What would you do?

[KeenBlueShaker]

So I know nobody can say whats the right answer is but I would really appreciate some advice or opinions from strangers.
I am in my early 40s and have had my own business for over 10 years now. I dont earn a fortune but enough to live life comfortably and not worry about paying the bills for which I feel incredibly lucky. Not to say I earn much more than paying the bills but enough to save a bit each month and have a lovely holiday each year which I feel very lucky to do. The main thing I love about self employment though is the time freedom to be able to be at things for my child thats more important than money.
But heres my problem. I absolutely hate what im actually doing. Im bored of it I get no satisfaction other than the money I earn. I would love to feel like I had a job where I made a difference to people or to society. I dont! I provide a basic service, people pay thats it. No job satisfaction. I fell into it by seeing someone else do it and thinking I could do that so did it. Also when I was building the business I had the enthusiasm to be contacted by customers in evenings, weekends the thrill was never the job but building an income. Now I have I just hate it. I just crave a job where I turn up earn money go home and dont think about work till the next day. Or a job I feel like I did something good today.
Something has to change because I dread going to work its making me miserable. In real life my parents opinions are that your earning good money and you would niss that and the freedom. My partner is super supportive and says do what makes you happy if we have less money thats fine happiness is more important.
But realistically money is important. I kbow so many people who are miserable due to money worries and cost of living and I genuinely dont kbow what I would do if I packed this in!
So sorry for such a long post but would love any input on what you would do!! Thanks so much

I’d probably stick with it until your kids are older. Whatever you go into is likely to rob you of time with your kids. Maybe begin planning an exit strategy, spend a couple of days volunteering in different sectors to get an idea of what you might want to do.

For most of my life, I had a job that although gruelling gave me huge job satisfaction and gave me real purpose. Now, I do what I do to be flexible and look after my grandchildren. I only earn slightly less now. But I really really don't like it.

I can't have both though. If I went back to my previous occupation, I would never be available for DGC. So I'm sticking with this. But it's depressing.

Thankyou for replying. Yes thats definately the sensible option I guess. I just also feel like work takes up such a big chunk of life and time that the thought of hating work and feeling like this for years to come is quite depressing

Personally, I would start thinking of what you would love to do. Just to give you an example, I had a very good career working in a profession which was very well paid, but I was not happy or satisfied with the job. Due to various other personal circumstances in my life, I began to evaluate what I really wanted to do. I used a career consultant who helped me focus on what I enjoyed doing and what my passions were. It took me nearly two years of navel gazing and planning before I finally took the leap and started my own business doing all the things I loved. It was heaven! I am not saying it was perfect but it felt so good waking up in the morning wanting to do my job. If you want more help or any information, feel free to ask. Good luck. Life is to precious to not get the best out of it.

Thanks for your thoughts. Its so hard isnt it and one way or another sacrifice has to be made. I would love to do something that made me feel purpose or to come home and think I made a difference to someone today. Its also so easy for people to say money isnt everything and its true to some extent but actually most the pleasures in life sadly do require money especially these days!

Thankyou yes thats a good idea to make plans on what I would enjoybdoing. Thats interesting you used a career consultant I didnt know that was a thing! Did it effect you leaving a really well paid job? Its such a fine balance being finanvially secure but also doing something you actually like. I have this horrible feeling that I feel like im wasting 50 hours of my life a week being unhappy but with the reasoning we have decent money. Something had to give

Definitely. I feel that I'm wasting the valuable last years of my working life. I'd love to be able to go what I did before. For some of the time I worked overseas and the experiences I had were amazing, in addition to the job satisfaction and at times huge salary.

But grandchildren... People we love are so important.

Yes I hate the thought of looking back at my working life thinking what was the point of that I didnt achieve anything. Of course earning money and spending time with family is an achievement and im not under any illusions that millions of people probably really dont like there job. Just would be lovely to have something that still provided but was more fulfilling. Although hard to find anything with the flexibility of picking own hours!!

This all happened in the early 1990’s so times were very different. I left my job early summer 1993 ( actually I managed to get myself made redundant) . I was earning about £50k then, so yes very well paid. But money does not buy you happiness, well it didn’t for me! It took me a few months to get my business off the ground but I soon ended up selling beautiful handmade products to various top stores around the world. I have had my name in magazines and even successfully legally sued a top high street chain store in the UK for copying my design. I never earned mega bucks because my focus was to enjoy myself but I could have done. I have recently retired now . Made some great friends along the way with people I worked with and currently mentor others setting themselves up in similar roles.

Wow congratulations on your success spunds like your business took off and tou never looled back. Your right money definately doesnt buy happiness but equally it is a massive part of life and being able to do alot of what makes you happy does require money. Its a fine balance. Thanks for your input enjoy your retirement!!

This is me too - except it gives me flexibility for DS and DM and it is so so worth it