I’m 39/M and quit my high-paying job in March due to burnout and depression. Shortly after, I went through a tough breakup and had to move back to my home country to stay with my mom since my ex and I shared a place.
I’ve spent 15 years working non-stop for major corporations in the EU, gaining great experience, but I’m exhausted.
I promised myself I’d start my own business and pursue entrepreneurship. I know the road ahead is going to be long and difficult, with plenty of ups and downs, but I’m ready to bet on myself.
Even though recruiters keep contacting me with job offers, I’m sticking to my decision—even if it means doing any kind of work just to get by. The tough part is when I tell people about quitting, they bombard me with questions or give advice that I don’t really find helpful.
I’m confident overall, but a comment from a family member recently made me doubt myself, and it put me in a bad mood for a while.
A few months ago, I promised myself not to share my ideas, business plans, or secrets with anyone.
I’m feeling better today, though. because i broke my own rule yesterday by sharing my future business plans with close person of mine made me feel down and regerting it.
Have you ever made a big life change, started doubting it due to others' opinions, and how did you deal with it?
byu/Hawadleh inEntrepreneur
Posted by Hawadleh
15 Comments
Work on to solidify your plan! Don’t get discouraged by comments, but objectively examine them!
yes. its journey, ended up landing on self reliance. I only listen to people who have actually done the thing. I had to change the definition of what a friend was, and family is complicated.
Don’t worry about sharing with people. Ideas are easy, success is hard. It’s good to discuss because the questions people raise will force you to think about the business in the real world. Also, don’t spend too much time on planning. The business you start will be much different that what the business will evolve into. The sooner you start the better.
If stress is not something you handle well, please keep in mind that business is much harder than a job.
All your other challenges aside, it is said that a wise way to start a business is a/ with some kind of side income coming in nonetheless to help you survive and b/ to start said business with at least few for-sure customers from your network. They might even be unpaid but at least give free PR/marketing etc and help you improve v1 of product. This will help you succeed. Good luck
Don’t ever share your plans with others. People ruin good things. that’s how I’ve learn the hard way that it has set me back. Listening to others will only set you back on your goals when you’re already on the right track. They’re not you so they don’t know. they only speak from a traditional work employee stand point which comes out negatively.
You only need to discuss these plans of yours with only like minded people if you must.
Rather than trying to find a way to avoid these challenges by others you have to seek them out and embrace them. It’s a whole complex change of your mind to go from employee to entrepreneur and this is certainly part of it. Your mind can’t revolve around your own fragility and instead has to be obsessed with the idea you’re pursuing. There are great books about this and many mention that the struggle which is an existential dread about making the next step is always part of it but becomes easier the more often you push through.
Consider just taking one of those job offers and working on your entrepreneurial idea on the side until it can come to fruition. That way you put less pressure on yourself which might be good in your situation. Good luck!
Most ppl dont have the courage to venture out on their own, so they will down play your ideas. YOU GOT THIS!! Onward and forward!
I think you need to be in a better place to start a new business. Especially if others are affecting your mood so easily.
Of course other people’s opinions will make me doubt. I doubt myself all the time. You just keep going and eventually you get to the point where you’ve set up a system that leaves less room for doubt and that voice gets a bit quieter. Then your business grows bigger and the doubt gets louder again 😂. Just don’t let it be the loudest. And an important distinction, healthy criticism isn’t the same as doubt. Be wise in choosing what you take to heart.
You’re confident, that’s a good thing. Hold on to that. All those comments from friends and family, recruiters calling you, are just testing your confidence. You just keep going for what you want, you’ll be allright.
Being an entreprneur is not easy, But it is soooooo satisfying. Makes it all worth it, if you ask me.
Good luck!
Hey man, I think a core part of this journey is making sure you are working off a stable foundation. If you are getting rocked by a comment or two, I would be concerned about your ability to whether the inevitable pressures of the journey you are embarking on. My advice would be to make sure you right your mind and your motivation toward where you want to go and fully engage with whatever path you choose.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. It seems like you are overthinking a lot as well. Avoid thinking with action! Go for it brother.
Sharing is tricky, especially when it comes to something as big as this. It’s been a while since I almost completely stopped sharing my plans with pretty much everyone. And it’s working better for me this way. Many people cannot really go through life like this though. If you are one of them, there’s nothing wrong with that, just try being consistently vague, so that you don’t end up regretting it again. And yes, you got this. You do.
Yes I’ve done this 3 times now. Left the corporate world to do my own things( business & investment). Went back to corporate world 1st and 2nd time after a year or so. Was just too scary not to have a pay cheque.
On my 3rd time now and much more comfortable with it. Feels like I won’t go back at all…time will tell of course. But ive jumped off the corporate train to the grave and am not waiting at the station……
Find other entrepreneurial and like minded people to share your ideas with. Your current network doesn’t get it and it will be negative for you.
Find your ikigai and the right opportunities will be revealed.
Hey, I can totally relate to what you’re going through. After 10 years of working in a high pressure IT job, I hit a wall and burned out. This past year, I’ve focused on experimenting with different things and growing internally, which has helped me regain my balance and energy.
Books like attitude is everything by Jeff Keller, especially the chapter on turning problems into opportunities and The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd has really helped me find perspective.
I get how frustrating it can be when you share your plans and then feel weighed down by other people’s opinions. It’s tough when you’re trying to carve your own path, and then someone’s comment makes you second-guess everything. I’ve been there too and a lot of the time they are just projecting their own insecurities. I promised myself not to share my ideas with anyone for that reason, but sometimes it’s hard to stick to that rule.
What’s important is that you’re betting on yourself and pursuing what you really want, even when it feels uncertain. It takes a lot of courage to follow your own path, so just remember you’re not alone in this.
Keep pushing forward, and trust yourself!