19
Turned down a $15k raise to start my own landscaping company 3 years ago
I was working for a big lawn care company in Phoenix making $42k a year when they offered me a bump to $57k plus a truck. But I had been saving up for two years and had 6 steady clients on the side already. I decided to go full time with my own company instead of taking that promotion. First year I barely cleared $30k and worked 70 hour weeks in the summer. Has anyone else walked away from a sure thing to start their own business and had a rough first year?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
nina_butler13d ago
Gotta admit I used to be one of those "just take the safe job" people. My dad always pushed me to stay with a steady paycheck and I thought he was right. But reading this made me see that security is sometimes just a trap that keeps you from building something real. Three years in and you're probably making way more than $57k now plus you actually own the business. That first year grind is brutal but it sounds like you chose long term freedom over short term comfort.
8