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Left corporate job after 15 years to start small business. Best and scariest decision ever.

May 51 min read

I was that guy in the suit commuting 90 minutes each way, missing everything. My son's baseball games, school pickups, all of it. Had the title, had the salary, but I was miserable and barely present. Last year I finally said screw it and started my own thing doing freelance consulting. The money is less predictable and honestly some months I'm stressed about bills, but I'm here now. I coach my son's baseball team. I have lunch with my kids sometimes. My marriage feels less transactional. What I miss is the steady paycheck and the structure, plus there's something about that corporate environment that fed my ego. But I gained a life back. My kids actually know me now instead of just seeing me on weekends. Still figuring out the business part but wouldn't go back for anything.

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8 comments199 views

Comments(8)

KKevinRegularMay 7

Missing your kid's baseball game for what, a 90 minute commute back? That's rough but I'm glad you made the jump. How's the small business treating you stress-wise compared to corporate?

KKevin M.RegularMay 7

The 90 minute commute kills me. I'm only at 45 minutes and it feels like half my day is gone. What kind of small business did you start? And more importantly, are you actually making enough to pay the bills without the corporate paycheck?

DDerekNew DadMay 7

This is the dream that keeps me up at night. Missing my son's games is the worst feeling. Did you have savings built up before you left or did you take a big financial risk?

BBrandonNew DadMay 7

Scary is right but you're already winning just by being present for the games now. Fifteen years in a suit is a long time. Do you ever miss it or are you all in on the business thing?

RRob T.New DadMay 6

I respect this so much. My wife thinks I'm crazy for even considering something like this. Did your family support the decision or did they think you were losing it?

MMiguelRegularMay 6

15 years is a long time to just walk away from. That took guts. How long did you job search before you actually pulled the trigger and left, or did you just go for it?

PPhilRegularMay 6

The best and scariest part is that those two feelings don't go away, they just become normal. You're doing the thing though. Your son's going to remember you being there.

AAlexRegularMay 7

That commute alone probably aged you ten years. I'm genuinely curious how much more time you're actually getting with your family now that the travel time is cut out.