I worked as a corporate employee back maybe 7-8 years ago, then decided to leave it to start several business ventures. During that time, my best business venture was starting a content creation production company, pretty much creating content for a personal brand, as well as other companies and brands as well. It went on to be relatively successful, enough to pay bills and survive, which was really nice. During that time I was able to pursue many passion projects, travel, work remotely, chase fun experiences, build my network, both socially and professionally, and really enjoy life, while learning to build something I really enjoyed.
Until maybe 2-3 years ago, I entered creativity dryness where I simply ran out of topics to create content in. I'd binge content and use it as inspiration and grab ideas, but the lack of originality was definitely apparent in my work, leading to a massive loss of online followers, across almost all my platforms. I also produce content for companies as well, most of which sliced their budget and ad revenue in the last few years, meaning I'm receiving less work from them as well. On the side as backup, I started applying for traditional jobs maybe 2 years ago, but given the competitiveness of this job market, and fact that I never went to college for this, have not found much success finding work as a traditional corporate employee either. I now essentially make 1/5th if even of what I used to make on average, can't make enough to pay bills without using my savings, and have no life purpose anymore.
Is life over or is there any hope to recover from all this? I can't find a traditional job and I'm out of ideas how to expand or save my regular business as well.
How to Bounce Back After Failing as Both an Entrepreneur and Corporate Employee?
byu/LifeInAction inEntrepreneur
Posted by LifeInAction
3 Comments
What you described is more common than people admit. You built something once, which already proves you can do it again. The problem does not sound like ability, it sounds like direction.
When creators hit a dry phase, the best reset is getting closer to real problems again. Talk to small businesses, founders, even local brands and ask what content they actually struggle with. Often the gap between what creators make and what companies need is huge.
Also consider packaging what you already know. Many founders struggle with content strategy. So, consulting, audits, or simple content systems will open doors.
Finally, you are not starting from zero. You already have experience, a network, and proof that you can build.
Wishing you the best. Hope things turn around for you soon.
Choose 1 Identity. Don’t expect from yourself to fullfill all roles other’s expect from you to fill. It’s cruel from you, to expect yourself to succeed without failing.
Stick to one path and then never stop.
In ancient greek they had a nice philosophy about life, that helped me a lot to understand my owne path better. They differentiated between temporary and infinite games. A temporary one, like writing a test in school, is temporary and the only value within the game you can gain from it, is if you win.
However, the point of infinite games, is just to keep playing. The goal of getting rich, is to stay in business. The goal of getting into shape, is to stay in shape. The goal of finding a good partner, is to stay together. The meaning of life, is not found in the way you die but in the way you keep living.
And if there is no finish line, then any failure along the way is just an expierence, not an evaluation of your worth as a human being. You “fail” once you stop playing. But even then, you can transition the expierences from one game to another.
You didn’t fail you just stopped.