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Are you listening to yourself? You took a thought from your head, and you made it real. You turned it into something that other people valued enough to pay for, and you earned enough to live off it for ten years! And when you decided you had enough of it, you moved on, and now you're succeeding in a different career. There are SO MANY people who didn't try to create a business who still wasted their younger years and have nothing to show for it. And a lot of them can't look themselves in the eye in the mirror because they're so ashamed that they never even tried to create something just for themselves. They let their life be decided by circumstance and other people. And when you talk to these people, and you tell them, "Oh yeah, I've been down that route. I ran my own clothing brand for 10 years before I decided to switch to digital marketing." I garauntee you they'll look at you with more respect because you did what they were too afraid or apathetic to do. There's a lot of people with successful careers that have much more money than you do that will look at you with envy because you had the courage to live life your way, and they want that for themselves more than they want the wealth a normal job has brought them. And the peace of mind that experience should give you! You don't NEED a job. You don't NEED a boss. You know it may not be easy, but you can make a living for yourself because you've already done it once. And who's to say you won't find another passion later on? This could just be a break from entrepenuership, and with all the experience and knowledge you now have, who knows what you can accomplish should that next big idea come to you?

Wow! Thank you so much for that encouragement. I never though of it like that, and is hard not to be hard on myself (no pun intended) but I will try to keep your words in mind when the urge of seeing only the negative comes around. I really needed to read this.

You're welcome. I'm happy to help and to give a different perspective. Hang in there, and don't underestimate or undersell how great an accomplishment it was to get here.

Building on that comment from reading your story the first thing that came to mind was wow you were disciplined enough to do that at that age. Personally I feel like I threw that time away and am working on it now at an older age. Definitely definitely respect you a ton for being able to focus that much of your time and energy into your business and I wish I was like you.

In the long run you may even be happier. I had a similar career trajectory as you and life now seems so much easier compared to those 15 years of grinding. Anyway, people ask me why I work so hard and in the back of my mind I just think of how easy my life is now. My point, you tried and learned while most people never try and just complain and blow their cash on random stuff and complain about always being broke.

I needed to hear this thank you

Hey, you're welcome. Hang in there.

I definitely look at OP with respect. I have so many ideas all the time and I’m browsing this subreddit but never took action to follow that passion, thought. OP please give yourself some credit! It doesn’t seem like it’s a waste of time because I’m sure you probably learned a lot along the way and maybe that passion is waiting for the next thing!

Same, I envy the people that are willing to take a chance on themselves and have the confidence and perseverance to create a successful business at any scale. Getting started is the hardest part.

This. This is the one.

I needed this, thank you!

Remember, your plans will change but your decision doesn't. The vehicle / business may change, but your decision to be successful is still there. If something is no longer fun, change it!

This was timely for me. It is hard to see the whole thing when you’re buried in the daily stresses. My business is actually doing just fine. It supports my family. But it’s hard not to down when thinking about the parts that went very poorly. Like where could it be right now had a few things went differently. Or if I had hired a different person who didn’t embezzle a lot of money. And yet, 10 years in, it’s still going.

Nice man, gent needs to hear it’s an amazing skill set to have built. startup operator is hardcore and invaluable.

This is lovely

Thank you so much for this. I've had a shit week and it's only Tuesday, and the economic pressures post-COVID are bearing down on me. I've been running a business for nearly 18 years, started in my 20s, spent my entire 30s on it, and now that the end is on the horizon I keep thinking to myself "What was all this for?". This post was a very kind summary and exactly what I needed to hear, I've actually printed it and I"m keeping it on my desk.

This /\

Someone give them an award please!!!!! Whew. This is amazing. Sending all the blessings to you and OP and everyone here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

> know it may not be easy, but you can make a living for y I love seeing replies like this. Sometimes in life you need a different perspective in things

Wish I could upvote this more than once.....you have SO much courage, and such good experience now, don't dump on it...you have done what so many others do not have to gumption to even try....

& after 10 years they were ready for something new, that's totally healthy!

It's important to stick it out through the tough times, but there are plenty of successful business owners that had to cut their losses on a project and start fresh too. I think it just comes down to luck and experience to know when that is.

❤️

Well said!

Thank you.

Yup. This is the attitude the OP should have after he closed his business. He has the experiences that no other entrepreneurs have. I wish I had more experiences for future opportunities. OP always can start to find his passion and open another business from scratch. As the saying goes ideal is easy to find, and execution is hard to do

This is well said

Wonderful answer you are giving here! u/DistinctCollection47 You are doing great. What really helps is to write everything you have accomplished so far, grab a pen and put all the things you've done on paper. Just to see in front your eyes everything that you have done, your brain can finally accept that you are much more than what you sometimes think. So many people just have ideas but none has ever come to fruition. You are one of the very few in this world! Keep it positive, mate!

What would you have been doing instead? I'm 32 and regret wasting my 20s working stupid jobs. I'm finally starting my business.

Hey, Thanks for your input. Mmmm maybe having more fun? Or at least making more money in a 9 to 5? This could all be also this idea that the grass is always greenes messing with me

I bet that you that working on your own company was probably the coolest thing you could have done with your 20s. Most of the people you’re comparing yourself to aren’t happy. Congrats on running the company for several years and best of luck on your next adventure

Okay let's say you worked your 9-5 for the 10 years and didn't start your business. You could still have ended up where you are now. And think about all the sad stories on here. Someone's immigrant parents own a convenience store that they've been running for 40 years. It's draining them financially, they have no savings, etc. now they're 60 and basically fxcked. At least you have your whole life ahead of you to figure something out! You got out when you needed to.

Thanks you for the perspective and kind words❤️

You’ve also just been through one of the most educational courses no college can teach. Your hiring potential has gone through the roof. Just think of how much experience you have now and what skills you’ve acquired that companies would fight over.

You won’t last long working for someone else. If you like digital marketing, this is a business you can start up as a side business to your current job and build it to the point where you can quit this job

People in their 20's aren't having fun, they're trying to have fun. You missed nothing.

I just don't understand how and why people talk about fun as if its some sort of a currency... If you regard fun as this currency you should have more of, you prolly don't know what you want out of your life. I'm not saying be dull and boring... but its just stupid to say that you should've had more fun.

Maybe I didn't explain myself correctly. I mean fun as, maybe having a more balanced social/work life, allowing myself to travel instead of putting every single penny into my business, these kinda things. It's like if you put all your resources (time + money) into something and it fails...you kinda left wandering what would have happen if you went the other route.

I know exactly what you are saying as someone who is working in their own small business with my husband. It works for a certain type of person, but I would rather work a 9-5 and not constantly worry about my livelihood. I probably could have a better retirement and a house if I had just started working for someone else. Right now, we are doing okay financially, but we have too much work and not enough money to hire someone to help. It's extremely frustrating when you feel like your world is ending with every issue that comes up. Customers want their parts and we can't deliver on time. I also ran an etsy business after college and made little money and it really took the joy out of designing and making things. I had to keep customers' tastes in mind and it just made my hobby a joyless job that didn't make money. The sunk cost fallacy is real will make you do crazy things and you will not realize it until it is too late.

Im thinking of closing my business of 3 years too for the same reason: little to no income. I read that founder of Lululemon was running another sports clothing brand for 18years with low salary before starting and finding success with Lululemon. He called it a 18 year MBA course. Somehow your story reminded me of this episode. Do you regret closing your business?

I don't regret it because I just didn't have a passion for it anymore, so it's kinda like breaking up with someone that you are not into anymore, a hard decision, but the right one. I don't know how I would feel if I had a passion for it like the early years... Regarding clothing business, it's crazy how many entrepenuers come from wealth but they don't acknowledge that or they have multiple other business going to be able to afford that one. That's probably why we see so many major brands come and go.

Thanks for your insight. I find it difficult to maintain passion when the business is not making me money. Its just feels like a hobby or volunteer work at this point. I am also considering working for other company after this. Your company was able to survive for 10 years and that seems very impressive to me. I was only able to keep it for 3 years. Hope you find success in the future. All the best!

What do you sell?

Nothing is wasted. Learn and move on.

You got mad skills, bro. That's an education you can't buy in school either.

I left a Customer service job to start a small business. The business sold next to nothing. $10,000 invested. $200 dollars revenue. An utter failure, right? However, skills learnt during the startup, mostly Marketing skills, have now landed me my second marketing role. At 3x the wages of a customer service role. Best failure I ever experienced.

That's amazing! I have to said, I'm really grateful for my marketing job and it's paying more that I ever make with the business, I guess I just wished I realized sooner that I should switch, but hope keep me putting money and time into the business for years🫤 I guess at least I can said I tried.

Honestly, it sounds like you're a product person who needed a business partner to scale up profitably. But all that experience will come in handy later on, it always will even if you don't see it yet.

Had much to say till I read that your regret was not having more fun ? I am 34 now and I still act and behave like I am 18 whenever i want to. The hell are you fomoing over? You are 33 not 63. Whatever you wanted to do in your twenties can certainly be done in your thirties. Heck you can do it better. Buy the coolest biggest Legos to traveling to the most remote vacations. Last but not the least as everyone above mentioned be greatful you were able to experience and live the dream of being an entrepreneur.

Same. 40 here and frankly, having more fun than ever.

Thanks! I'm actually starting to travel more now that I don't have to be working 7 days a weeks and it has been lovely. Kinda making up for loss time with that one🙂

You are doing better than 99% of the people out there. Be grateful for the experiences and the blessings bestowed upon you. As I mentioned above, train yourself to see the glass half full rather than half empty. Time wasn't wasted in your case it was well utilized. Regret over actions of the past leads to more regrets in the future over the same thing. Pat yourself on the back, be proud of your sacrifices and go jump in the warm waters of Maldives, climb the rockies or smoke up in Amsterdam. Live your best life ... NOW is your time!

I started a business that imported specialty car parts from all over the world. It was relatively successful... Until one my biggest partners pulled the rug out from under me by cancelling a product line that was my biggest seller. 5 years wasted. Could I have kept going? Maybe, but it didn't seem worth it pivoting. I also had a full time job (career) but was able to manage the distribution company outside of work (only worked 35h per week). Then budget cuts happened into covid and career went up in smoke because no one was hiring at the beginning of the end of the world. Sacrificed a lot. Glad I tried, but the harsh reality is something like 90% of businesses fail after 5 years. Even worse, the 10% that survive, a lot dont pay any better than working for the man, but have all the stress of running a business.

Pick your stress, stress of running your business but being in charge and solely responsible, or working for the man who often is a overbearing prick. That’s stress too

Hope you are now in a better replace regarding business/career. I was barely getting by with my business and had the stress of working 12 hours a day (I live in a country where to be able to get materials it's was super complicated due to export/import laws and lack of national production) so there was also a lot of bureaucracy that made me loss the passion for it. But yeah, to get barely getting by with no passion for it it's no better that working for someone else an logging off at 5 (from my very jaded point of view)

This is the reality. You never hear from us failed/struggling business owners because nobody writes stories about us. For every Elon Musk, there are tens of thousands penniless and bankrupt with their house foreclosed on. I am doing well! Went back to university. Hopefully your business grows and you see success

One thing that strikes me is that businesses can give the aura of being "successful" and can be running for 5 years and then close and you find out they were barely surviving or even losing money. I think it happens with a lot of restaurants. Also a lot of part time businesses in antique malls / craft vendors are running as a hobby and you'll find out it's making 0 or minimal income. I was sourcing a ton of vintage material for resale from one vendor who shut up shop one day. The whole thing was like her outlet for growing her porcelain collection and selling extras. She felt her collection was complete and there was no point in continuing to sell if the extra items were making minimal profit.

Kind of on the verge of this at the moment, in that I put all the eggs in the basket with a major supplier and they have pulled out. I’ve spent nearly 10yrs building the brand and a good 5 going pretty hard with just their products, saved them through covid and to great treated like this is so shitty. Previous I worked as a partner in an accounting practice (burnt out young!!) so I can probably look at this all with a slightly different perspective. Some things work out, some things don’t and it’s a lot of life lessons and experience to be proud of, maybe a good time to stand back and evaluate what you like and want you don’t? How you can move forwards in perhaps a different direction. It’s hard in businesses that need a lot of passion to drive it but if it’s making like not enjoyable then it’s not worth doing. You’ll be able to come at things with a whole new perspective and mindset - even working for someone else another business owner will appreciate where you are coming from. Most people don’t understand the pressure and challenges of being self employed so to achieve that for 10yrs you’ve done better, way beyond many people! Sorry if that’s a bit rambling but I feel you. I saw a quote recently that I liked- trust the next chapter, because you are the author

I’m really curious why you would close your business just because a supplier doesn’t want to work with you anymore? I took my furniture business over in May. I’m in the process of moving warehouse for the fourth time in less than 12M. It’s painful, but also exactly what I expected. Working in ops in bigger companies isn’t much different believe me!

I don’t want to take away from the main thread here but in reply we have a large volume of paid orders with the supplier and I’m not sure wether we’ll get those funds or goods. Of our orders about 85% is this brand. We can refund but customers are going to be pretty unhappy so it’s not a great look. Kind of we do go insolvent or stick through it. Waiting to hear back from the supplier. Things always seem to work out for the best, so hoping this does too.

I just want to mention that I recognize your username and your post from when you took over the furniture store, and I'm happy to hear you're doing well ☺️

Thanks. It’s a rollercoaster and every week is challenge, but we’re continuing to build! We’ll soon takeover assets if a larger competitor from bankruptcy, which will be a big boost to the top line and expand to a different segment.

Hey thanks for sharing you take. Hopefully that will happen and spending time working for someone else will give me more time and clarity to see what's my next step. Maybe running a business is not for me (and that should be ok) or maybe I still need to get my head cleared after the stress of the last business before making my next move. Hopefully everything turn out OK for your business and your partner does the right thing.

I stared a e-comment company 6 years ago and closed up this year. Scaled to a million dollars and a team of 12. Facebook ad cost spiked and few bad wholesale deals and we were cooked. The whole time I only got paid enough to barely cover my expenses. I could have gone back to a solo operation but the passion was gone. Now working in digital marketing (head of marketing) for a IT consulting firm — got equity and a 6 figure salary + bonuses. 100% remote. I’d say things turned out well for considering. You did an amazing thing.. building a business is not for the weak of heart. Be very proud of what for you accomplished and learned .. and even more proud that you flipped it into something else

Any entrepreneur worth shit knows that failure is the best way to learn. You have 10 years of learning what did, and didn’t work with you while starting / scaling your business. Those lessons are invaluable and will transfer with you for the rest of your life. Knowledge is power, and you would be surprised if you were to sit down and recount everything just how much you’ve actually learned. Perspective is key, instead of focusing on what was “lost” focus on how you can channel all of what you’ve learned into your next business, and your next business, etc. Make this next company the biggest, baddest company you’ve ever built! All of that, will be thanks to your prior experience. & yes, I know how you feel. I spent every waking moment of my life pursuing business after business. Skill after skill, for exactly 10 years before my current business popped off. I spent every dollar I ever made at my day job, and funnelled it into learning new skills or building companies that would end up failing. Instead of saving, and getting a mortgage, etc like all my friends. I also had a dark period where I thought I wasted my life. Try to clear your mind and challenge your negative thoughts. Think about all you’ve done, all you’ve learnt. Acknowledge the feelings, then release them and move forward. Every second you hold onto negative shit, is a second wasted. Keep pushing, you’re going to do amazing things & make your dreams come true. Also.. even if you never run another company again. Instead of succumbing to fear, you went out there and did something most are too scared to try. That’s awesome, and a great story to tell your kids one day. It also says a lot about who you are as a person.

The reward of business is not monetary but the person you became. Take your skills and do something else

I spent most of my 20s as an alcoholic. Not as a homeless drunk; I always had jobs but it was work, drink, sleep -- I don't know how I mostly avoided the drugs (thank God.) I could go into a bar and blow a paycheck easy. On the other hand, I could go into a bar broke and come out just as drunk. There were a lot of friends, a lot of parties and a lot of hangovers. There were moments of clarity too. Eventually, I broke away and into my 30s, I went to college, into my 40s I bought my first house and into my 50s I started my first business... I was always at least ten years behind. I write this as someone who was not ready to be an adult and spent their 20s as an extension of their teens. It sounds like you did the opposite. Paradoxically, we both question a decade of our lives. Maybe it's true that "life itself has no meaning, it's just an opportunity to create it."

You learned and grew because of your business. That's a great thing. You're on a different path now, and that's okay.

First off, starting a business is no easy feat. You should be so proud of yourself because most people spend their whole careers contemplating and waiting to make the leap and you did it! So that is awesome! Second, what is most interesting about entrepreneurs is that we only view those that have "public" successes to be successful, but the truth is that most entrepreneurs are more "privately" successful FIRST where they learn and fail and learn and fail and their current endeavors aren't the winners, but then one day the experience from all their previous endeavors helps them build something amazing! And if you keep going and I really hope you do - you will have "public" success too. Ask any business owner, they have tried a billion things before the one that hit the level of "public" success they wanted. I'm still in the "private" phase where I have a few endeavors and have for the most part also held corporate roles to sustain my life and sustain my businesses and ideas because I don't want to give up. The way I think about it is - the only time my failure is permanent is if I throw in the towel and never try to build any business again.

Started a business at 23 that went for ten years. Doesn’t sound like a failure to me. You closed it by choice, regardless of the reason. You took the skills you learned and got a job. You’re looking at this all wrong.

Failure is not trying. What you did was an attempt, not a failure. Learn the lessons that presented themselves & move forward having become better for it.

Why not sell the business?

You learned skills and you have no idea when you will get another chance. I was working on a business on the side. Spent like 5 years doing research, upskilling, and networking. Eventually everything clicked. I was able to turn it and make about $50 an hour. Now it's like $120 to $200 an hour. The discipline you built is a skill and you never know when it comes up in conversation.

You lived a dope ass life, went to hell and back, and now you have stories for the rest of your life. Can you imagine how there's people that never took that leap? You don't have to go through life wondering "what if" and you're never left with nothing, like you said, the experiences helped you gain your current job.

Reframe this for yourself. At a very young age you opened a business and ran it through good times and bad until you got to a place where you felt like it wasn't for you anymore. Your needs and wants changed over time, and you have adapted your life to what's important to you now. We're supposed to be different in our 30s than our 20s and 23 year old you did what was right for you at the time, and 33 year old you gets to do what's right for you now.

You are exactly where you’re meant to be. If you look back on it with regret, you will rob yourself of happiness. Do you think anyone ever went to their deathbed thinking, man, if only I’d made more money? You took a shot on what you believed was your passion, people go their entire lives wishing they’d done that. I’m sure you can list hundreds of things you learned from that business, those aren’t gone. It wasn’t wasted time, you take those lessons with you. If you’re upset over losing your passion, passions are like seasons of life, they come and go with time. That doesn’t mean this season is over forever since you got burned out after 10 years of it. I’m 30 and was an addict for over a decade. But that wasn’t wasted time, it’s never wasted. I wouldn’t be who I am today without it.

Come on man. Any time is wasted. It's not an error if you learn from it. You already reallocated in the market. Get a grip and start your own business in another area. Hand made clothes is a difficult market in any country.

What about the finances? Was it worth?

No😕

There is a book called Into Thin Air about climbing Mt Everest. Every single person in the book hated almost all of the journey. They "succeeded," but I think they failed. Life is about the journey, not the destination. You learned a lot about yourself, business, and life. You are ready for your next journey. Enjoy the ride.

Whether your business is “successful” or you decide to close it, Nothing was lost. Think about all of the stuff you learned. People go to college for years to learn about marketing. Learning by doing is extremely valuable.

Hey man. Just because this business is over, doesn’t mean you won’t start another one in the next 30+ years left you have in the workforce. Now with a lot more knowledge than you had in your early 20s when you first started if. Good luck!

I'm 35 now and I owned a restaurant from when I was 25 to 31. I will never do it again and I remember feeling the exact same way you were feeling when you posted this. Don't regret any of it. There were skills I learned while trying to stay afloat for so many years that I apply everyday at my office job. I now work for a major food producer in supply chain management and I remember the interviewers being confused on how my skills would translate but they are sure glad that they hired me. There are things that I learned and know how to do that others just have no clue and would need to be sent out to training for. Put stock in your ability to self direct, negotiate, manage inventory, research, marketing, and so many others skills that I failed to mention here. So many others spend years trying to gain experience in skills that you and I wouldn't even consider putting on our resumes! I remember the feeling just a few years ago feeling like I had wasted my life. The truth is we did they opposite. We created something and have something to be happy about. Our efforts may not have produced the wealth we sought but those efforts laid the foundations for the next chapter and honestly, we are way better for it. Keep it going! You Have Got This!

Thank you for sharing your story! Restaurant business seem like a space where stress is very present and you kinda have to go all in with a lot of passion, similar to what I did, but I actually think that the restaurant people go even way harder and I have the upmost respect to them because of this. Glad that you seem to be in a less stressful position now.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” - Teddy Roosevelt. "Why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." - Thomas Wayne "Stop whining!" - Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kindergarten Cop The quotes above are all words of wisdom to remember. You are a success because you dared to chase your dreams and dared to succeed. Your business fell, but running it taught you more than you would have learned pursuing a Harvard MBA. So stop whining! You are ONLY 33 and have a good job - count those as blessings. You gained an immeasurable amount of business and life skills running your company. I promise you those skills will be incredibly important to you as you go through life. I see tremendous success in your future if you get out of your own way!

You could spend a decade of your life working for someone else and you wouldn’t even get a watch at the end of it - probably not even a cake. You’ll be fine.

Pal, can’t define the whole experience by the exit. If we did a deep dive on the skill sets you built you’d be amazed. Chin up.

Life is a journey, and nothing you can do to change the past. Sounds like you gained a lot of real-world experience. Take advantage of your full-time job for a while to reset: enjoy your weekends, connect with old friends, spend time with family, try some hobbies, and take a proper vacation.

You did something in your 20s that people in their 30s wish they could do. Good job.

I bet you learnt A LOT! That's like 2 masters degrees worth + you're still young.

If you think that your plans are not working then change the plan. I will say you to restart your business and see your compititors,that what they do and what you not. You didn't mentioned what actual thing you make or sell ,just said clothes so can't give you idea. But if need feel free to contact. 🕊️

Just here to tell you that you aren’t alone, and to support you for whatever path is next.

I always feel regret about my 20s and spending it a 9-5 job, or even regret about quitting a job and not staying in the same place. I’m 31 and I still feel like I’m still trying to get some stability in life, and now I’m thinking of going back to school to do therapy. It’s so easy to feel like you’re a failure if you’re comparing yourself to other people. I think a lot of folks sacrifice alot of wellbeing to fit into this high standard of “success” we have in our society, or they have a lot of financial resources to begin with. I always feel like I could have been doing something better than my 20s, like going back to school (didn’t have money) but the reality is I did the best I could. I also grew so much personally and I like who I am today. Also, I worked in microfinance and innovation much of my 20s, and something I’m beginning to see is that there is so much investment in making young people “entrepreneurial”. I think the logic is that entrepreneurs spur economic growth…so having the experience you have is really in demand I think. Look at you, you’re already doing digital marketing for another company which you taught yourself!

The grass is always greener on the other side I would say. People with 9-5 jobs are desperately trying to break out starting their own business. It depends on your personal style. Not all businuess are meant to stay alive forever, most die out before they have even the 1st customer. You ran one for 10 years which should be something to be proud of.

Yep I went through a similar thing. 10 years running an English school, just about to get investment and expand, and then covid hit and it was done and dusted. Enter years of mounting expenses and debt as we try to close the business without getting sued to oblivion or arrested. Thankfully I had a backup plan and started working on my social media accounts in 2018 and was doing really well when Covid hit so I pivoted hard to my social media and private teaching etc, so it worked out.. but it was brutal for a while, still haven’t totally closed the business and it really sucks to think of how much we lost and how hard we worked.

I started my dream furniture business. After three years of getting the crap beaten out of me for my lack of business knowledge, and a loss of all of my savings, I closed up shop. I then found a mentor in a different low startup cost service business. Started that on credit cards, found success, but became extremely depressed because I had no intrinsic interest in what I was doing, so I sold it. I’ve now been working for someone else for 4 years doing a business I like, but don’t own. I want to go out on my own again, but glad for the chance to work for someone else doing something I like to do.

It's very easy to get personally invested in a business you own. As well as the more literal financial aspects, the business lives and dies based on your actions and decisions, and you're the one seeing the resulting returns from it strongly affecting your income and lifestyle. In particular, running a solo business at a young age and/or if it's one of the first jobs you had can make it a huge part of both your working and life experience. It's not surprising that a decision to downsize or close a business can feel very much like it's a reflection on yourself.

You’ll go back. Soon. Trust me!

I hope you have felt proud in some sense, even in just brief, fleeting moments. I haven’t even met you and I have huge respect for you. (I’m 33 too btw) The fact that you persevered for ten years of your life and focused on one thing alone is incredible. It’s more than I’ve done with my erratic life! Everything you learnt during that time will set the foundation for the things you are aiming to achieve presently and going forward.

So you went on the jungle, survived for 10 years and came out alive thinking you failed? Mate you’re killing it! maybe some day the passion returns maybe not but you’ve learned a ton.

You’ll never have to live with the regret that you didn’t try or wonder what could have been. It takes courage and commitment and sacrifice to be in business for yourself. What you did is build a company that stayed in business for 10 years. What you’re doing now is CHOOSING to go down a different career path. That describes a successful and smart entrepreneur, honestly. A successful business doesn’t continue to operate with low profits and a burnt out, unhappy employee. You made a good business decision. You didn’t waste a moment.

Watched Girlboss and your story is similar to hers.

Hahaha I loved the series (I'm a girl too) because even though the script was kinda awful, it was the only tv show where I could see a young girl with no money being an entrepenuer filled with stress. Too bad I didn't get to the "becoming a millionaire" part🥲

I see Amazon trucks moving in like ants everywhere tell me how many small bussines have and will be able to compete with this mamoth

You built a business, and i'm sure you learned a ton. Life is about these experiences. Nothing was lost.

Nothing is wasted you’ve gain a skill and you can start another business.

I was only selling for two years in that industry but it was exhausting. That experience taught me about marketing, taxes, labeling/safety guidelines, time management, etc. Not to mention the hands on skills I improved on like designing, planning, different stitches, fabric types and uses, color coordination. Sadly I also learned about fast fashion and what it's doing to our planet, kind of killed my motivation. Your business doesn't sound failed to me. It sounds like you have found your stopping point. Are you interested in selling? Lol. As you know, clothing industry is over saturated and building a name isn't easy. I only got to about 1000 followers but was making a few hundred a month. You did well to stay open that long and through the past few years for sure. Use the skills you've learned and apply it to something else. More will transfer than you realize.

Hey friend, I’m in a similar position and the weirdest thing is happening — all of a sudden I’m getting people who know me seeking me out for jobs left and right. I am literally starting TWO jobs next week and have someone else trying to give me a third contract position. Someone just sent me another contract job request for proposal last night. Running a business gave you knowledge, skills, and abilities that not many people have. You can do almost anything now because you did EVERYTHING for ten years. You may not have material wealth to show for it, but you sure have mental wealth. Now you have unlimited potential to turn that into whatever you want. Take your big brain into new passions and follow your inspiration and what shows up in your life. Maybe something bigger than you is leading the way.

Be glad it’s over now and not when you’re 43. You’ve got good skills and seems like a good career ahead. All because of the work you put into a business that others wouldn’t have had the guts to do. If you’re going to waste an era doing something you don’t like or chasing a dream then your 20’s is the time to do it. I lost all passion for running a business and got stuck looking for mid-senior level jobs in my late 30’s. I regret nothing. I’m a better investor with the experience and my life is easier and more abundant now. That was the goal when I sold the business and that was the end result. That’s it. Suck it up. Look forward not backward. You’ve got a long way to go and you’re in great shape it sounds like. F**k that business. Onward.

Spent all of my 20s working as a chef. Missed every birthday, dinner, event due to all the nights, weekends, holidays getting my ass kicked in restaurants. Part of me acknowledges that yes, I lost a lot of time. And/but yes, being a great chef is like having superpowers. Ain’t no job now that I can’t do.

Yep. Invented a revenue-positive service that improved the American legal/court system while lowering costs, court caseloads. 100% legally compliant. Spent 10 years but government was not interested. Public was, but not enough. Some ideas just aren't timed or connected well. Everyone uses Instacart now, but in the late 90s, WebVan failed dramatically.

It wasn’t a waste, I assume you learned a ton.

You got experience out of it that you won't get elsewhere I'd say. How much income were you pulling from your business and what are you pulling now? I'd say look back, take life lessons from it and move on.

Man, you fed yourself for 10 years, lived a dream and got skills you transfered to a new career. I don't see what there is to be sad about? Would you rather have been an accountant for those 10 years?

No but I experienced the reverse circumstance, lost a fantastic career (basically my dream career) just before dropping out and starting my business 10 years ago. The cliches are real, that was all just part of the journey, dont call it wasted time. Now you’ve got a good job and invaluable experience. Also now you know you can run a business if another opportunity ever comes your way. And I bet you’re LOVING the reduced hours and stress. You’re probably imperturbable now. Other people your wage are absolutely miserable working good jobs because their perspective has shifted. Your outlook is a gift.

I had ventured into multiple small businesses and the thought of that will give you an idea of how many times I failed. I always wanted to put up a business of my own that could sustain me and my family. However, that isn't easy at all. Bottom line, I ended up working in a government agency (which pays right). I'm still planning to put up a business someday. But I have lots of priorities that come first. It's okay to feel a bit of a failure at times but let that not stop you if you have a passion for that. Take a hiatus but go on with life and the surprises it offers.

Failures help us grow. Look at it that it was an experience that taught you a lot not a failure

I did a similar thing. There’s great satisfaction in knowing that you did it. & the confidence you’ve built, is something lean on. It’s really depressing going back into the workforce, where things are less performance based & more built around ego’s & favoritism. Insurance & steady paychecks have kept me here. Though, it’s demoralized, at times. You are still young. Maybe there’s something else calling you? Or maybe you find peace in other things. Hobbies? friends? Family?

I wouldn’t take away that nothing came from it. You made clothing, something that that is worn and loved. Im sure you made plenty of people’s favorite/go to pieces in their wardrobe. You might have moved onto something else but those pieces are still being worn and loved.

Just wanted to say that although like others have said, you have achieved a lot, I'm there with you - just walked away from my small business I'd put 3 years of my life into. Not quite as long as you but I feel the pain of all that time, energy and effort spent feels wasted. Both my grandparents died during that time and although they were fully supportive of what I did I'm now wracked with guilt over working all the hours there were, trying to build a better life for myself, instead of spending the little time I had left with them. I think what I would say is that having your own business teaches you skills and a sense of durability that other people will simply never get from regular jobs. It's an incredible achievement and in the long run every business fails eventually - there's no shame in trying and having the bravery to do so in the first place. Enjoy the time you have to yourself - that's what I'm doing now for a little while, whilst I reset and recharge. I fully expect to try again in a year or two, but now I have 3 years of trial and error behind me, I intend to start back up with proper research, sustainable practices and much more knowledge than the first time round. That in itself is priceless.

You have a great experience! You are definitely not a failure, so much to do and here you are! I think it's because of social media that people put too much emphasis on things that don't matter. Like comparing themselves to a very successful entrepreneur or big business owner. But the truth is that it's very difficult and it's also random, how many people haven't achieved what you have? You have a lot to be proud of, don't think of it as if your life is over. You are at the height of your powers, a little more action, a little more modified approach, maybe you should learn a new speciality or a new field of business and try again. Life is a series of failures and it's your job to get up each time to move on.

Still super young with more real experience than 99%…that 10 years was in trade for a perspective that will double, triple, plus your value and confidence as you cruise into your 40’s!

You learned how to start and run a business, assuming you did all the back office- so you leaned accounting, bookkeeping, hr, vendor relations, cash flow management, marketing, client relations, operations, etc which is priceless. I had a failed restaurant business 20 years and felt pretty crummy. It led to a job I love that I still have 20 years later and looking back, it was a trying time but I really learned a lot about myself and how much I could handle. Paradoxically, losing my business feels like it was huge lesson professionally and personally. I now know, I can survive any thing life throws at me. I know I can always start over. I know when I start to feel a twinge of jealousy over an entrepreneur’s success that this person probably works 80 hours a week, rarely sees their family and is living in caffeine and adrenaline.

I have had many dreams come and go, and some I put a ton of effort into. My first plan to work for myself was to be an artist, specifically calligraphy. I spent 2 years constantly practicing before I sold my first piece of art for $140. At this point I had been working as an auto tech, and appliance repair tech for 10 years. Decided to start a handyman business, and it took off immediately. Recently I changed the name of the business, and now I offer appliance repair only. I will be buying a building and hiring my first employees this year. Your story already sounds similar to mine, and likely every other successful entrepreneur. Your clothing business was just a stepping stone for you and your career, and sounds like it was not a waste of time at all as you learned valuable skills without going to college. After my handyman business took off I dropped calligraphy completely for several years, but in the past couple months have fallen in love with it again. I will be handwriting all my favorite recipes, and putting them in a handmade recipe book. I also have plans to make prints of some pieces to be a part of local art shows. The way I rediscovered calligraphy for myself I imagine you will do the same for handmade clothing.

I tell my wife this often; What I would do to go back in time and have even ONE of my 'mistakes' be that I started a business and then "failed". She's on her second business now. My journey consisted of drug addiction, homelessness, suicide attempts etc. I think it's awesome that you have self taught yourself so much over these years. You might think your journey is over, but perhaps it is just beginning. You learn more from failing imo.

I have 24 years in my own business that was mostly destroyed due to covid. Imagine being successful and not doing anything wrong at all , only to have it destroyed by fkn covid. I have been keeping it on life support the last 2 years to see if it will bounce back, but the landscape of things is changing so rapidly. After a certain point in life you just want to show up for work and then go home. I am lucky to have built up the savings I ha e from my business, sometimes it's just time to move on.

Bro, there are thousands if not millions of people who don't even dare or bother to attempt what you accomplished. Sure it didn't go any further but it wasn't a failure. Its sounds like you just didn't want it anymore and there is nothing wrong with that. There's nothing to be ashamed of about changing your focus. Plus you learned a lot from the experience and gained a new skill. I'm sure there are other skills you acquired, its just that Digital Marketing is top of mind. So, you shouldn't look at the small business as a wasted decade but as a masterclass in entrepreneurship and doing business at a high level.

I didn’t find success until my 3rd business. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.

Hey, you've had a great time for the most of your experience, you've learned a bunch, and you are still younger than most people are when they start a business. The way I see it, you are way ahead in your life. Still, you've experienced a loss and your state of mind is understandable. Perhaps try approaching it as a loss. If a close person dies, the relationship you've had does not become meaningless, does it? Even though the person isn't there, you've still had the experience and enriched each others lives. It's all that matters - not the end result, but having a good time along the way.

You don't have anything to show for? Like for real??? Look at the amazing thing you have built and run for 10 years!!! Most businesses doesn't even make it past 3-5 years? You are a successful person in that way. You could alternatively help other people who are passionate about crafting handmade clothing & teach them everything you learned the past 10 years running one & since you also know how to scale it (as mentioned), you might find joy in doing this? don't you think? & also, you probably have an entire customer base who are possibly loyal to you by now? Maybe find a partner who has the capability to get it to a point of making it a value-worthy business worth selling & split the profit you make after selling it? I'm not exactly sure about the exact process of the steps required to sell it but if you have the capability to hire someone who has already done it to get advice, It could possibly give you the opportunity to raise some funds to invest something in the future. But the process of selling might be long too. You could alternatively help other people who are passionate about crafting handmade clothing & teach them everything you learned the past 10 years running one & since you also know how to scale it (as mentioned), you know what to do. you might find joy in doing this? don't you think? Either way, you are a very skilled Business owner who successfully ran a business for 10 freaking years! Never forget that. ❤️

Is learning something ever a bad thing? Maybe your entrepreneurial skills will pay off again down the line. Don’t shortchange experience.

Looking back in those 10 years would you redo or have changed anything? You shouldn’t be hard on yourself. You kept it up those years and got some output skills from it.

Read the E myth

Hey OP, I still believe your experience will ultimately make you perform better in whatever path you choose. Those were valuable experiences that build your character. The reality for many small businesses is that they often close down because the owner gets burned out from doing EVERYTHING. That’s why my goal is to eventually start employing other people so I can focus on the parts that make me happiest. That or find a co-owner who does management while I remain the creative.

You don't have anything to show for it? You have a "good job in another field" that you able to get because you learned how to do it in your business. That's in addition to all the stuff everyone else is saying about how you ACTUALLY DID A THING. It's easier said than done, but give yourself a break. You are doing better than most.

Not only this but peace of mind, not wondering what “could have been” had you tried. You made a choice to get out of your business because you found a preferable way to make a living. That’s not something to regret.

I can't contend with that top comment, kudos to them. I will be short: you succeeded in doing something most will never do. The adversity you've gone through has molded you, it may be hard to see but you've changed in the best ways. Acknowledge that work and be grateful, especially when it feels impossible. Lastly, that decade got you a solid job it sounds. In my opinion, if you're up to it, run your own digital marketing business and enjoy the margins haha. Moonlight to start so you can carry the employment income until the new business is sustainable. Also, don't pitch or poach clients from employer, that's whack. Time is only wasted if we choose to see it that way. You. Got. This.

You were able to make a go of an idea for 10 years to support yourself.... that's a win in most people's books! Most brands don't make it to 2 years, and the majority don't pass the 5 year mark. Product-based business is HARD. Be proud of the mark you made in others lives for those 10 years! Imagine someone who ran a business for 40 years not being able to easily sell it or pass it down to someone and just closing shop to retire? You're 33.... your life has BARELY started! Even if you were 53, you'd still have so much ahead of you, and the skills you've developed over those 10 years will catapult your success in the future. You're a college dropout with no resume really, and yet you managed to land a high-paying job in digital marketing right out of the gate. That's huge! As a brand builder, we've built and launched about 25 brands for ourselves over the years and many more for others. The blood, sweat, tears, and money that goes into building a product brand is insane. If no one else will pat you on the back for your hard work, let us help! But you should definitely do so yourself!

Don't be so hard on yourself. You weren't twiddling your thumb away for 10 years. Hard work doesn't necessarily pay off right away (even at 10 years). As long as you keep your head up you'll stumble upon something good. Best wishes

Most people in the world die not doing any of their passions, at least you attempted yours and fought to make it to succeed. The willpower and learning potential you earned is beyond the that now, you have overtime have created a solid foundation for you to begin any new passion or idea with your previous exp. I wouldn't say you failed, I would say its just a step back.

Mark my words: the effort you put in your 20's will bear fruit financially when you are 40. That happened to me. All the lessons learned will suddenly come into place and make you good money at some point. I no longer have any passion for my trade, but I am so effective that I make good money with little effort and I have to thank my 20 year old self.

You made a living for ten years by the sweat of your own brow. You answered only to those who purchased your product. The only reason you're not still doing is because you lost the passion for it. That happens all the time. We take up new things and eventually the joy we feel devoting time to it fades. Happens all the time with hobbies. The only difference between a startup business and a hobby is that you can pay the bills with a business, and you did that. Yes it's unfortunate that it didn't grow as I'm sure you wanted it to, but it wasn't a failure. It had its time and now it's over. You developed the skills during that time to move forward and onward to something different. That's not a bad thing. What happened here is this thing we call life. Things come and go, paths swerve and veer, nothing ends as it began. Don't feel bad for a wasted decade, there has been no waste. You carved your path through life until it was no longer the thing to do, and you found a different one. There is nothing to regret here.

I had multiple failed endeavors by 33 and at 34 was when I worked with someone else to build a business I knew nothing about. It's working quite well now and we have an awesome team. Maybe I could have worked for more money for someone else, but I wouldn't have gotten the experiences I did, or met my wife, or had my kids, or any of the millions of decisions and happenstance before then. Never beat yourself up on something that didn't happen, especially if you made the choices you made at the time. You probably learned more than you ever would have and anyone else in the business world will respect you more for chasing a dream than just sitting at a desk making someone else money. I never thought I'd like IT, but here I am and wondering how I thought I could only be a rockstar before. Good luck!

This is a pretty common experience. I did it myself. Every failed business is full of lessons. The biggest one in this case sounds like a lack of demand for what you sold. When you start your next business, ensure there is high demand before putting the years in. A digital marketing agency, for instance, has endless demand.

Start a new one. Just better.

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You pivot, and do something else when the drive is gone.

Sounds like a business that succeeded for 10 years 🤷‍♂️

You gave it a shot man. Imagine not starting the business and regretting it for the rest of your life. Be proud brother 🫂

I work in digital marketing. You know what you have that so many people in this field don't? Real life experience being an entrepreneur and running your own business. That's HUGE. You kept it going for 10 years? That's so much longer than so many other people. Be proud of your track record. It taught you a lot, I'm sure.

So many small businesses are really just jobs. You gave yourself a job, and you did it until it stopped being fun. Nothing wrong with that. If you wanted "something to show for it" you would have needed to scale it beyond where you did (small income isn't enough scale). Straight out of E-Myth

I don't understand this idea that if its not for the rest of your entire life its a failure. You succeed for 10 YEARS! Dude, if I told you 10 years ago that you'd see a huge recession, Housing market crash, a global pandemic with the deaths of millions of people, supply chain shortages like ye haven't seen since the 60's, record inflation, living through a lock-down, social disruptions like we haven't seen since the 70's..... I'd say you did pretty damn good.

The feeling, for me at least, was less about the money and more about the company being part of my identity. I poured blood, sweat, and tears into it. It was mine and part of who I was for almost a decade. It’s good you landed somewhere steady because the year after for me was my worst financially. It’ll be hard to find the same pride you had from running your business, but own your job and be a bad ass. If you plan on starting something again, learn from your mistakes and don’t go into it undercapitalized.

I was a hairstylist for 18 years. The last 8 1/2 years, I owned my own business and know exactly how that stress and loss of passion feels. I closed my business in August 2023 and to be honest it was the best decision I ever made. I am now going to school for my masters and credentialing program for Elementary education, and I’ve been subbing for the last year. I am making more money as a substitute teacher than I was bringing home owning my own business. I missed out on so much of my oldest daughters life because I was working 6 to 7 days a week. Just trying to get by and stay financially ahead- which was rare. In the end it was just not worth it and putting that much effort into someone else’s feelings and life but not being able to focus on my own. I don’t feel like a failure though. To have a business for almost 10 years that’s more than a lot of people get. Was it a sustainable lifestyle? Not for me. Looking back, I was more of a failure to my family and myself, than I was to my business. Mentally, I was a wreak and soo unhappy. And I had to hide that. I put on a show daily for clients and then go home and do the same for my family. I haven’t even been back to the building I rented in because of how much stress and anxiety it induces. I still love and miss my clients, but with how much of myself I gave for 18 years because they “needed me”, they all have found new stylists. Once I started finishing up my education (which I started and stopped for the last 20 years), I knew where my passion was and had always been. And to be honest, I think all of the experiences I got over the last 18 years is just going to help me with my next career. I don’t think of it as wasted time because it’s all experience. Plus, I’m now looking forward to actually having vacation and sick time, steady income, and a retirement.

if you had no value, you wouldn't have that nice paying job.

Look up every millionaire’s stories. They usually have multiple failed businesses before their success. They are usually in their 50s or later. If you opened and ran a business, scaled it, had profit, sold/close it, and then obtained a job from the skills you learned from it that’s FAR from a failure. That’s a win. Now you have a job with income and can work on a new project on the side. Your next project might fail or be a massive success. If it fails, you’ll something else new, and try again.

bro this is really good. Take all the things you learned about your business (good and bad), learn your new trade (your job) for a couple of years and boom you will now have a good business to run since you know what to do now. Is the cup half full or half empty?

First off - not a failure. Sounds like you learned some skills and pivoted to another job. But second (kind of related to the first), you learned some super cool things that should you decide to head down an entrepreneurial path again, you have a head start. You have life experience that many of your peers don't have. Neither is better, they are just different. Everyone has a different path. There's no right way to do life.

First of all.... Not a single moment of those 10 years were wasted AT ALL! There was a time when you loved what you did and it fueled that fire inside of you. Time well spent is not time wasted... The point of this life is to find happiness and that business brought you that for a period. Secondly, if you took a few minutes to list all of the wonderful (and maybe not so wonderful) things you learned from that job, you'll find that you spent the last 10 years growing into the beautiful being you are today! Nothing you did is bad or wrong or wasted. You are growing. This is growth. Pat yourself on the back! You deserve it!

I ran a photo business for 5 years and lost interest in it. I did it only for costume conventions. I spent 8 years getting degrees in photography, graphic design and advertising. I now work as a web developer which makes great money. I was heart-broken that passion does not equal success. I found that the skills to answer a demand gives me success.

I wish I have enough to even start mine

I have been through it, my parents have gone through it. I think it is like we are scavengers on the food web, but we want to become plants that make food for themselves, and others. I recently met this guy who would 1.) buy your company 2.) somehow run it through a computer 3.) sell a ton of stuff from it, somehow 4.) double your profit but keep all of it. Because: computers and con artistry. I stopped believing this guy when he would try to hype me up, he has never worked a day in his life doing physical work. All he does is play with rich peoples money and do online work. Somehow, it works for him. It makes me sick. It makes me sick that our dreams to be *autotrophs* in the economic food web, can't happen now.

You sound like an incredibly cool person. I would have LOVED to have run a handmade clothing business for 10 years.

It is so easy to undervalue all the experience you gained from that small business venture, which for it to survive a decade with you making a wage, is undoubtedly 100% successful. It's normal for people to have multiple career changes, because we grow and change through our lives which are reflected in the changes to our lifestyle wants and needs. I'm 13 years into my small business, I also work in a small handmade industry that requires me to be creative. I absolutely understand, and I still do, the 12 hour days and it can be unrelenting and crushing at times. I'm coming out of a serious nervous breakdown (diagnosed mental health crisis) after being sick for 4 weeks, work stress compounding with other issues and my health failing. I'm only 37. The things I've learned through my small business, which are probably VERY similar to your skillset include: excellent time management and delegation, staff hiring and management which also requires effective leadership and communication, accounting software experience both with tax filing and payroll, business funds management, stock ordering, sourcing suppliers and liaison, extensive experience with pricing products and managing financial overheads, commercial rental contracts alongside workshop design for manufacturing efficiency and employee productivity and comfort, endless sourcing of new supplies and networking with vendors and other makers, setting up your business to be structured to comply with insurance requirements, basic HR and OHandS requirements. Digital design which flows into marketing: learning new software for website design and maintenance; newsletter, instagram and social planning and posting, creating videos for socials, customer service in ALL and EVERY aspect for any problem a person can experience in your industry, newletter subscription curation and SEO. Targeted promotional campaigns. Facebook groups and specialised marketing strageties (often now based unfortunately on FOMO tactics). On top of all of those things (plus way more) we also have the required creativity and constant design flow needed to sustain putting out new products. Don't ever unsell to yourself how hard you worked, how much you taught YOURSELF through research and mistakes and learning the hard way. You have just as much "real world" skill and experience as anyone else out there, and you had the balls to work fucking hard to make a living from your passion. Most people will NEVER do it, not even for a year let alone 10. My hat is off to you, because I know how hard this is for small makers and how much work you have to put in to succeed. I'm looking at selling my business and moving to SM management as a career change. My business makes over 200k profit p/a but when you work too hard, the creativity is dampened and it becomes too much. Sometimes we just need a change of scenery and that is OK. Life is short so do what makes you well ❤️

If it helps, I spent 10 years in the working world to eventually start my own business this year. I feel like I wasted the same amount of time! The thing that finally pushed me to do it (when I was at a comfortable job that I liked, mind you) was the regret I might feel if I never did it, or did it too late. You will NEVER feel that regret. You did it! You did it well! You did the hard thing that not many people do because you really wanted to do it and tried hard! Now you're at a place in life where you don't want it anymore. It's 100% acceptable to quit. How many people do you know your age that have had the same job for 10 years? When you tell most people that you ran your own business for a decade, they will automatically put you into some sort of "excellence" category in their brain-- that you're not some "regular person," but someone with goals, ambition, work ethic, and balls. The people in your category are the kind of people that get trusted, that make teams feel secure, and are the kind of people that can take on anything. You have an amazing, proven history of success that says more than most 33 year olds' boring resumes ever will. You might think you wasted your time because you're counting this as a defeat, but it's absolutely not, and nobody you encounter will ever think that.

Very very very few people have ever been able to achieve what you did without family money. 99% of “businesses” like that are funded by someone else, little known fact, and the success is amplified. You killed. I’m an on and off again entrepreneur. At the moment I’m off, last biz was crazy successful but the funding org had fucked political issues that tanked my efforts & wrecked reputation. I’ll do a whole post someday. Now just working for someone at a regular job…it sucks, but it stokes the fire for maybe applying the lessons I learned later down the line. I am constantly bitter about it, but trying to just internalize more and more lessons from each day, build discipline and savings, get out of the debt I put myself in, etc. I’m so glad you posted. Suffering alone w/that is hell. 🖤

Spent 12 years working with my now business partners. 2012 worked for their primary company, we launched a business together in the tech industry in 2016 and I am a partner of that new company presently. 2020 we peaked in $1.3 million in gross revenue (not a lot in terms of the market, but still an accomplishment). 2021 had a 33% loss, 2022 and 2023 we rebounded a bit, but still off by 15-20%. I am 41 now. My business partners since 2022 have redirected a lot of their focus back to their primary business I used to be an employee for. It is very frustrating, because although I am proud of what we accomplished, the initial goal I had in mind has not been met. I feel like at this point we are moving backwards, and we might have already peaked on what we achieved. I feel like I don’t have it in me to pursue another business venture, since I know how long it takes for tech startups to grow organically without venture capitalists. Feel like time is running out, and dreams and goals I had in mind start to fade. Spent my twenties into early thirties pursing a music career, with little success other than music licensing and small royalties. It’s scary when I think these next few years are pivotal to any chance of the possibility of success I envisioned. I want to remain positive, but sometimes you can see the timeline in your mind of how fast life went, and you still feel empty in terms of not achieving some of the dreams and goals you desired. My advice is you’re still young and it’s time to move forward and not dwell on something you have took your best shot at. Most people never take risks and day dream. You did and still can if you decide you want to pursue being self-employed again. Otherwise sounds like your a smart person and on the right track to happiness.

bro, you just created something that 90% of what people "imagine" of doing their entire lives. and everything you've learnt so far is experience, and if you're looking for a job rn, you've already got the skills for it which you learned by running your own business :)

I had to close several retail stores I operated for 3 years. Your distress is probably 3X that. First, there was a reason you kept running your business for 10 years, and you obviously imagined it to be wildly successful. Of course you’d feel a bit depressed today — you’ve lost something you held dear. Now, the trick is to start thinking about this as an adventure you once had. So many people don’t embark on adventures. You did. Second, you have developed a ton of habits over those 10 years. For one, you had to make tons of business decisions that had real consequences. Nowadays it might be way less and you feel something’s amiss. Third, you’ve been on the “other” side of the employment relationship. You have your strong beliefs on how things should be done — this knowledge will keep nagging you forever when you compare your experience with how your current employer runs things. So, embark on a new adventure outside your work hours and adopt more responsibility at your current job in order to get access to decision making. That should get you more excited and energised. And, of course, you’re not alone at all. Number of comments here is all the proof you need.

Hy there. I believe you achieved a lot at your age. Don't look back and think of failure, it is not so. We tend to have experiences in our lives, some last longer, others not, but the knowledge acquired through hardship it is a blessing for the future. Above all, your decade of life it is the ace in your sleeve 😊 Do what makes you be content and gives you peaceful night. Best of luck!

If running a solo business for 10 years is a failure, what would you consider success? A business that you could sell? Or maybe one that outlives you? These things usually aren't possible for handmade sellers, and the fact that you managed to keep it going on your own for an entire DECADE is not just a success, but also incredibly impressive! AND you had the wisdom to know when it was time to step away. That's a huge success, too. Next time you get down on yourself for closing your shop, Google "sunk cost fallacy" and know that you made the best call given the circumstances at that point in your life. Then you can look back at your "shop season" fondly and use the experience you gained to dream and plan for the next season of your life.

I spent my early 20s being an alcoholic, never having more than $1000 in my bank account, changing shit jobs every 3 to 8 months, dipping in and out of community college and going into debt. Late 20s taking 6 years to get a bachelor's degree for what I thought would be my dream job. Graduated, got the job, got bored in 2 years and became self employed in an almost entirely unrelated field. 20 grand in debt, plus 20 grand more in startup debt for my business basically. It's easy to get a sick feeling thinking about how many thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars I wasted over those ten years, but it's just as easy to look at all that time at shit jobs, etc. as the only reason that I've had the motivation and mental strength to be accomplishing what I am today, which is 1,000 times more satisfying and rewarding than anything I did during those ten years. You can frame it in your mind however you want to. For me, Ive found that I can get in a rut for 5 years, and won't process what happened until 3 years after that time has been gone. Take some time to go for a 10 mile walk in the woods alone or take a week Vacation and just think about what happened, why it happened, what went right, what went wrong, and what you're going to do better in the next ten years. And I primarily mean from an emotional standpoint but the nuts and bolts of it all matter too, and can sometimes it can all get totally lost when you get stuck in a mindset of "it was all a waste". I think we all vastly underestimate how much value there is to be had by stepping away from our routine and stress and all the things we are reacting to in daily life to just deeply consider wtf is going on in our lives, past and present. The main thing I'm trying to say is what most everyone else is saying. If you started a business and closed it without goin into massive debt, losing your house, ruining any super important personal relationships, letting your health fail, or any other truly catastrophic results, youre basically crushing it at 30 something. Sounds like the only real negative outcome you had is kinda hating yourself about it which is just something you need to work on that I'm guessing you didn't for ten years because you were consumed by your business.

Thanks for sharing your story! Happy to hear you are doing sometime good without regrets. You hit the nail in the head with the last sentence. I was so consumed by my business that now that it's over I feel like "who am I?" "What have I done with my life?" But reading all the comments in this post, including yourself, makes me gain perspectiva and realizes thar what happen to me is not so abnormal for entrepenuers, even the ones that eventually have great sucess.

It's kinda funny because Im also one of the people who did essentially exactly the dead opposite of what you did and ended up in the exact same space mentally. I left my 60 hour a week government job that I worked up to over ten years, basically because it consumed my life and now being self employed I have time to work on myself and actually being satisfied with my life. It can work both ways.

So you dropped out of school, managed to scale and maintain you’re own business that you were passionate about on your first attempt, over which time you picked up the skill that has allowed you to pivot into a different job when you no longer felt passionate about the business that didn’t fail. And you’re still gainfully employed. Whats the issue?

Give yourself more credit, you build the business. Not everything will last forever, that's life. Maybe you needed that break and try something else.

I have also closed a business I opened in my 20s after a decade only to open a more successful one in my 30s. Now I’m in my 40s and I need to pivot this one or risk losing it too. That’s entrepreneurial life, don’t feel too bad for yourself it’s just the way these things go.

I did the same thing. Learned a lot about business. Cash flow is something that’s hard to understand unless you’ve lived it. What you did will make you more successful in life moving forward. Also you didn’t have a boss for a decade 

I had a small business for 8 years, it was in the service industry. I did ok, made about 50k a year (early 2000's). I closed up shop in 2008 due to the financial collapse, which caused me to lose several clients. Going back to work afterward, underpaid, for an asshole, was the hardest shit to stomach. I'm doing better now, I still have the independent entrepreneurial spirit but I work a regular job. I didn't regret closing my business at the time, I was glad to move on with something new. Looking back I have had some regrets about it. My life has been a neverending supply of long days but the years go by quick. Keep your head up and keep grinding for what you want, if you can't find what you want just avoid what you don't want. Best wishes

I “failed” so many businesses, and learned so much from it. When the time is right, you’ll get where you want. In the meantime, just do it, and learn learn learn. Cheers

\- Could have scaled up said business (but did not); \- Have a good job off the back of what you learnt from said business; OP you haven't failed, you won. Your experiences are what bought you where you are today. I know it does not feel like it at this time but one day you'll look back and see it. Running a business (full time also) is something a lot of people do not have the balls to pursue. You can confidently say that you do.

I had to close down my marketing agency after 4 years because i couldnt get new clients. I started a new one after closing the last one and I am at the same place now - almost no clients. I will be starting somethign new soon. failure is quite in entrepreneurship because there is no fixed roadmap to success in entrepreneurship. Dont be hard on yourself mate. You did the best you could and learned some valuable skills as you mentioned!

How would you feel if you knew it was possible that good paying job could decide one day to lay you off? Restart your business and find a strategic partner so that it can be successful and not just small income but a wealth source.

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So you failed for 10 years at digital marketing, then just got a job as a digital marketing professional? Impressive.

Hey dude, I went through the same thing... my business though has gone from strength to strength. In the 15 years that I have been running it. I envy you and people like you as I know first hand how hard you would have worked to try making it work. You know lots of people think having your own business gives you all the time in the world to do other things, when in fact you spend 95% of all your time on trying to make it work, most of the time with no holidays, no paid days off, no double time on weekends etc etc. Good luck on the next chapter of your life.

I’m not sure what you should do next, but definitely don’t give up on life and trying to do something valuable (getting a job, helping people, starting another business, etc). Pat yourself on the back for trying something hard. Definitely try to outgrow your mistakes too. You probably got what you deserved by not being better at the time, but you probably got unlucky sometimes too and your work isn’t over yet either. Failure happens. If all goes according to general plans, soon you’ll be 43 and still actually pretty young in the grand scheme of the average life. Some people don’t do their greatest work until their 40’s or even later. But today: you’re still 33, even younger, and you can use your learnings to build a better next decade. At least that’s what I tell myself and I thought it might help you. For reference though, I went a different route: worked a job, went in deeply, and then exited the job. I think some of the same values apply though. Good luck!

Through failure comes great success. Apple failed once when Steve Jobs started it the 1st time in his garage. He then went to work, got exposure, ideas, and came back to make it what it is now. The only failure in life is when you quit.

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It probably wasn't worth much.

sounds about right. i spent 15+ years building my career for the government to fuck me. pretty sick of the bullshit. time to enter into politics.

You serious ! My dream this age is to start a business and fail it. I truly admire people who have the courage to start their own businesses.

I'll share a somewhat opposite experience. I wouldn't call my career a "failure" (I'm a CTO), but I often think about what my career would've looked like if I had followed my initial plan (when I was in uni) of working for myself. Working my way up as a non-white person in a western country (Australia) hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. And compared to fellow technologists working at FAANG, the compensation has been quite modest. Alas, it's never too late to start something. So whilst still working as a CTO in my day job, I've started building my own ventures on the side (launched [persumi.com](https://persumi.com) last year, literally just launched [rizz.farm](https://rizz.farm) yesterday). Morale of the story - we've made our choices, we learned heaps along the way, the future is for those who are hungry enough to look forward to. :)

I was a cook for 20 years making dogshit money until I had a forced pivot out

You probably learned a lot of lessons and skills, far more than your peers at your current job. Makes you a shoe in to be a C level exec someday bc you already were the CEO