Thinking about leaving corporate to build something of your own? Would love to hear your experiences

[JustMamLife]

I left my corporate job a while back and started building something for myself online, and honestly it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made, but it wasn't a straightforward journey to get there.

I know so many working mums, especially those who've worked hard to build a career they were proud of, are in that place where something just doesn't feel right anymore but it's hard to know what to do about it or where to even start.
I'd just love to hear from anyone who has thought about it or maybe tried it.
What made you think about going out on your own in the first place? What got in the way or put you off? And if you did take the leap, what do you wish you'd known?

No right or wrong answers, just curious to hear other people's experiences really. It's something I'm quite passionate about and think there's so little honest conversation about it. ❤

Being self-employed is a piece of cake if you have transferable skills that are in demand by businesses. Freelancers are often preferred to employees, particularly for part-time, or for short-term single projects.

I don't know why people make a fuss about it. Just get on and do it.

Don't, however, buy into some 'franchise' or become a 'consultant' for some MLM larger concern, especially if their most important product is getting you to persuade others to do the same thing, and 'persuading' your family and all your friends into buying whatever cosmetics / scented candles / cure-all supplement it is you are peddling. Never take a job where you rely on earning 'commission' or get 'discounts' when you buy the thing yourself. Which you will have to do, otherwise you will not reach your targets.

I think it’s talked about too much to be honest. And a ‘corporate’ job ( which is basically a catch all term for a job with regular hours, regular wage and a pension) has its upsides.

almost every influencer/ MLM bot on the planet talks about leaving ‘a corporate job’ to follow their dreams. But there’s a lot to be said for putting in 8 hours Monday- Friday and buggering off at the weekend.

and if you’re job is stressful, the alternative isn’t always setting up an Etsy jewellery business- you can just take a less stressful position, or not chase promotion.

people forget that setting up your own business usually involves a lot of hours at the start, lots of weekends to build it all. But for some reason, most of the people on TikTok and insta do 4 hours a week from their jet ski and take £10k a month

I completely agree with @Nogreenskittles

If anyone ever tries to persuade you to join in with their amazingly profitable business so you too can make shedloads... ask yourself who in their right minds would do that. When you stumble upon a the equivalent of a goldmine, you do not tell everyone about it, so they can do it too. That would be a very stupid way of reducing your own income very quickly.

There is only one reason why they would want to persuade you to join in their business, and that is because they will make money out of you.

Really appreciate the honesty. I'm really talking about women who have built real careers and want to use those existing skills to build something legitimate of their own. Sounds like you've seen a lot of the noise in this space too!

There are some interesting threads about the subject on the business founders board.
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/small_business