The Girl Who Ditched the 9–5 Life

I used to run a small business. I built it from scratch, poured my heart into it, and watched it grow over a decade. I loved the freedom, the connection, and the sense of purpose that came with it.

But after ten years, I felt like I’d taken it as far as I wanted to go. I was proud of what I’d built, and I made the decision to sell.

I thought, “Time for something stable.” So I did what many of us do, I took a desk job. I showed up every day, did the responsible thing, saved money… and quietly felt like something was missing.

I kept thinking, is this it?

I had a good job. I worked with good people. But inside, I felt disconnected like I was pouring so much energy into something that didn’t really light me up.

I would sit at my desk and catch myself daydreaming about a different life: one where I could work from anywhere, do creative work that felt purposeful, and walk my dog in the middle of the day just because I felt like it.

It wasn’t a dramatic walk-out moment. It was quieter than that. It was months of small nudges, little realisations, and one brave decision after another. It was trusting that I could bet on myself again, even though it was scary, even though I didn’t have it all figured out.

Now? I get to do work I genuinely love. I wake up excited (most days, let’s be honest), and I feel like myself again. I work from home, or the beach, or the café down the road. And my dog? She’s living her best life too.

If you’re reading this and feeling like you're stuck in someone else’s version of success, I see you. I’ve been you. And I just want you to know: it’s okay to want something different. It’s okay to want more joy, more freedom, more meaning.

Life is too short to ignore the whisper that says, there’s more for you than this.

Here’s to the dreamers, the doers, and the girls who ditched their 9–5.