Pick Your Hard: The Real Talk About Career Choices
You know what’s universal? Life is hard. Whether you’re clocking in for the 9-to-5 grind or burning the midnight oil building your own empire, every path comes with its challenges. Traditional employment? Hard. Entrepreneurship? Also hard. Capped salaries, toxic bosses, endless Zoom calls—not easy. But neither are sleepless nights wondering how payroll’s going to get covered or whether your startup idea will sink or swim.
The thing is, life will always give you hard. You just have to choose the version of hard that aligns with your values, goals, and how much B.S. you’re willing to put up with. This isn’t going to be a sugar-coated pep talk—it’s a reality check wrapped in some sisterly advice.
The Hardships of Traditional Employment
There’s something to be said about the safety and structure of a traditional job. A paycheck that hits your account like clockwork every two weeks? Très stable. But before we get carried away, here’s the unvarnished truth about traditional employment:
1. Capped Salaries
You know that one amazing coworker busting her ass for years and still stuck in the same pay band? Yeah, that's a reality for so many people. Traditional employment often slaps a ceiling over not just your salary but your earning potential. Want to make more? You've got to climb that corporate ladder rung by rung or beg for a raise while someone in finance decides if your “proactive contributions” really warrant one. Inspiring, right?
2. The Bad Boss Blues
Everyone’s had that boss. The one who micromanages your every move, sends passive-aggressive emails at 10 PM, or mysteriously takes credit for all your ideas. Dealing with awful bosses and workplace politics can be soul-crushing. Add in colleagues who love a good backstab, and suddenly, that health insurance plan doesn’t look so shiny anymore.
3. Limited Growth Opportunities
Ever feel like you’re doing the same thing day after day, just with slightly more Excel spreadsheets each year? Traditional jobs can sometimes climb into a rhythm that turns into a rut. If your growth relies on someone else’s approval or an annual budget review, you might find yourself stuck in comfort disguised as complacency.
Sure, the security is nice. But security also means being tied to someone else’s vision.
The Hardships of Entrepreneurship
Now on to the dream many of us romanticize—entrepreneurship. It’s the fantasy of freedom from corporate chains, making your own schedule, and calling the shots. But reality check, mon amie—it’s not all cozy coffee shop meetings and inspirational TED Talks.
1. Financial Uncertainty
Wanna know fear? Try launching a business and realizing clients pay late (or never). Your revenue is in constant flux, and that "steady paycheck" safety net disappears. Some years, you’ll feel like Oprah handing out cash—“You get a bonus! You get a vacation!”—and others, you’re googling “how to make pasta from scratch” because groceries are suddenly a luxury.
2. Long Hours and Endless Sacrifices
Entrepreneurship sounds sexy until you’re pulling 14-hour days, working weekends, and missing yet another friend’s trip in Costa Rica because deadlines and bills won’t wait. Sure, you may love what you're building, but the toll it takes on your personal life is real. Vacations? HA. Maybe in five years when the business "stabilizes" (spoiler alert: There’s never truly stability).
3. Isolation and Loneliness
Nobody talks about how lonely running a business can be. Your friends with “traditional” jobs may not understand why you don’t just "take a break” or why you’re freaking out about your competitor’s new launch. Even when you’re surrounded by your own team, the pressure of being the one responsible for everything can feel isolating.
Entrepreneurship is fulfilling, but it takes grit, resilience, and some days, an obscene amount of caffeine.
Making the Right Choice
Here’s the truth, boss — you can’t avoid the hard. Every option comes loaded with challenges. What you can do is choose your hard based on what’s most aligned with who you are and what you want.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I value stability over freedom, or freedom over stability?
Am I comfortable taking risks, or do I thrive with structure?
What sacrifices am I willing to make—time, financial security, social life?
Where do I see myself 5, 10, or 20 years from now—and which path gets me there?
Practical Steps to Decide
Talk to People Who Motivate You: Mentors, peers, or fellow CEOs can provide invaluable insights into both worlds.
Network Smartly: Attend events and meetups to hear firsthand experiences from employees and entrepreneurs.
Do the Homework: Understand the pros and cons, crunch the numbers, and create a “what-if" plan for both scenarios.
You know yourself better than anyone else. You know your dreams, your fears, and what you’re capable of. Own it.
Create a Life That’s Hard but Meaningful
Nobody said greatness comes easy, cherie. Both traditional jobs and entrepreneurship demand hard work, dedication, and a thick skin. The secret is choosing the hard that makes you feel alive instead of drained—the hard that brings you closer to your version of success.
Whatever you choose, wear it like armor. Be all in. Be unapologetic. Because at the end of the day, you're the CEO of your own life.
Onwards and upwards,
Anne-Lise