Why founders get real jobs

It's rarely because of business stuff.

1-minute read

Why founders stop running their startups full-time and get real jobs: A perspective from someone who’s doing this.

I saw a post on LinkedIn stating that the trend of founders quitting their startups and taking full-time jobs is due to their businesses lacking product-market fit.

Sure, businesses that lack PMF have a harder time making money at scale. But I ran a business that didn’t meet VC-level PMF standards for over 3 years and it made money. It still does. Most startups don’t have PMF. Finding it is kinda the point.

That said, lack of product-market fit is not why founders get full-time jobs.

Why is…

You’ve created a life that your partner doesn’t want and losing that person is on the line. (No business is worth it.)

You’re exhausted from always stressing about money.

You’ve had to put everyone else before you—and now you need to take care of yourself (and those you love).

You’ve been blessed by pragmatism and are done obsessing about things that ultimately don’t matter in the grand scheme of life.

You see through the myth of “following your passion”. (That’s an eye-opener.)

Pivot exhaustion. (It’ll crush your soul.)

You’ve come to grips with the reality that the exit isn’t there.

You just want an easier, simpler life.

You’ve lost the drive.

You’ve answered the wake-up call that this just isn’t worth it; not for you or your kids or your friends or your partner or for whomever matters most to you.

I could go on, but I won’t. The list of why’s is long. And a combination of factors that are dependent on one’s personal life shape this decision.

It’s time that everyone wakes up to the fact that entrepreneurship is a path that almost nobody should take. And for those that do take it, they best go with their eyes wide open. Because if they don’t, they’re in for a rude awakening.

Being a founder is grown-up shit. It’s a choice that comes with real-life outcomes—rewarding, devasting, and everything in between.

That’s why anyone who’s poured their blood, sweat, tears, financial well-being, and mental health into their business despises every mid on LinkedIn who thinks they're a startup thought leader.

Respect to all the business owners who are currently running their businesses full-time and supporting themselves financially solely from those businesses.

You all are rare birds. Keep flying.

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