OK, so I'm probably not a "conventional" poster in MN because, being a bloke, I'm not a Mum! 😉I stumbled across aibu months ago when searching for something online, and soon turned into a lurker as I love the honesty, and admittedly some of the really odd questions.
Posting this here as I know I'll get an honest answer, regardless of whether it's what I want to hear...whatever that may be, as I haven't a clue myself.
So, I'm almost 30 and after various career and personal twists and turns I currently run a struggling business consisting of a couple of shops. I've sunk everything I own into this business, plus more besides,and I do really enjoy what I do but when I'm struggling to pay myself anything at all really feel that my time and my efforts aren't worth anything anymore. Busting a gut for 10 hours and then spending the rest of the day worrying about all of the bills whilst eating a value ready meal isn't a great lifestyle.
Without going into detail and boring everybody to death, I had a rough start in life but eventually built myself quite a successful career within a big company. I then got myself into some bother, ended up with a criminal conviction and had to leave my career behind. I've always maintained my innocence, but had to accept the decision of the Court and get on with my life. I returned to study for a while, then invested everything into establishing my business which gets by but isn't successful really.
I never thought I would be able to work in the "professional" setting again, however frustrated with the business and the brick walls I keep hitting I polished my CV and fired it off. I've been contacted by a company and even being aware of my past they have offered me an interview tomorrow. It's for a much more junior position than I last worked in, but I've started from the bottom and worked my way up before so I'm confident I could do it again. And this time I know what I stand to lose, so I know I wouldn't put in that sort of position again where I could be accused of anything.
Income wise, even as a junior position it makes sense, I couldn't possibly earn less than I am doing right now! However winding up a business I've invested years of my life into, and so much money that I can't begin to imagine, is a tough call. Financially I'll lose a small fortune, and there are complications with leases and things that will hang over me for a long time no doubt, but then again I've already lost that money really as short of a miracle I could be working till I'm 90 to try to earn it back. Or it could go really Pete tong and is be left with no business, no assets and no income.
So, would I be unreasonable, if offered a job, to grab it with both hands and put myself back into the rat race? Sacrifice the business for my own sanity and self respect in what my time is worth?