Trading the Hustle: Why Entrepreneurs Are Heading Back to Jobs

We're witnessing a significant shift as entrepreneurs increasingly return to traditional 9-to-5 jobs for financial stability, mental wellbeing, and work-life balance. This episode explores the data behind this trend, real stories from former business owners, and strategies for both employers looking to attract entrepreneurial talent and business owners considering a return to employment.

• Quit rates dropped from 2.7% in 2022 to around 2% in early 2025 as entrepreneurs recalibrate
• 90% of startups fail while entrepreneurs with day jobs have 33% lower odds of failure
• Financial pressure is the #1 reason entrepreneurs return to traditional employment
• Mental health concerns and burnout are driving many to choose stability over hustle
• Post-pandemic priorities have shifted toward valuing time, family and wellbeing
• Hybrid work arrangements offer entrepreneurs flexibility without full business ownership stress
• Former business owners bring valuable skills to employers: vision, resourcefulness and resilience
• Strategies for re-entering the workforce include redefining success and highlighting entrepreneurial wins

If you're thinking about going back to traditional employment or have already made the transition, I'd love to hear your story. Text me through the website at www.notjustcandletalk.me – you might be featured in an upcoming episode!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are we watching the death of the hustle era?
From side hustles to startups,many entrepreneurs are making a
surprising move, going back tonine to five jobs.
But why?
Is it burnout or bills, or justbetter balance?
Today, on Not Just Candle Talk,we are unpacking the raw truth

(00:25):
behind the trend Real stats,real stories and a real
conversation about what it meansto walk away from the grind.
Hello world, welcome back toNot Just Candle Talk, the real
and raw space whereentrepreneurs, creators and
dreamers talk truth beyond thefiltered highlight reels.

(00:48):
Today's episode is a littledifferent.
It's bold.
It's necessary because, whilemany podcasters talk about
launching businesses and leavingjobs, we're talking about going
back.
Yep, there's a rising trend ofentrepreneurs who've said this,
ain't it right now?

(01:09):
And are re-entering theworkforce for money, mental
health, or is it just for peace?
Whether you're thinking aboutit, silently, judging it or
living it, this episode is foryou.
Let's start with the factsbecause, emotions aside, the

(01:31):
numbers are loud.
In 2022, we saw the peak of thegreat resignation.
A historic 2.7 percent of theworkforce quit their jobs each
month, many to start businesses.
But now that quit rate hasdropped to around 2% in early

(01:55):
2025.
That's not just a dip, it's arecalibration dip.
It's a recalibration.
More importantly, over 50% ofsmall business owners are solo
run, but 44% of owners plan tohire help this year.

(02:27):
Still, many find thatentrepreneurship isn't always
what it seems.
And you ask why?
Well, 90% of startups fail.
Entrepreneurs with a day jobhave 33% lower odds of failure.
And let's be real Instagramglorifies entrepreneurship, but
it rarely shows the unpaidinvoices, the panic attacks or

(02:48):
the nights you question your ownvalue.
What we've witnessed now is aquiet shift, a rebalancing.
Entrepreneurs aren't quittingdreams.
They're choosing survival andstrategy.
So let's unpack the reasonsbehind the wave of the return.

(03:10):
Number one financial pressure.
Cash flow kills more dreamsthan Entrepreneurship can be a
feast or familiar.
And when rent, student loans ormedical bills come calling,

(03:33):
many realize I don't want tostruggle, just to say I'm free.
Number two mental health andburnout.
Two mental health and burnout.
Let's talk about the wait, thelate nights, the guilt when you
rest, the imposter syndrome whengrowth slows.

(03:59):
Some are walking away, notbecause they fail, but because
they're finally listening totheir nervous system.
Listening to their nervoussystem.
Number three post-pandemicpriorities.
Covid changed everything.
We all agree about that.

(04:20):
It made people value time,family and sanity.
We're seeing people return toroles that gave them remote work
, stability, healthcare andpeace.
Number four hybrid work iswinning.
Right now, over 19% ofprofessionals want to be in the
office full-time.
Hybrid roles are growing.

(04:41):
This opens doors forentrepreneurs who still want
flexibility without the stressof solo entrepreneurship.
So let's take a moment to hearfrom some humans for a minute
behind the headlines.
I talked to a couple of peopleabout this subject and I wanted

(05:06):
to share their thoughts on this.
The first person I talked towas Jessica.
She's a 35-year-old formerwellness brand founder.
This is what she said I builtmy brand from scratch, but I
spent more time doing taxes andchasing clients than actually

(05:27):
creating.
I didn't sell out.
I chose sanity.
I also had a quick conversationwith Marcus, a 41-year-old
digital marketing consultant.
Marcus said the money was good,but I miss collaborating.
Now I lead a marketing team ata company that respects my

(05:50):
boundaries and I still freelanceon the side.
I also got an email from Brittin Atlanta.
I launched my candle businesswith all the fire in the world,
but it burnt me out.
I'm now applying for a remotecreative role and keeping my

(06:10):
business for fun.
I finally sleep again.
These stories aren't aboutfailure.
They're about choosing adifferent kind of success.
Okay, so real quick, if you arean employer listening to this
podcast right now, this is yourtime to shine.

(06:33):
People who ran businesses arenot job hoppers.
They're visionaries.
They're resourceful, resilient.
And if you want them on yourteam, here's how to attract and
keep them.
Number one you can offerautonomy.

(06:54):
Don't micromanage.
They're used to leading.
Number two championentrepreneurship.
Let them build inside yourbrand.
Number three prioritizeflexibility.
Time freedom is currency rightnow.

(07:15):
Number four acknowledge theirjourney, their past hustle.
It really adds value.
So if companies start honoringentrepreneurial talent, they
won't just hire better, theywill build better cultures.
So, right now, if you are anentrepreneur secretly Googling

(07:38):
jobs near me, I see you and I'vebeen you.
So here's how to re-enterwithout guilt.
Okay.
Number one you can redefine whatsuccess looks like.
It's not quitting, it's onlypivoting.

(07:59):
Choosing peace over pressure ispower.
Number two update that resume.
Highlight your entrepreneurwins, managed budgets, led teams
, adapted fast and put all ofthat inside your resume.

(08:21):
Number three negotiate like afounder.
Okay, you've worn all the hats,you've done all the things.
Use that to ask for what youneed Remote work, equity or just
plain old flexible hours.
Number four, keep one foot inthe door.

(08:44):
Going back to the nine to fivedoesn't mean giving up.
Maybe your business becomes aside hustle or you can take it
up at a later time.
Before we close out, I want tohear from you.
Are you thinking about goingback?

(09:05):
Did you already do it or areyou torn?
Let me know.
You can DM me, you can email me.
I have a text.
Text me on the website, onwwwnotjustkendletalkme, and if

(09:26):
you want to share your story,you might be featured in an
upcoming episode.
I would love to hear from you.
I did an episode like thisbefore.
It was similar to this.
It was nine to five versusentrepreneurship and my guest I
had on.
She was 100%, uh, a nine tofiver and she explained why.
Uh, if you guys want to checkthat episode out, I did that one

(09:49):
about a year ago and I mightadd that I am in the 33 percent
of that.
I've always been in the 33percent of of of this episode,
where I've always heldemployment as I'm doing my

(10:11):
entrepreneurship role, and itdoes give you an edge.
It does take away from beingmicromanaged.
I've never had a managerlooking over my shoulder.
They let me do as I will, and Ijust mentioned, you can
negotiate those types of thingsand I lead with any interviews

(10:36):
I've ever been on, I lead withthat.
I don't shy away from it.
I let I let my employers knowlike, hey, this is what I do and
I make that my my, make itknown that, that my business is
my focus, but I'll add value toyou and they shy away from
micromanaging me.
So that's just a quick tip anda little insight.

(10:58):
So in a few days I want to doanother episode.
It's going to be about peoplewho think like founders inside
companies and, like I said, I amone of those people and I'm
going to do an episode aboutthat and, trust me, you don't
want to miss it.
I'll share more of my insightand the things that I've learned

(11:23):
over the years that benefit meand made me a stronger
negotiator.
Also, if you want to, if youlike this episode and it hits a
core with you and share it forme, you know, share this episode
with your friends who've beenquestioning, having

(11:44):
conversations about theirentrepreneurship journey,
because it's not easy.
Um, we all know that and wedon't want to keep putting on
the front like it is and it's,it's not.
It's like I always say I'vesaid it in many episodes it's
peaks and valleys and it willcontinue to be that way.
Um.
So let let them know they'renot alone.

(12:04):
Let you're not alone in this.
This is a real thing and we'regoing to keep these type of
energized episodes going andhave discussions about them.
Thanks for tuning in to NotJust Candle Talk.
We talk dreams, but we alsotalk detours, because success

(12:25):
isn't linear and quitting thehustle doesn't mean quitting the
dream.
So until next time, keep yourlight lit, but don't let it burn
you out.
Thank you so much.
Have a good day, bye.