You're Not Wrong

Is there a wrong way to quit your day job?

No. Well, not to me, anyway. If you feel you've reached the tipping point, then it's time to make the leap. Your version of the story won't be the same as somebody else's, and that's fine. No two businesses are ever the same, so why does someone's journey into self-employment have to fit a particular mold?

I bring this up today because from time to time, I see comments about how some people who have quit their day jobs to run their own businesses haven't done it "for real." Usually these opinions come up in the comments section of Etsy's Quit Your Day Job series (which I love) but I've actually seen entire blog posts on the topic. These people basically say that Etsy should only showcase single artisans who work alone, because anyone in a relationship isn't really supporting himself/herself anyway. They complain that people in a relationship, especially married people (the horror!), have easy access to health insurance and somebody to share the bills. They haven't "really" quit their day job because they have someone to lean on.

source

I can't keep my mouth shut anymore. Engaging rant sequence:

Yes, somebody with a spouse/partner might have a better emotional support system than a single person, and yes, I'm able to get health insurance through my husband's job, but those are the only "freebies" happening, if you want to call them that. I would argue that friends and family can lend plenty of support, too, but I'll go ahead and put that strike in the married column because everything else involved in running a business will cancel it out.

Being self-employed means you have to do everything: I'm the owner, designer, manufacturer, marketing director, photographer, accountant, shipping department, graphic designer, and salesperson--all at once.  I don't have any employees, so if I don't do it, it doesn't get finished. You'll notice that I didn't mention anything about my husband in there. That's because he has his own job. He's incredibly supportive of my business and will talk it up to anyone who will listen, but at the end of the day it's MY job and MY responsibility. He has his own stuff to deal with.

That's why these comments irritate me whenever I see them. Wedding rings don't come with magic wands. It's not an accident that I now make more money than I did working my day job. If I've been able to replace that income (and then some) on my own, how is that not a real job? Oh wait, it totally is.  Relationship status has nothing to do with it.

I know that the Negative Nellies don't really impact my life, but I wanted to put this out there as much for myself as for everyone else. If somebody tries to tell you that your business is inferior because you don't have the same life they do--they're wrong. Period. If you're trying to grow your company and working hard, then let me give you a high-five. Keep doing what you're doing.

End rant.