See a lot of home run threads and getting started/new idea threads, but I’m wondering how many entrepreneurs have “sort of” made it here?

I’ve been building a small business marketing agency for around a decade. We’ll prob do around 600k this year but no real profit (long story, working on it). I get paid 6-7k as a salary kind of like a normal job I guess.

Started doing some additional consulting work last year to make more money while we restructure the agency business model and now make about 6-7k/mo there as well.

I’m healthy, good marriage, generally doing well. But work is a lot, battling burnout, have a few regrets, etc. Not perfect but not terrible either.

Anyone else feel like their business aspirations have led to a life that kind of plays out more like you have a normal job give or take, vs the big fail / multimillion dollar exit dichotomy that is usually presented?

  • Mobile_Prune_3207BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m like, hanging in there.

    Started the business in 2020, was given an existing client base. Many, many people left us, we’ve not gained more clients that have left, but we’re hanging in there. We have just under 200 monthly clients and our turnover is about 2m a year. But we still don’t make a lot of profit because people are wanting to pay less and less and less for more.

  • _izualBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I have an AI automation tool that may interest you.

    Sent you a DM.

  • TriStarRaiderBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I’m covering bills with my main business, enjoying a bit of lifestyle with the side hustle. In the process of scaling main biz to get to upper/upper middle class in next year or so. I’m content, but work many hours of enjoyable work. Not exactly fuck you money, but I don’t get into really anything I don’t want to. No one telling me what to do is really nice.

  • polish94BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I earn roughly $10k/m from my business distribution. I recently retired to be a full time stay at home dad. I’m part of a pizza franchise group. I Fucking hate being “retired” at 29.

  • TurdsworthBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I started this business as a side hustle. I still have a full time job but make a good $50k on the side. I’m Trying to scale it up but am happy being a small timer.

  • sam21331BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Success isn’t always a binary equation. 🌟

    Your journey resonates with many of us. I am working as the fractional CTO, the quiet achiever, the one who’ve built bridges between dreams and reality. My balance sheets might not scream “millionaire,” but my life tells a different story.

    600k revenue? That’s a symphony of hard work, resilience, and midnight coffee. Your 6-7k salary? It’s the steady beat of consistency.

    Burnout? Regrets? They’re the shadows we dance with, the price of ambition. But look around: health, a good marriage, and not terrible—that’s a melody worth celebrating.

    So, fellow kinda successful entrepreneurs, let’s raise our virtual glasses. 🥂 Here’s to the quiet victories, the fractions that make us whole. 🚀