According to a recent article in Inc., nearly half of dissatisfied employees are planning to launch their own businesses—not someday, but soon.
That headline didn’t shock me. It felt familiar—like something I’ve been hearing for years from coaching clients, former coworkers, fellow project managers, and friends: “I don’t want to work like this anymore.” People are tired of feeling overlooked, overloaded, and underappreciated. The dream isn’t just entrepreneurship—it’s escape.
And when you’re stuck in a cycle of layoffs, performative values, and impossible expectations, going out on your own can feel like the only way to reclaim your time, voice, and sanity.
But what are we really chasing? And what happens when the fantasy of freedom crashes into the reality of self-employment?
I’ve been on both sides—and I’ve got a few things to say.
The fantasy of freedom
When someone tells me they want to quit and go freelance, it usually comes out like a secret. Like they’re being reckless or ungrateful for wanting more control over their life.
But what they’re really saying is: “I want to feel like I have a say in how I work.”
And honestly? That’s not radical. That’s reasonable.
The fantasy is understandable: flexibility, autonomy, the ability to choose your clients and projects, and to create meaningful work on your terms. I chased that, too, and I’ve helped others do the same.
But here’s what people often don’t see until they’re in it: self-employment is just a different kind of hard.
What I had (that many people don’t)
I left my job and started my business in 2015. I had two goals: write a book and beat my agency salary. I did both. But I also had a head start.
I worked at agencies that taught me how to pitch, estimate, write contracts, present ideas, and manage teams. I had a partner with a stable job and health insurance. I also worked for a company—Happy Cog—that encouraged me to speak and write about my work. That single push gave me the confidence and platform to share what I knew, build a community, and attract opportunities.
“The truth is: I’ve had a successful solo career, but I’ve also gotten lucky. I had a company that encouraged me to build my brand before I left. I had a community that opened doors for me. Most people don’t get that.”
— from my article Thinking about going out on your own? Read this first
Even with all of that, I didn’t know what I was doing at first. I knew the work, but I didn’t know how to market myself. And I still don’t feel great at it—especially in a world where influence often trumps experience, and AI “experts” with polished LinkedIn carousels are getting more visibility than consultants who’ve been quietly doing this work for 20 years.
I also have to point out that working for yourself can be lonely, even when you love your clients, even when you’re booked solid. You carry the whole weight of the business, and some days it’s hard not to miss the simple act of bumping into someone at the coffee machine.
Still, I'd choose this over returning to a broken workplace with mismatched values.
You don’t have to quit to want something better
You can crave freedom without needing to be a founder. You can want more control, more respect, more flexibility—and still want to work on a team, with support, in a system that actually works.
What people really want isn’t to “be their own boss.” They want to feel safe, seen, and supported. But too many workplaces are stuck in dysfunction:
- Confusing org charts with zero accountability
- Leaders who speak about “culture” but act out of fear
- Roles that ask for ownership but offer no authority
- Constant change with no communication
The dream of going solo isn’t always about building something new. It’s about getting away from something toxic.
If you’re a leader and your team is fantasizing about quitting en masse, it’s not because they’re ungrateful. It’s because they’re trying to survive.
If you’re standing at the edge, wondering if you should jump
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yep, that’s me,” I understand. I’ve been there. And I’m not going to talk you out of it.
But I am going to challenge you to think it through.
Ask yourself:
- What am I really running from? What do I hope to gain?
- Could I financially support myself for at least 6 months? What’s my safety net?
- Do I know how to sell myself, find clients, and pitch work?
- Am I prepared for admin, taxes, contracts, and chasing invoices?
- Who can I talk to who’s actually done this, and will tell me the hard stuff? (Not it. Sorry.)
And most importantly:
- Would it be easier to stay if my job respected my time, trusted my voice, and supported my growth?
If the answer to that last question is yes, the issue might not be your career path but the way work is structured around you.
T L ; D R — If nearly half of dissatisfied employees are thinking about quitting to start something new, maybe it’s not just about the dream of entrepreneurship. Maybe it’s a desperate reaction to workplaces that feel hollow, unsafe, and unsustainable.
You don’t have to go solo to live with purpose. But if you do, go in with eyes open. Find people who will tell you the truth. Prepare for the emotional and financial weight of it. And build something that actually feels like you.
And if you’re just trying to survive in a job that doesn’t see you? You’re not alone. You're not wrong. And you deserve better than a broken system.
