Can we please stop glorifying self-employment

I’ve seen a few posts and articles lately calling people “slaves to corporate” and celebrating self-employment as the only real path to freedom.

And honestly, it’s tiring. Tiring, because it’s untrue.
And tiring, because it’s unhelpful.

Telling people that working in corporate means they’re trapped doesn’t set anyone free - it just fuels shame in those who might already be questioning their choices.

You might not have enjoyed your corporate experience, and that’s fair enough. But projecting that onto everyone else, or using it as a hook to sell your “freedom and fulfilment” programme helps no one.

And it implies there’s something wrong with working in large companies or being employed.

I’ve seen people thrive in both worlds. It’s horses for courses.

The reality of running your own business

I often talk to people who are considering going back into corporate life. Not because they’ve failed… far from it, but because they’ve realised that freedom looks different in reality.

Many of them tell me they:
→ Work more, not less - often late at night, especially those with kids.
→ Discover that real freedom takes years, and they’re missing out on life now.
→ Crave routine and stability, particularly if they’re the main earner.
→ Find it hard to rest, because if you don’t work, you don’t get paid.
→ Feel lonely or isolated - missing being part of something bigger, and part of a team.
→ Don’t enjoy scaling up - extra people, costs and responsibility can add more stress than joy.

It’s not failure. It’s reality.

My own journey

I left a large corporate organisation almost 10 years ago, spent 7 years with a small start-up, and launched my coaching business 2 years ago.

But that doesn’t mean corporate was bad. Not at all. And honestly, I miss a lot of it. The large teams, the big P&Ls, the broader impact, the consistent earnings, and all the bells and whistles that come with working in a large organisation.

But I never felt like I needed to escape it.

If you want to start a business, do it because you see an opportunity or a genuine need - not because you want to escape your life.

And if you do take the leap, be ready to stretch and skill up in ways you never imagined. Running a business will grow you, but it will also test you enormously.

Let’s stop apologising for staying

I often hear leaders describe themselves as “lifers” or say things like “I don’t have the guts to leave corporate.”

Why say that as if it’s a bad thing?

There’s courage in staying - in leading, in shaping culture, in being part of something bigger than yourself. Celebrate the choices you’ve made, and be the example for others who want to build meaningful careers inside organisations.

Both paths have value

There’s no shame in choosing structure, security, or a steady paycheque. And there’s no medal for working yourself into the ground to prove you’re “free.”

Both corporate and self-employment can offer meaning, fulfilment and growth - if you’re clear on what you need, and honest about what you’re signing up for.

So maybe the real question isn’t which path is better - it’s which path helps you live more fully, right now.