So, here’s the background, as short as I can make it. I spent the first decade of adulthood making decisions because they felt like what I was supposed to do.
Things that my partner, parents, peers, and society expect from me. Eventually, that caught up with me and I realized that I was extremely unfulfilled. So I quit my job in academic research and became a baker.
Huge pay cut, but overall I have felt more motivated and satisfied than I was previously – and there’s something special about it being something that I actively chose instead of feeling like the pre-ordained next step in my life.
But now, I’m not sure that I want to continue being a baker. Or maybe I just want to work somewhere else. I work at a tiny shop – 5 of us total. The owner is a huge pain in the ass but I just tolerate her. This week, it all blew up (with me mostly being a bystander but I strongly agree with the employee who had a dispute with the owner). It has kind of ruined the vibe of my fun job, and a bunch of stuff became apparent that make me believe it will not improve.
I am trying to start a hand-dyed yarn company as a side hustle, but a combination of self-doubt and lack of time have kept me from getting it off the ground.
I’m in a financial position such that I need to make SOME money, but it doesn’t need to be TONS (though I’d love that).
What advice would you give a friend in this position? Ride it out at the current job? Look for another fun job? Dive into yarn full time? Help!