Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
"The corporate world and current market is a scam. I quit my stable job to start a consulting firm in a recession. It worked. Here’s the real talk.
If you feel pressured to pick your life path at 18, I get it. I spent years feeling like a failure because my journey was a mess. But here’s the truth I learned: the path to entrepreneurship is never straight, and it shouldn't be.
My journey is proof: I went from a bus boy with no confidence to running my own consulting firm. Every "wrong turn" was actually me collecting cheat codes for business.
My parents were immigrants, so hard work wasn't a motivational poster—it was the house rule.
My first real job? Clearing tables. It was awkward. I was an outsider in a wealthy suburb. But putting on that uniform was my great equalizer.
The Lesson: Work wasn’t just a paycheck; it was an identity. It gave me competence when I felt useless, and I was hooked. I wasn't the weird kid anymore; I was the one who got sh*t done. That feeling is addictive.
I had a romantic idea of being a Disney artist, but my parents were giving me the financial stability talk. We were speaking different languages.
So, I started a 14-year college odyssey through six different schools. Yes, six.
| The Vibe | What it Felt Like | The Reality I Didn't See |
| The Pressure | Every transfer felt like a failure. | I was just trying to figure out who I was. |
| The Pivot | Animation ➡️ Information Science ➡️ MBA. | I was strategically building a confidence firewall. |
Each degree wasn't just knowledge; it was me saying, "I can actually compete in this world." I finally earned my footing and was ready to make my move.
In 2009—the depths of a massive recession—I did the unthinkable: I left a stable, 11-year job to start my own consulting business.
My doctor friends thought I was insane. My former colleagues were shocked.
But that decision was the biggest flex of my life. It changed everything.
After years of trial and error, these three rules are my non-negotiables:
Don't Chase the Bag, Know Your Worth.
Success is not the highest paycheck. It’s about building a sustainable business by understanding your true value and pricing your services accordingly. Respect the self-worth, and the money follows.
Comfort is the Anti-Growth Hack.
The moment you get comfortable is the moment you stop innovating. You can't avoid risks, but you can make them calculated. If you're not a little scared, you're not going fast enough.
Create Your Own Luck.
"Luck" is just hard work meeting planning. You can't control everything, but you can position yourself to seize the opportunity when it finally drops. Be prepared. Stay ready.
Starting a business in Illinois—or anywhere—is about hustle, strategy, and self-belief.
Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else’s. Stop trying to follow a traditional map, and start finding your most rewarding destination.
What’s one “messy” part of your journey that actually taught you your biggest lesson? Drop it in the comments.