I'm sick of running my own business and want to do something else

[hamstermug]

Help

I've been running my business for about 4 years. I run a digital marketing agency and have a couple of freelancers working for me too.

I don't come from a marketing background, but this was something that I launched at a time when social media was new and exciting and it seemed to work. I work for businesses doing their social media and i also run training courses.

I feel like I've struggled to get some momentum all year but i think I've finally decided I just don't enjoy it anymore.

It feels shallow and not very worthwhile. I want to do something that makes a difference and means something.

I've been looking at jobs but I don't think I would find something that pays as well. Also I like the flexibility I have at the moment in terms of being around with the kids. My husband has a long commute so he can't help.

We need the money that I earn so I can't just jack it in - and I also feel I've worked so hard I need to stick with it. And I don't know what I actually want to do instead!

What do I do? How do I get some enthusiasm back? How do I decide that it's not for me anymore and can I morph my business into something else.

I've had some mental health issues recently which may be skewing my judgement too. It's so difficult to know which comes first.

This doesn't necessarily help with changing career entirely, but would you be able to afford to set aside some time a week to do your job voluntarily? Lots of social enterprise companies need marketing support. I'm in-house marketing at a law firm but my employer has a scheme where we can donate skills time to supporting 'pro-bono' in a similar way to the lawyers.

It's a possibility. I think one of my frustrations is that I have lots of clients but I never feel like I own anything. So lots of little projects I flit to from one minute to the next. Maybe a day a week where I concentrate on one thing only would help

If you have income, you can sell it. Have a look at Dalton's weekly. I also hate my job and just want to quit sometimes, which is ironic as I'm the boss and have 3 employees.

However, I'm in a similar position to you - those employees make all the difference to my personal freedom. Getting back into paid work would involve stepping down in my career / salary. And anyway, what do I want to do for a living? Long Haul Pilot? Travel blogging? I've got to do something, or otherwise it's just a fantasy. I can't sell up for millions and retire to my yacht.

An alternative to selling up would be a merger with a bigger company in your field. They'd welcome your client base, you'd welcome regular employment with a team, your employees would be protected, and if you do decide that that Travel Blogging dream job is what you want to pursue in a couple of years time, you can quit and walk away.

Or you can find your mojo and see how you can transform the company to get others to do the work using your template, and then you're free to pursue other dreams. Read 'The e-myth' by Michael Gerber for advice on that approach.

I don't have solid answers I'm afraid, I'm in much the same position. But those are my thought processes at the moment.

Those sound exactly like my thought processes. You are right. I think I need to grow up a little bit and see it as a means to an end.

If I work on building it into something to sell in a few years time, that might give me a new focus.

I feel for you, I run a business with my husband and have done so for 9 years, I went into business with him to support him with the admin side of things, we both needed to work so it made sense. We have a young family and for the first half worked it between ourselves and we were shattered and stressed. We hired staff, we have 6 in total now so do get more evenings and week ends off, but due to the heavy work load we are still shattered and stressed and thrown in to the mix we have the staff to manage too. If one of them is sick, on holiday or leaves the stress intensifies, we could take on a couple more but we then think that the business cant get much bigger so would it be worth it considering in 6 years our lease is up and we are trying to raise as much capital in the business so hubby can retire, the extra staff would use this up over the next few years.

My god that's my moan over, running your own business is never as wonderful as people think and I'm have very mixed feelings over what we have achieved, which is a lot, BUT, if I have my time again I wouldn't have gone there at all.

Hope you get your mojo back, but be honest with yourself.

I started my company in 2011.
By 2015 I was very tired, i put my company on hold an went to get a job that was relevant to my skill but slightly different. My pay was shit, but I gained new certification and met some very humbled people along the way. But I met real asholes too... I am now back to my own again. My pay quadrupled, I deal with nice people and come across some asholes but the dinamuc is different now I can choose to deal with them or not. I occasionally regret leaving my company, I feel there was time missed but I did have hard times personally at that time and may be I needed a break. My advise is don't jump to a decision. May be look to see how you can make better what you have and may be look at positives first.

Thank you. That's all really good advice.

I do think I'm tired, or need to refresh it a bit rather than throw in the towel completely.

Hey!
I'm in PR/ comms and have spent time in the charity sector. Can you target your business at that sector, so you're still getting the benefits of self-employment but you're helping charities make a difference. You may need to charge less, but what you get back personally may make up for a drop in income.
I know some of the big charities have reasonable marketing budgets and often use freelancers/ consultants during busy periods.
Hope the helps...
Btw, I've recently returned to self-employment after being bullied by two consecutive employers and have my experience and skills continually undermined. The grass isn't always greener!