Are you working in a job and lacking decision making authority? Do you lack support from co-workers and supervisors? Do you have little independence in your job?
And are you depressed?
According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health, all these things may be linked. If you experience high work-related stress, the study suggests that you are at a higher risk for depression.
So is starting your own business the answer?
- If you’re an entrepreneur, you certainly have all of the decision making authority you could ever want (and some you may not want).
- You can either work solo or be darn sure that the people you hire are supportive of your business.
- And I guarantee you that independence is not an issue when you are running the show.
My $.02?
If you are a wannabe entrepreneur and you are staying in a job for security reasons, you aren’t being true to your real purpose.
And yes, denying a part of who you are can be damn depressing.
But several years ago, I experienced a long-term depression while I was running a business. While it definitely was linked to some post-partum factors, working for myself while in that state of mind was excruciating and very detrimental to my health, my happiness, and it was really detrimental to my business (points for stating the obvious?).
Yet today, I can also say that if I wasn’t pursuing my dream as I am right now, I would be even more depressed. I’ve come too far and life is too short to waste it on comfort and security at the expense of giving up on a dream.
What do you think?
Are you an entrepreneur who was miserable in a job in the past?
Or are you employed and is the stress affecting you more than you would like it to?
How much does running your own business contribute to your happiness?
Get Your FREE 21-Page Internet Business Idea Guide
Enter your name and email below and we’ll send you our unique 21-page guide chock full of Internet business ideas – for free! Your information will be kept private, of course.
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow). 
Easton Ellsworth is owner of 
I’ve always wanted happiness with the extra p!
After running my own business for a few years now I believe I’m happier then working for someone else. But if I were to do it again, I would bring on a partner so when times are tough I have someone to push forward with.
I’m an entrepreneur who has had several miserable jobs in the past!
And at the end of the day, it’s all about happiness – there’s nothing like being able to be in charge of your work/life situation.
But it’s not all sunshine and roses. You do have to work harder, take some risks and essentially place your future squarely on your shoulders – and you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I think that running my own business is one the most stressful job that I have ever had.
That said, I have never felt so confident in myself (in general; I still do get very wobbly days), I have learned so much, had so much fun, gained so much satisfaction from my hard graft… This is the only job that I truly love and care for. I aim to continue running my business until I simply can’t anymore.
I do agree with Chris though, there are many times when I’ve wished I had a business partner to share and grow with.
So it’s 100% worth going for it for yourself. No one cares about your happiness, and your earnings like you do (your boss certainly doesn’t lol!).
Great question Wendy! I think that there are two different situations a worker can face. One is frustration that stems from being underutilized in a typical nine to five job. The second is actual clinical depression, which is a physical illness that can only be helped by medication. Working from home can certainly help alleviate the first condition. It will not help the second.
I was miserable in my job just three months ago. And for the longest time, I didn’t have the courage to leave and do something new.
But then my husband and I moved across the country, and I didn’t have a job. Meanwhile, I realized that my dream was to be a freelance writer and work from home. It’s been slow getting business, but so far, I love it! I am a million times happier.
I’m just lucky my husband is understanding and we have some money to get us by until business picks up. Not everybody has the support and funds enough to quit a full-time job outright…
I would put myself in the wannabe category as I am employed with a full-time job and try to pursue my other interests in the evenings/weekends.
I would say that I am staying in my current job for security reasons and lately I have recognized that is a large contributor to my unhappiness with my commute to work. Now that I will be working from home more regularly, I will see if that is any better.
My wife is a preschool teacher and does not make much money, so I cling on to the security of my FT job to support the family. This is something that has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
Running one’s own business provides both more and less flexibility. Sometimes you cannot get away because of endless work demands and other times you can take off for a 3-day weekend without much planning. I have the luxury of deciding when to work at home and when to head in to the office. At times I feel I can get more done at home and other times I need the interaction at the office.
My main advice would be to drop the romanticism of working at home and crunch the numbers. Have a realistic business plan and have someone review it who can ask all the right questions. Good luck!
Wendy, back when I realized that ‘I could’ quit my full time job I went through about six months of decision anxiety because I had finally been giving full health benefits the year before and was enjoying two weeks paid vacations, a flexible schedule, work I really liked…
BUT – at home I was full of excitement, vision, direction, achievement and passion!
I have always believed that you should move in the direction that you have the clearest vision for.
So I let it all go to come home full time and I haven’t regretted it
Thanks for the post, and for encouraging others to follow their entrepreneurial vision.
I have worked for others in the past, and while some jobs were great jobs…they weren’t the ideal setting for me.
I honestly didn’t realize how depressed I really was until I left my last job. The act of leaving gave me a whole new sense of hope. (I also left when my oldest daughter was born so that might have had something to do with it as well
)
I have owned my own design business for well over a decade. I’m not making millions yet, but the satisfaction I get from my own accomplishments means far more than money to me.
As long as I continue to grow emotionally and professionally, I’ll be happy.
I could NEVER go back to work for someone else at this point. I’d be too depressed to get out of bed.
Yes you are right, being an Entrepreneur is the key to happiness. I myself wanted to start a home business, I was introduced to a women’s community that Empowers & Inspires Women to get to the next level in their lives.
In addition to that, they have just launched a revolutionary system to help Entrepreneurial Women become more Successful and Savvy.
Check it out at http://www.braveheartwomen.com
While I may not be working entirely for myself, I am doing exactly what I love to do and I’m doing it from home.
Half my income comes from my own work, while the other half comes from working for a network.
I took the plunge nearly 10 years ago as a single mother. Talk about SCARY! Staying in a depressing job only takes a greater toll on your family – it was the best decision I ever made and I’ve been blessed because of it.
I agree if yoy want to be a true entreprenur you should focus on that 100% but that takes courage and can be difficult for someone to do. I think many people give up way too easily when they start out by themselves, it takes time and is a slow process with a lot of learning along the way. unfortuantely many people expect overnight success and dont stick with their dream long enough to make it a reality.
The best part of working at home is being home for my children after school, even though I am a single mother.
In addition, I also make more than I ever did working two jobs. For the first time since graduating from college, I can meet our financial obligations and have a rewarding career.
Tina
The Internet Business School
Being an entrpreneur is about knowing how to handle them rough times, knowing when to change your approaching technique, but more than any of these, knowing how to take risks and how to manage that risk to lower it. I’m in the denim/jean clothing business, I actually get to give these clothing the final touches which give them the personality/attitude needed and demanded for the final customer. I recently opened my first e-shop at http://www.Silkfair.com (http://lcteran.silkfair.com/ check the URL they gave me for free) and eventhough it is a new marketplace, it will surely began to increase its traffic, the features offered, plus the pricing scheme, made me doubtless about joining them rather than at a politics-player marketplce (didn’t mention the name as of politeness) Cheers for the space and good luck with all the challenges laying ahead of us!