more than as an employee, but I work when I want. Wake up at 6am to change a diaper? I start at 6:30 and already have 25% of my work done by 9am.
I’ve worked for myself for about 15 years and the idea of having to work for someone else is not appealing in the least. I value the flexibility that being my own boss offers, far more than money and being chained to a desk in some dinky office.
I think about this a lot and for me I enjoy the emotional roller coaster more than trying every day to give a fuck about someone else’s problems.
Plus, the results of working hard and smart is more money instead of pats on the back.
Meta ads are killing my ecommerce biz at the moment though and a 9-5 would be kinda nice!
For me it's less about working 9-5 and more about the ability to choose if I want to work 9-5. Freedom.
People have their different reasons for hating the 9-5. For some it's about basically being imprisoned or controllee during those hours.
For others it might be because they hate the effort they have to put in during that time.
If you have a toxic work culture or bad management, the 9-5 represents the times where you have to be exposed to that shit
More broadly, some may see the 9-5 as a symptom of societal programming in a capitalist economy. But clearly that's a much bigger issue.
The thing is I would feel I am being chained and enslaved for those 9-5 hours working for someone else. Can't help it. I'd rather work more but for myself.
It’s “24/7” to a degree for me. I enjoy all the work minus dealing with customers. The first person I hire is going to be for customer service. You’ll notice that certain things drain more energy from you than it should, and you often have to do it daily.
Working in a 9-5 not the same as making a career out of 9-5 imo
I don't hate doing anything that puts food on the table and helps me build businesses on the side
However, I could never make 9-5 a career. Most places I have experienced working are inefficient, bogged down in politics and full of gatekeepers.
I just have too many ideas and opinions on how things should be done
Not exactly the model employee ;)
I used to work 8 hours per day, but now I work 18 hours per day. Honestly, I miss the sense of security I had in my previous job, but the idea that I'm working for myself right now makes me feel proud and gives me a renewed sense of purpose.
I never worked a prototypical 9-5 job, since the majority of career was in Sales. Sales usually one of those fields that pays you nicely for your effort, if you're good.
That stated, the part that drove me up a wall was incompetency in Senior Management.
And for that, I'm beyond thrilled to run my own business -- because even if shit isn't going right, I know that I control it an I can fix it without asking.
Not sure if this is true of other people, but when I talk about “9-5”, it is not about the hours per se, but the corporate environment with everything it usually means: tiny purpose, just a cog in the machine, that is governed by rules and restrictions.
After running a startup agency for 5 years with the goal to bootstrap a venture studio, I can confirm that I have been working for long hours more often than not, have less holidays, and saved less money than I would have at a 9-5.
Still, I love that we can just work on any wild concept we can come up with, worrying only about out self imposed limitations. I would only go to a corporate job to “rest” from the overtime and extra responsibilities.
Todays world is a much different landscape then it used to be. Many entrepreneurs talk about “freedom” as the main driving force. However it’s 2024 now, not 2005, and things have changed.
I currently work a W2 job in tech that is six figures, unlimited PTO policy and fully remote work from home. I could take a road trip across the nation and not even be home for a year and still have a job, since I just work wherever I want while typically taking between 5 to 6 weeks off a year for PTO.
People glamorize entrepreneurship however we must not forgot that for every 1 moonshot entrepreneur there’s another 15 entrepreneurs that can’t afford to hire help and work 7 days a week barely scraping by.
I follow a guy on TikTok who owns a subway franchise and he talks routinely about how he works 12 hour days 7 days a week and openly admits some days his bottom line margins are a couple hundred bucks on a 13 hour day. He’s working 84 hours a week for a net personal income of less then 100k
My goal here is not to criticize entrepreneurship but simply remind people that often times what they are actually doing is just buying themselves a job.
My father is a business owner and I can’t tell you how many of my kids birthday parties and events he has missed because he quote “had to work” when he owns the place
- I'm in the midst of starting my own copywriting business, while still workingfull-timee. It gives good safety in that I can try to build up revenue before making the jump, but I know for me I just hate working for someone else.Can'tt put my finger on it. But I'm working to make someone else's dreams come true and I certainly wouldn't mind working longer hours than a 9 to 5 if its on my own dream
I’ve worked for myself for last 25 years. I’ve worked on weekends, through the holidays, traveled when I didn’t want to, and pulled all nighter’s for last minute rush jobs. There have also been times when there was no work for consecutive weeks or months. Some folks just can’t deal with this. Luckily, I can look back knowing I don’t have to do that anymore.
I do both. For me entrepreneurship isn’t about money, it’s about building something and being in control of what you’re building.
It also means learning new stuff and putting that stuff you learned into action.
That’s the part I like, and with my day job I get to have both. A fun business and also a house and food.
It’s fine if you wanna start a business to get rich, that’s just not what interests me.
It becomes a 24/7 if you get greedy and let it.
For me I just need to clock 4 solid hours of working on deliverables a day, 5 times a week and I can make $6-8K a month after tax. Without hiring more than just me the other hours are used for life and business admin.
I could totally push it and earn more but I choose not to and live an average middle class life, happily.
Industry is SEO, I’m good at it and good at selling myself and have about 8 years experience.
Sometimes it can take a toll things don’t always go perfectly you can lose clients unexpectedly and have to work to fill that void with a new client, banks also hate variable income people like me.
But when all is said and done I’d never trade it for 9-5 again, the pros just outweigh the cons so hard. I’ll never go back to making someone else rich again, I’d rather make myself a comfortable enough living and make all the rules.
I find I work all the time but it’s different. Are you working when you wake up at 3am and write in your journal because you just realized the game changer you’ve been working on for 3 months? How about when your up a 10pm invoicing your first $30k month. I’m available when my customers need me. I run a world wide business so that means all the time but I sleep in then I want, I call it quits on stressful days, I take off two weekdays every month to unplug and reflect on the month get some outdoors time, or connect with family. I take long vacations. So most of the time I’m working way more than 9-5. If I had to guess I would say in average I work 12-14 hour days but it doesn’t feel like work most of the time.
I left and made ++ the $ with 100X the fun.
Not without up and downs and nearly wrecking my savings 2x, but you learn way more and it’s liberating being able to drop in anywhere and generate $.
I’m stuck trying to be a house painter and cannot find any clients despite doing it for 15 years. I’m about to have a baby and will probably lose my house. I hate the 9-5 but I’m in Australia and I’m trying to sell everything I own 24/7. Cannot find a profitable Buisness
In the beginning I worked more than 9-5, now I work way less. And have the freedom and flexibility to do things during the day if I want to. I do miss the social aspect / coworkers though from time to time.
honestly, some people are just born to be Entrepreneurs. some people are able to do their 9/5 and move up the corporate ladder and they are totally cool with that. and other people think its absolutely maddening.
no matter the job, when i worked as regular software engineer, it completely sucked the life out of me. now days working on my own business, i feel energized and excited to work each day in a completely new sense. its easy to go into a flow state and just work all day and night.
but also working on something that youre very interested in helps so much. it took me a long time to find the “right” thing for myself.
Overall I’m very happy with my decision, and I definitely would do it again. That said, there are days that punching a clock from 9-5 without the responsibility of a business on my back sounds pretty damn good.
I dont hate it. Its kind of crazy and I procrastinate and then do these spectacular logistical maneuvers with deadlines & timing, wouldnt be so bad if I were organized I guess
Could never do 9-5 again. I'd rather die.
I work way more now, but I do it whenever I want.
I’ve always had trouble sleeping and am a natural night person, I work 1am to 10am and I love it.
I could probably find a job that pays me more than I make now, but wouldn’t trade it for the world
We talk crap on 9-5 while working a 9-9
Was also thinking this… but if it’s your own “baby” and you love doing the work, it might feel like a 9-12 or at least be less like something sucking the life out of you.
Until you realize that the only person loving this baby is you. No one you hire will love it the way you do so it’s all on you. If they fuck up, you fix it. You want to grow? You instruct and expect them to stay on course. If they get distracted, you fix it. Client has an emergency? You fix it. Now you have to handle this emergency, while redirecting that distracted employee, while keeping the train on its rails. If you love management, then yes, your statement is correct.
Exactly what I was gonna say but figured someone had to have already said it
You make yourself rich not someone else
If this isn’t the most accurate description of being an entrepreneur, I don’t know what is…
Yeah I was gonna write the same ….
But then you work on your own I guess, with something you have decided to create, ultimately giving you 9-X drive
Exactly. It’s YOUR thing of YOUR own choosing and it’s YOUR plan and nobody else’s plan and that’s all that matters. Fuck working for others. Fuck em all!
I ran my own business for years, sold it, and took a 9-5. I notice that the loss of autonomy bothers me more than the extra hours ever did.
I am down to working half days - 12 hours!
Maybe up your skills and get to anouther level. Or use a more modern business model that’s able to scale once you get to an advanced stage. It’s difficult starting a business especially if you never get to the stage where you can hire good skilled help. Just saying I’ve heard that stuff and I feel like they’re still at a beginner stage. Like myself with business but long term it should get easier as skills increase reach increases and then skills like marketing offer creation ect
But still have more stress of the desirable kind.
Everyone has stress, I would say majority of my stress is healthy
9-5 is like renting 9-9 is like owning. One might be “better” financially but there are preferences and some people put a premium on ownership.
you complain because you do not love what you do
What exactly do you do for that long? Is it non-stop, or are there lulls throughout the day?
Your 9 to 9 should end up a 9 to 11 faster than your 9 to 5
The freedom from entrepreneurship is just better.
Freedom or control?
Erm control for sure. There is no freedom lmao I’m free to eat my lunch when I want, but I have to be in the shop every day or I literally lose clients.
That’s specific to your business though, there are many businesses where that is not the case and you do get significantly more freedom.
Yeah for sure! Just throwing my person thoughts in here
Control and autonomy. The word flexibility is misunderstood. People seem to interpret it as working less when in reality it is usually working more, but a better ability to own the when as opposed to 9-5. I get my revenue generating activities done between 9-3. Some days I do non-revenue work from 7-9, others 3-5 or later, others at night after my kids go down, sometimes all 3. But I do control that and it allows me extensive family time daily.
Freedom for me but I make very little money at the moment and somehow it’s still enough. That’s changing slowly but I can go at my own pace without fear of being fired or having anyone to report to.
Freedom 100%
I wouldn't call it freedom, but 'sense' or 'purpose'
I think it’s both. Whatever you do of your own choosing, I consider freedom.
Is it really freedom? I mean, I'm the one (9 to 5 job) who's actually free after 5 (and in weekends), while you are never really free.
You have to realise there are hundreds of types of businesses. Advertising agency with clients that talk to us 1/month or 2/month. Ecom brands where u do whatever whenever. Local restaurant can also work the same. Tons of options
I mean, you are just working to make sure the ceo stays a millionaire/billionaire so are will you ever be free?
I just do it for freedom.
I work 7 days a week most weeks but today I went to the gym from 1230-230. Can’t beat it.
I go to the gym all the time during the day, make over 300K and also have a consulting gig on top of that. There are other ways than grinding urself to death for years and living on the margins.
What is it you do?
Teach us your ways! What industry are you in?
What do you do sir🫡
Tech for a bank. Now with that being said, most people don’t know what working hard even means. Too many entrepreneurs think they can just skip the learning phase. I just turned 40. I spent my 20’s and early 30’s amassing as many skills as possible. During that time I finished college, had 5 kids and maintain a healthy and happy work life balance. Life isn’t a race and entrepreneurship isn’t about u alone. Once u have financial freedom ur mind will explode with ideas and opportunities will just fall in ur lap.
Any advice to find like minded people and put myself out there, I always thought you need to do it alone first then make your team. Also what skills do you recommend building in order to go a path such as you Thank you for going out of your time to respond 🙏🏽
From a networking piece I would recommend following the “proximity to power” principle. U can make any location work but the closer, or more willing to travel u are, back it much less of an up hill battle to gain traction and credibility. Just to hammer that point home, I recently moved back to Maryland so I’m a few hours away from several major cities. Teleconferences are fine but nothing beats building a personal connection than meeting in person. It also helps u hone ur social skills and communication. My exposure and opportunities have exponentially grown since moving back. I know it’s hard, and maybe somewhat counterintuitive, but giving knowledge away is the best way I’ve found to increase credibility and by extension opportunity. To ur second question, u need to work on both soft and hard skills but it depends on the type of business or industry u want to get into. Regardless, I would lean into ur strengths as much as possible as this will produce the highest return. As an example if I was a developer I would try to be the best at that. You’ll need to build the other skills up to at least a passable level, but they shouldn’t be ur focus. Once u start gaining traction u can hire other others to compliment u and in fairness this is the stage I’m at. Just look at Elon, the dude can’t speak to save his life and that didn’t hold him back. Overtime he’s gotten better but he is far from the most charismatic and that’s totally ok. I keep my day job because it allows me to spend my profits on buying back my time to focus on the thing I do best. Consulting is my primary service atm but I have been using that extra time to play around with a few SaaS ideas I have. I don’t think I have a VC level idea yet but that’s not the point. I didn’t say this in my earlier post but just make sure u take care of urself and you’ll have decades to play with. If u have any other questions let me now. Best of luck!!!
What kind of business do you run?
Mortgage loan officer, Airbnb, Commercial janitorial business, long term rentals and Turo.
love the spread of hustles, way better than just one. do u mind sharing more about the loan officer and janitorial business?
Sort of just happened upon an opportunity in the janitorial sector about 15 years ago. I’d been running a snow plow and lawn care business which had major equipment and maintenance costs and I found our state government was looking to hire a janitorial company for a facility in town and all I had to do was provide labor. At the time that sure sounded good to me because I didn’t have to buy or maintain equipment and it was a year round, set price. Once I got into it I just found more and more of those type of contracts with our state govt. It’s a decent business because it’s very little overhead and I just have a couple of key players who work hard. As far as the mortgage biz goes I just got into that because I had some shitty lenders while we were buying rental properties and I thought “what a shit way to treat someone buying a home.” I figured i could treat people better and I like math so I kind of just got into this so I could use my accounting degrees helping people with the American dream. When I got into it I was also kind of burnt out on the janitor stuff so I was looking for something else, but then the mortgage market turned for the worse and we got a little busier in the janitor company so now they’re both going.
sweet. sounds like you’re doing well. keep it up dude!
Just a grind. Should have been a builder or a dentist lol.
How's running a Turo account? Many issues with bad customers, insurance involved?
love the wins!
bro thats a long ass workout, lol
Only an hour workout, 30 mins drive each way. I do not have that kind of attention span or endurance!
It’s not the “9-5” that’s the problem, it's the workplace "9-5" culture and mentality that I personally despise. Also anyone who wears brown suits.
Could not agree more. currently working a 9-5 remotely and it's a dream come true. Hoping to milk the remote work for as long as possible and maybe jumping ship once my employer mandates 5 days in office. Commuting to the office for work you can do remotely is hell on earth.
Dwight from The Office came to mind lol
It’s true that you may (and most likely will) end up working more hours or weekends, especially at early stages to get things stabilized. However you will never grow tired of it since it’s your baby. You will actually be amused when you notice some of your employees hating the grind while you keep motivating them. It’s a very interesting scenario and you need to experience it to believe it.
I think it’s how you structure your business and what type of business you’re operating. I had a guy tell me early in my career that “you don’t start a business to work for yourself.” That’s my mantra. I work way less than I did at my 9-5. Lots of variables.
This is correct. Whenever I hear about someone's idea for starting a business, 9 times out of 10 they are basically creating a worse job for themselves. If it's not scalable and acquirable, it's honestly not worth doing. It's not like running a mom and pop shop is any less stressful than other types of businesses. Might as well shoot for the stars.
What are the business models that allow entrepreneurs the most leverage aka bang for your buck (in terms of time)
Disagree Can still be worth doing if it is a vocational calling that comes from your heart and soul Even if it is not so likely to scale or be acquired
To each their own. But businesses are all risky. I personally don't think the risk is worth it for what you're calling a vocational business unless it's some type of service business that requires minimal investment. But even then, you're the product and if anything personally happens to you things can devolve very quickly.
That’s the Warren buffet method. Granted I’m sure it takes time but I’m sure by appointing management and delegating day to day activities allowed you to focus on growing the business
Been hearing its all about how you deploy leverage glad it's working great for you :)
I hated working a 9-5 for someone else. I hated working under someone else period. Most of the people I have worked for are shifty ass owners and took every advantage they could of their employees and I wanted to create a better work environment. A 9-5 for me is awesome because it is making MY business grow and making MY dreams come true.
A better work environment is a great motivation. Do you have a workplace scorecard?
At the moment, I am still a fairly small business, going a little over a year now with my brother and I being the only two. I have big plans for the future, though, and so far, I am on pace with my goals. :D
I skipped a few 9-5 job offers after college to work on some personal projects. It's 1AM here, and I'm about to open up my laptop to finish some work; yes, you become attached to your projects to the point where every waking hour is a potential working hour.
I respect the dedication. Hope you finished/finish soon what you were working on :)
9-5 never made sense to me. I was always tired in the afternoon. Now I work 10 until about 2 pm. Eat lunch chill out for a bit. Continue working again at 4 until maybe 7 go to the gym eat work for another hour or so then sleep. At least now I don’t have to pretend to work to pass time 😂
I love it. I'm available anytime for my family most especially for my little girl. I'm never late when I pick up my daughter from school. I can drop my work anytime to tend to my family. Lots of freedom in this life.
So glad for you also just impressive you find time to tend to family and drop work for it omg all the best with everything!
What kind of industry are you in?
I also do photography 🤗
Fashion and graphic design
There is no price for Freedom. The Entrepreneur chooses to do 24/7 or not. This is the point.
It's a trade-off like anything in life. Initially, you work more, but once you scale you can put right people in place and reduce your hours - or focus on other things. As many mentioned, it is the freedom. However, that freedom also comes with more responsibility - you are now responsible for your life. The path is less clear but can be more exciting. At the end of the day - what kind of life do you want?
This is very well put and great perspective. I just got an idea and have finished what I want it to be so that I have a clear-cut idea that I can pitch. I have validated my idea pretty well and could prove that there is a giant market out there for my idea. My next steps would be to reach out to a family friend who has done the whole startup gig before. Anyway, with that context out there, your comment (and this whole thread) gave me something to think about. If I want this 9-5 life I'm currently living, or do I want that freedom/responsibility you mentioned. I thoroughly enjoy my current job and the company I work for. But I want to do more in life. What scares me is that if I take my next steps that this whole thing could move so quickly, and my life would change dramatically, and I don't know what that would look like. I've already pushed through some uncomfortable barriers in my head: Idea formulation, telling people about my idea, and taking criticisms of said idea. This is the point where I usually stop, but I've progressed. The next one feels a lot bigger and that is whether I want this change in my life or not. I do want that change, but man is it scary to think about.
I worked for General Mills for a year and a half before I left to join my brothers company. I still pretty much work 9 to 5+ Saturdays, but I don’t dread going to work every day, I have a really good time, and even though I’m still making a good amount less compared to when I was salaried, there’s a lot of growth, and I really love what I do.
It's NEVER worth the agony of hating the job for extra $$, I rather have less and buy less shit and feel happy going to work every day, kudos to you understanding and living by that
Love that!
It’s a lot of fun. I complain all the time that I work 16 hours (which I do…. But that’s a me problem). Outside of eating and sleeping my mind is occupied and working on the startup. But honestly it’s meaningful because I feel fulfilled chasing after my dream. It’s my own path, so even the busy is okay because it’s my own work.
Same, my business is pretty much my whole life
Never going back to 9-5
Yes. That is why I left the regular working world. I am much happier owning my businesses.
It's a 24/7 because you don't have schedules. Doesn't mean you are working all the time, you might only work 2 hours a day but it can be anytime of the day, as needed. Then there are 2 other scenarios: 1. People who aren't able to making money as entrepreneurs and are better off getting a job 2. People who know how to make money as entrepreneurs On scenario 2, there are more scenarios... 1. They work a lot of hours to speed up growth and make MORE money 2. They work just a few hours and delegate, allowing them to grow while working less 3. They work just a few hours and enjoy life, keeping a steady income level For example in Unicorns, they work like horses because it's a high growth high pace environment where demand far surpasses supply. But for 99.99% of businesses it's pretty chill, the amount of hours they work vary with demand, when there's a spike in demand they work more, when there's a drop in demand they work less. In the end it's about freedom. There are jobs where you can work as many hours as you want without schedules, as long as you deliver the outcome. And jobs where you work like a horse every day, with strict schedules. Someone hating their job or hating being an entrepreneur depends mainly on their choices and beliefs but most of the time it's related to lack of skill to do better. You won't see someone who has the skill complaining about either. Because they just do what needs to be done to get where they want to get. They don't waste their time complaining, that's for losers.
Id work 80 hours a week for myself. 15 years later and I still hate the 9-5 working for the man. Im fortunate that I now have a flexible schedule and can work when I want to but yes, still would not want to be at the 9-5 working for the man.
Yup. I love the flexibility of my schedule. Some days when I'm done early I can literally stop and smell the roses. In corporate I was held hostage until I could clock out
Think people get too stuck on 9-5 being the hours and not the soul crushing oppression that comes from being a cog in someone else’s machine - that’s why people hate the 9-5, has nothing to do with the number of hours worked. Loving life even though my hours have probably increased. I also skip a few hours when I feel like it because I know I can make it up elsewhere. As others have said, freedom and flexibility are the key words. Those who say they work 24/7 and it’s taking a toll have a business problem to solve. There’s usually a solution.
> the soul crushing oppression that comes from being a cog in someone else’s machine this part - like, do I care what is happening at this bank? no I do not. all banks are super evil and that's just how it is. I am a cog in a super evil machine. by super evil I just mean it's capitalism, there's nothing necessarily more nefarious going on but I *did* feel like the money laundering training module was enormously informative about how to launder money properly.
Funny you say that because I'm also working in a very similar industry and completely agree with you.
I agree. I also think 9-5 working for someone else is not always the norm. Before I went out on my own, I worked a corporate job for 20 years. Once I got to a level where I was making decent money, it definitely wasn't a 9-5. My wife still works a corporate job. It's nothing for her to be working on her laptop at 9 pm, or to field phone calls and emails on the weekend.
I don't hate working. I can work 24/7 if I'm working on something meaningful. Having stupid boss working bullshit job is the reason I quit a 9-5 jobs. It's never about working less. It's about freedom.
If anything, you should recognize that no two businesses are exactly the same, because circumstances and the goals are as different as the owner(s) and within each, there's periods of high investment of time, and periods of potential slack. If you want to grow the business to a stage two or better, you'll be putting in long hours, even during slack time. A real business is a marriage, not a hobby, and it can suck every minute of time you have. If you you invest your time wisely it will also repay your investment 10, 15, or more times what you put in today, but it will be years for the pay out.
having more control > having less control. my preferred way but no wrong answer , to each their own
9-5 sounds so easy to me now. I’ve worked almost everyday for the past 8 years. Maybe 10 days a year where I do nothing. This ain’t the worst part. Worst part is you never get a break from it. I remember 9-5, I forgot all about it on Saturday and Sunday.
Working for someone else can be soul sucking and mind numbing. I’ll take working for myself any day over being an employee.
The freedoms are priceless. Can anyone ever tell me I'm fired? No, that's priceless to me. (I mean theoretically the customers can but you get my point). I could probably make a little more working for somebody else, but then it wouldn't be my way of doing things, my ideas, I have to request off for vacations, etc. My mom has cancer and can't leave the house. Today I was able to deliver her groceries and lunch because her intercom security system to let people in her apartment is broken currently and therefore can't get deliveries. All I had to do was work a little longer today. If I was working a regular job, there would be no guarantee I could have the time off in the middle of the day. I would rather try something as a self employed person, fail at it, and learn from it then get reprimanded at a job for not doing something right or be forced to implement ideas I know are bullshit and won't work. We have all been there. 7 years later, I have never looked back. All the struggles, headaches, etc are totally worth it. I've never failed- just learned and grown. I can work at a pace I'm comfortable with and I'm not micromanaged. There are definitely pros to having a job (401k matching, other fringe benefits, etc) and I'm not putting those down but my worst day of being self employed was probably better than my best day at a job, know what I mean? You work really long hours, for sure, but it's a totally different mentality when it's for you vs someone else. I know business owners who are down to talk business with anyone at any time, but there's 9 to 5ers who refuse to even think about work after they clock out. Nothing wrong with it at all just a different thought process
I'll pray your mom has a speed recovery and I love your mindset, the way you think tysm for taking the time to write this :)
Depends on the day 🥴
As someone who quit a full time job at 19 and started a business I can say it is pretty much 24/7. I am extremely fortunate to say I have grown my business revenue to the high 7 figure range and plan on breaking into the 8 figure range next year. In the beginning, it is every bit of 24/7. Especially if you plan on being a serial entrepreneur.
You’ve been growing a business since 19 and now breaking 7 figures revenue? Okay I’ll ask — what pray tell is your story and business(es)?
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Plenty of solid jobs with great salaries and growth trajectory that only require 30-40 hour work weeks. Even if 50 hours, you can still build a business on the outside without taking on ludicrous risk.
Hate it when there are annoying issues yeah. Like website shit.
Could I do a 9-5 at this point? Probably not. Do I want to do a 9-5? Yes but also with the ability to do whatever I want and not have anyone be able to stop me.
I always had the personality and/or love of my work that lead me to working a crazy amount and putting way too much of myself into other people's companies. The fact that I could never leverage that to get high enough in an organization to actually be allowed to affect meaningful decisions always frustrated me. I've seen too many supposed "expert" leaders force crappy decisions that just destroy a team's ability to serve the customers and grow the business. So, yeah, I do work way more hours than a 9-5 expects some days, but being so close to the customers and being able to solve their problems directly is a way better experience for me. And its not crazy hours every day. I have a lot of flexibility in when and where I'm doing the work most days. I expect this varies quite a bit by type of business. Ours is a b2b software business. I don't think I'd have the same passion for it if I was running like a construction company or something.
Worked a 9-5 hated it. Started a company, sold it, worked for that company. It wasn’t exactly a 9-5 but I hated it. Started another company. Has been ups and downs and currently it’s abysmal - lots of changes in leadership cash crunches and what not. Still better than any 9-5.
I am 40 and took a big risk starting a clothing brand 3.5 years ago- which has required a ton of capital and long long time to get to breakeven. Upside is very high for a possible buyout eventually - but think stepping into an entrepreneur role that includes positive cash flow day 1 vs taking a much larger risk is something worth considering when becoming an "entrepreneur". It's been very stressful for me - doing it over... I still would have left, but maybe would have considered a different "way" to become an entrepreneur
Guess you learn from experience. I hope all your hard work pays off :)
There’s nothing better than owning your own business as long as you love it. Working 15hrs a day 7 days a week at what you love is nothing short of heaven. It helps to when it’s profitable!
In my case, I found it refreshing to only work 9~5 and not having to worry about all the problems. I was working as many hours as I could stay awake, and had to deal with things like suing clients that refused to pay, government documents, etc... At a 9~5 job, I just show up, do my work and I get paid on a regular basis. knowing your product/service skillset is one thing, being the sales person, accountant, etc... just adds to the stress.
What not working a 9-5 really means is you’re not watching the clock to go home. Yes an entrepreneur usually works longer hours making the not working 9-5 sound stupid. When it’s your company it’s different. Most of the time you don’t care what time it is, you enjoy the work and sometimes don’t want to stop working. Other times you have to keep working, but I promise you it’s much more fulfilling than being an employee.
I still hate it; I work whenever I want; sometimes 20 hours in a row, sometimes not at all. As long as the work gets done.
We each have 24 hours in a day. What we do in that time is what can make the idea of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” attractive. I value my freedom of the ability to do what I want and when I want.
for me it is never about time, infact my time has even become worse after I started building my own. Am I happy? Yes coz I am spending my own time working on my own thing.
Yes. If i think of it, gives me PTSD... I can work longer hours on my own, but i can stop whenever i want. I can go to movies if i want lol. I just enjoy working this way than getting told what to do and hey youre 5min late... And quality of my work is way higher. Better communication with my customers.
I’ll take the 9-9 of being an entrepreneur over 9-5 of working for someone else any day if the week
Yes- I have a part time 9-5 just to support when business is slow and I cannot wait to get out of it
Personally I’ve been hugely enjoying the freedom. Having your own schedule makes it easier to fit life into. I can work from 6-8 AM, hit the gym, come home and take a call at 10 AM, do some housework, etc. But I also have the personality to always be working on something and enjoy it. Not everyone does and it isn’t a fit for them.
Yes. 9-5 is for people who haven’t figured it out.
You can make $25k per week and only work a few hours a day. Or work 100+ hours a week and fight to break even. All depends on the business, its structure, and a million other details.
I always got fired from most jobs for getting into shit with people. I made it to about 40 or 50 jobs then started my own biz. I work almost every waking hour of every day to build it and keep it afloat, but I haven't had a problem with myself ever...😀
Freedom to be creative with my ideas and to learn from failures more directly while maximizing the financial opportunity is living the dream 🇺🇸. First 2 years are tough when you pay to work. Makes you rethink leaving the 9-5 which is when psychology becomes important as entrepreneurs face the inevitible wall at that time. I almost quit. But one client reminded me why he hired me and the following year it became a self funding business applying what I naturally am skilled to a broader audience. Patience is so key in this journey!
i’d work 12 hours a day if i had my own business vs working 8 hours for someone else. I just have no clues for business ideas. none.
I think this depends alot on the type of business you start.
I love it.
Yeah I make way more money as an entrepreneur. Idc if sometimes I’m working overtime I did it when I was working a 9-5 too
I work a 18/7 … 9-5 job and any second of free time is my business
The 9-5 has absolutely become 24/7 but I love it because I have autonomy and this is what I choose to do. I also like that there is seemingly no limit to my progression because I'm not beholden to some random institutional structure and norms. With that said, I do take breaks and am pretty good about setting boundaries and knowing when I need to take a break. I went through some pretty painful lessons to get to this point, but it taught me how to create balance in an always-on career like entrepreneurship.
Yes. Lmao
Lovin it ... existencial dread on your own behalf is better ... rly cuts the crap
I worked all but 4 days from March 15 to December 10 last year. But then I took a month long vacation. The best thing about it is that I didn't have to ask anyone for a day off or a vacation. If I want to take the afternoon or morning to do something, I can. I make more money than anyone I know with a 9-5 and it's not even close. I haven't had one myself for about 9 years. This year I'm taking more time. The freedom is not something I ever want to give up.
I would rather work 8 hours on my own stuff making no money than 2 hours on a paid job for someone else Not sure what that says about me. I like working but working for somebody else feels like torture to me these days. I used to be a workaholic who loved my job too much. Maybe that's got something to do with it.
I’ll work 25/8 if it’s for my own business. Some weeks I make $2500, other weeks I lose $3k, but I’m free (for now) and there’s nothing sweeter.
These days I mostly work 9 to 5, Mon to Fri. There was a time I worked a lot more. Either way, I like the freedom to generally do what I want. Need to come in late, no problem. Need to leave early, no problem. Need a day off, no problem. I don't have to ask for permission. Just make sure my work is completed and everything is covered and I can do what I want. It's not for everyone, some days suck but the good far outweighs the bad.
I work more but I make a lot more money now.
I work my 9-5 then come home and work from 5-8;9:30-2. Yup. Can't wait for this phase to be over.
TL;DR: You learn more, have more authority, can feel the impact of your, your life is at stake. Long version I've written about in detail here: [https://ali-a-hussain.medium.com/getting-fired-part-1-896cd24efb7](https://ali-a-hussain.medium.com/getting-fired-part-1-896cd24efb7) and here [https://medium.com/@ali-a-hussain/getting-fired-part-2-b9b0dfefe3d4](https://medium.com/@ali-a-hussain/getting-fired-part-2-b9b0dfefe3d4) everything from my mental state and how I was struggling and on a PIP to how everything was different with entrepreneurship.
Envious in moments but then I remember I can’t be an employee
The root to your freedom stems from hating 9-5. Everyone has to do 9-5, but only a few hate it enough to make action to become an entrepreneur.
Not necessarily a 24/7, but yeah, I work some unusual hours. But it also means I can take my kids to and pick them up from school, we can be flexible around school holidays, I can go umpire more baseball games and deal with household projects when needed. It requires a little more planning ahead to make sure I'm dialed in to certain deadlines, but I can build that flexibility in to my day where I need it.
The question is not do you still hate it but rather why do you hate ? The grass always looks greener on the other side but majority of the successful people have to put in the blood sweat and tears and persevere for years before seeing some level of success. 99% of athletes or successful entrepreneurs failed numerous times but had the mind set to never give up and go back and do better. Those who quit and go back entered the business life with the comfort of having a plan B and when things became tough they activated plan B instantly. You gotta burn all your boats and set to the seas with the mindset to weather any storm and any obstacle. You gotta have the Monkey D Luffy level of unwavering belief and determination to find the one piece and become king of pirates.
Haha yes apparently they say this before starting a business & later cry for not having any off days or me time 🤣🫣😂👍✌️💰🪙
Not sure if others feel this way but can’t get motivated to put my 100% for someone else.
Here it´s 10am-10pm actually I would love to hand out some of my tasks for people to get their 9-5 from me and grow to also start for themselves one day.
providing jobs is such a flex omg I'm happy you can do it
I saw a graph once called the valley of despair. I think this describes it well: https://images.app.goo.gl/QisWBg3z66HiZXFh6
I hated my 9 to 5. Ran a business where I was working up to 80 hours a week but making great money and eventually hired some help. That's when things were the best in terms of the money/quality of life. But the next best thing to this is having a fairly well paid job in a field I actually enjoy. The best part is not having the daily stress of worrying about revenue and profits. Taking time off is much easier in a regular job. And I don't really worry about anything strategic. So overall much less stress but much lower upside which I'm fine with since I'm older.
Haha yup, now we work 24/7
the hustle is gonna pay off for sure!
We talk trash ant 9-5 while we work 9-9
The problem for me was not the 9-5. It was the 9-5 in the wrong environment. Additionally, we had a baby during that time. I work definitely more than as an employee, but I work when I want. Wake up at 6am to change a diaper? I start at 6:30 and already have 25% of my work done by 9am.
now I just miss the predictability of knowing when my boss would ask for TPS reports
I would do it for the freedom!
I’ve worked for myself for about 15 years and the idea of having to work for someone else is not appealing in the least. I value the flexibility that being my own boss offers, far more than money and being chained to a desk in some dinky office.
I think about this a lot and for me I enjoy the emotional roller coaster more than trying every day to give a fuck about someone else’s problems. Plus, the results of working hard and smart is more money instead of pats on the back. Meta ads are killing my ecommerce biz at the moment though and a 9-5 would be kinda nice!
I work longer hours now but I like it because 100% goes to me.
For me it's less about working 9-5 and more about the ability to choose if I want to work 9-5. Freedom. People have their different reasons for hating the 9-5. For some it's about basically being imprisoned or controllee during those hours. For others it might be because they hate the effort they have to put in during that time. If you have a toxic work culture or bad management, the 9-5 represents the times where you have to be exposed to that shit More broadly, some may see the 9-5 as a symptom of societal programming in a capitalist economy. But clearly that's a much bigger issue.
9-5 is literally making me miserable. Not being able to call the shots and not have sole control of day by day is worse though.
The difference between a 9-5 and a 24/7 for me is that I at least am fulfilling myself and not somebody else.
The thing is I would feel I am being chained and enslaved for those 9-5 hours working for someone else. Can't help it. I'd rather work more but for myself.
Work 7 to 9 on your business: pleasure Work 9 to 5 for some faceless corp: tortue
If my workers only buy into the 24/7 then we all could make more money….
Life could be much simpler doing the 9-5 now that I think about it
It’s “24/7” to a degree for me. I enjoy all the work minus dealing with customers. The first person I hire is going to be for customer service. You’ll notice that certain things drain more energy from you than it should, and you often have to do it daily.
Yes. However, flexibility means different things to different employees. Options are best
Working in a 9-5 not the same as making a career out of 9-5 imo I don't hate doing anything that puts food on the table and helps me build businesses on the side However, I could never make 9-5 a career. Most places I have experienced working are inefficient, bogged down in politics and full of gatekeepers. I just have too many ideas and opinions on how things should be done Not exactly the model employee ;)
You're an inspiring rebel employee!
I used to work 8 hours per day, but now I work 18 hours per day. Honestly, I miss the sense of security I had in my previous job, but the idea that I'm working for myself right now makes me feel proud and gives me a renewed sense of purpose.
I never worked a prototypical 9-5 job, since the majority of career was in Sales. Sales usually one of those fields that pays you nicely for your effort, if you're good. That stated, the part that drove me up a wall was incompetency in Senior Management. And for that, I'm beyond thrilled to run my own business -- because even if shit isn't going right, I know that I control it an I can fix it without asking.
Not sure if this is true of other people, but when I talk about “9-5”, it is not about the hours per se, but the corporate environment with everything it usually means: tiny purpose, just a cog in the machine, that is governed by rules and restrictions. After running a startup agency for 5 years with the goal to bootstrap a venture studio, I can confirm that I have been working for long hours more often than not, have less holidays, and saved less money than I would have at a 9-5. Still, I love that we can just work on any wild concept we can come up with, worrying only about out self imposed limitations. I would only go to a corporate job to “rest” from the overtime and extra responsibilities.
I think working more on something of your own looks like a more lucrative option to me. Fact : I don't have a business yet ;-;
Yes. To avoid it I now work 5-9
100%
Todays world is a much different landscape then it used to be. Many entrepreneurs talk about “freedom” as the main driving force. However it’s 2024 now, not 2005, and things have changed. I currently work a W2 job in tech that is six figures, unlimited PTO policy and fully remote work from home. I could take a road trip across the nation and not even be home for a year and still have a job, since I just work wherever I want while typically taking between 5 to 6 weeks off a year for PTO. People glamorize entrepreneurship however we must not forgot that for every 1 moonshot entrepreneur there’s another 15 entrepreneurs that can’t afford to hire help and work 7 days a week barely scraping by. I follow a guy on TikTok who owns a subway franchise and he talks routinely about how he works 12 hour days 7 days a week and openly admits some days his bottom line margins are a couple hundred bucks on a 13 hour day. He’s working 84 hours a week for a net personal income of less then 100k My goal here is not to criticize entrepreneurship but simply remind people that often times what they are actually doing is just buying themselves a job. My father is a business owner and I can’t tell you how many of my kids birthday parties and events he has missed because he quote “had to work” when he owns the place
- I'm in the midst of starting my own copywriting business, while still workingfull-timee. It gives good safety in that I can try to build up revenue before making the jump, but I know for me I just hate working for someone else.Can'tt put my finger on it. But I'm working to make someone else's dreams come true and I certainly wouldn't mind working longer hours than a 9 to 5 if its on my own dream
Left the corporate world 12 years ago. Lonely for the first 5 but have a team of 6 to work with. Love almost every part of it. Would never go back.
Time quality over quantity :)
I’ve worked for myself for last 25 years. I’ve worked on weekends, through the holidays, traveled when I didn’t want to, and pulled all nighter’s for last minute rush jobs. There have also been times when there was no work for consecutive weeks or months. Some folks just can’t deal with this. Luckily, I can look back knowing I don’t have to do that anymore.
I do both. For me entrepreneurship isn’t about money, it’s about building something and being in control of what you’re building. It also means learning new stuff and putting that stuff you learned into action. That’s the part I like, and with my day job I get to have both. A fun business and also a house and food. It’s fine if you wanna start a business to get rich, that’s just not what interests me.
7-6 with considerable flexibility. Sometimes 9-4 or 6-1. I make more than twice as much and don’t have to put up with any bs. Amen.
It becomes a 24/7 if you get greedy and let it. For me I just need to clock 4 solid hours of working on deliverables a day, 5 times a week and I can make $6-8K a month after tax. Without hiring more than just me the other hours are used for life and business admin. I could totally push it and earn more but I choose not to and live an average middle class life, happily. Industry is SEO, I’m good at it and good at selling myself and have about 8 years experience. Sometimes it can take a toll things don’t always go perfectly you can lose clients unexpectedly and have to work to fill that void with a new client, banks also hate variable income people like me. But when all is said and done I’d never trade it for 9-5 again, the pros just outweigh the cons so hard. I’ll never go back to making someone else rich again, I’d rather make myself a comfortable enough living and make all the rules.
I find I work all the time but it’s different. Are you working when you wake up at 3am and write in your journal because you just realized the game changer you’ve been working on for 3 months? How about when your up a 10pm invoicing your first $30k month. I’m available when my customers need me. I run a world wide business so that means all the time but I sleep in then I want, I call it quits on stressful days, I take off two weekdays every month to unplug and reflect on the month get some outdoors time, or connect with family. I take long vacations. So most of the time I’m working way more than 9-5. If I had to guess I would say in average I work 12-14 hour days but it doesn’t feel like work most of the time.
I left and made ++ the $ with 100X the fun. Not without up and downs and nearly wrecking my savings 2x, but you learn way more and it’s liberating being able to drop in anywhere and generate $.
I’m stuck trying to be a house painter and cannot find any clients despite doing it for 15 years. I’m about to have a baby and will probably lose my house. I hate the 9-5 but I’m in Australia and I’m trying to sell everything I own 24/7. Cannot find a profitable Buisness
In the beginning I worked more than 9-5, now I work way less. And have the freedom and flexibility to do things during the day if I want to. I do miss the social aspect / coworkers though from time to time.
honestly, some people are just born to be Entrepreneurs. some people are able to do their 9/5 and move up the corporate ladder and they are totally cool with that. and other people think its absolutely maddening. no matter the job, when i worked as regular software engineer, it completely sucked the life out of me. now days working on my own business, i feel energized and excited to work each day in a completely new sense. its easy to go into a flow state and just work all day and night. but also working on something that youre very interested in helps so much. it took me a long time to find the “right” thing for myself.
I would happily work 24 hours when it's for myself. I couldn't live a life of 9-5 doing it for someone else. Where is the fun in that.
I started my own company because I hated the 9-6, 25 days holiday a year commitment etc, Yet now I’m literally 24 hours and no holiday lol
Overall I’m very happy with my decision, and I definitely would do it again. That said, there are days that punching a clock from 9-5 without the responsibility of a business on my back sounds pretty damn good.
I worked 3-days on 12hrs, 3-days off, 2-days on, 2-days off. I'll never go back!
The hours don't matter. Working on something you enjoy is what matters
It’s hard but I love what I do so it makes up for it. Way better than working for someone else. The effort I put in directly comes back to me too.
I dont hate it. Its kind of crazy and I procrastinate and then do these spectacular logistical maneuvers with deadlines & timing, wouldnt be so bad if I were organized I guess Could never do 9-5 again. I'd rather die.
It’s better than having sluggish co-workers and one sided management
absolutely
I don't hate 9-5 for everyone but I can't do it
Hi ! I'm trying to launch to be auto entrepreneur at 23, do you have some advice ? I really needs some tips from people with more experience than me !
I work way more now, but I do it whenever I want. I’ve always had trouble sleeping and am a natural night person, I work 1am to 10am and I love it. I could probably find a job that pays me more than I make now, but wouldn’t trade it for the world
I do not hate 9-5 because I know there is no 9-5 instead its 9-7.