43 year old dude here. I run a small marketing agency.

So here’s where I’m at:
1. As I’m getting older, I’m less excited about work taking up my whole life than I was in my 30s or 20s. I want to spend time with my wife. I want to spend time with my son. I want to have hobbies and be outdoors and do stuff besides work.

The economy is so damn weird right now. 2023 was a terror year for us, we grossed only US$65k or so (a typical year is $120k-$150 before expenses) and I only took home a $40k salary so I could pay my contractors + expenses. 2024 is looking to be somewhat better, on track to gross $90k-100k, but still crummy thanks to inflation. I would have been screwed if not for my wife’s income…. And now there’s a new administration coming in, new economic policy and who the hell knows where it’ll go from there.

I keep finding community is really important as a small business owner, but it’s hard going. Had a group chat with a few other folks in my industry but it kinda faded away. I belong to a few industry Slacks/Discord but struggle finding time to catch up with them.

Keep getting pulled between loving running a small business (control of your destiny! able to do cool shit! able to control your hours and schedule!) and jealous of friends with day jobs who have good benefits and are able to leave work behind when they clock out for the day.

How about y’all?