The Reality Check: Entrepreneurship Isn’t the Easy Way Out
The internet loves to glamorize entrepreneurship as the ultimate freedom—a way to escape the rigid 9-to-5, set your own hours, and finally have work-life balance.
Lauren is here to tell you that’s not the full story.
✔ After her first baby, she moved from full-time to per diem work at the hospital.
✔ She started a private consulting practice and ran it for two years before leaving the hospital entirely.
✔ She launched a home management business, pivoted during COVID, and later built a tech arm that’s launching its first digital product in 2025.
It sounds like an inspiring story of growth and freedom—and it is.
But what people don’t always talk about is what it took to get there.
"Starting my own business—twice—was expensive and a massive learning curve. I had to figure out everything while also growing my family. There wasn’t a roadmap. There wasn’t a guarantee of success. I just knew I needed more control over my time, and this was the only path that made sense."
The freedom she has today?It didn’t come without sacrifice.
The Hardest Part: The Tradeoffs No One Tells You About
- Entrepreneurship is Expensive.
"It cost way more than I expected—both in time and money. And unlike a salaried job, there’s no steady paycheck to fall back on." - You Have to Be OK With Constant Uncertainty.
"Some days, I feel like I made the best decision of my life. Other days, I feel like I made a huge mistake." - “Flexibility” is a Lie—At Least in the Beginning.
"People think working for yourself means having total control over your schedule. In reality, I was working more than ever—just at odd hours, between naps, and late into the night." - You Will Work Harder for Yourself Than You Ever Did for an Employer.
"The quote ‘I’d rather work 80 hours a week for myself than 40 for someone else’ is 100% true."
Lauren doesn’t regret her choices. But she also doesn’t pretend it was easy.
"It’s easy to glorify the ‘freedom’ of entrepreneurship, but that freedom comes with a massive on-ramp. I had to work twice as hard just to make it sustainable."
What Worked: What She Figured Out the Hard Way
✔ Trial & Error Was the Only Way Forward
"I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I had to learn by doing, failing, and trying again."
✔ Having a Strong Community Saved Her Sanity
"I wish entrepreneur groups for mothers and non-traditional founders had existed when I started. Now, they’re one of my biggest sources of support."
✔ Accepting That Work & Parenting is a Constant Negotiation
"Entrepreneurship and parenting isn’t about balance—it’s about constantly adjusting. Some days, my kids get more of me. Some days, my business does. And I’ve had to learn to be OK with that."
Her Advice: The Honest Version
- Expect Everything to Take Longer & Cost More Than You Think.
"Whatever timeline you have in mind? Double it. Whatever budget you set? Increase it. That’s just the reality of building something from scratch." - It Won’t Always Feel Like the Right Decision.
"Some days, I feel like I’m on the right path. Other days, I wonder why I didn’t just stay in a traditional job. Both feelings are normal." - If You’re Looking for Stability, Entrepreneurship Won’t Give You That.
"At least not in the beginning. If you need stability—whether it’s financial or just knowing what each day looks like—this may not be the right move for you." - It’s Worth It—But Only If You’re Willing to Commit.
"The people who succeed aren’t the ones with the best ideas. They’re the ones who keep going when it gets hard."
Lauren’s Both& Moment: Choosing the Hard Path Because It’s Hers
Lauren’s story is a refreshingly honest take on entrepreneurship—it’s not about getting rich quick, finding balance overnight, or living some dream laptop-lifestyle.
✔ She built both a business she’s passionate about and a career that works for her family.
✔ She experienced both excitement in launching something new and exhaustion from the weight of building it.
✔ She learned that entrepreneurship gives you both freedom over your schedule and the responsibility of making everything work.
This wasn’t about finding an easier way to work.
It was about choosing the hard thing because it was hers to build.
Why This Story Matters for Both&
- Challenges the “Easy Freedom” Myth of Entrepreneurship – Starting a business is not a shortcut to work-life balance.
- Normalizes the Hard Parts of Running a Business as a Parent – It’s possible to build something great—but the road is long, expensive, and often exhausting.
- Encourages Parents to Think Critically Before Jumping into Entrepreneurship – Are you doing it because it’s right for you? Or because it’s being sold as the best option?
- Provides a Realistic Look at What It Takes to Build Something from Scratch – Success comes from sticking with it, not just starting.
