Another Labor Day weekend has come and gone. I never really give much thought to Labor Day and what it means. I typically just bid farewell to the summer and enjoy the long weekend. But today I decided to at least reflect on the day a little, and what it means.
Labor Day, in summary, is a day that honors the labor force in the U.S. And of course labor means work, and work means jobs. Even though there’s some historical background to the day, overall it’s pretty cut and dry. People work, and this day shows appreciation for that.
But nowdays, we are in this time and space where mindsets are shifting. People are looking beyond the traditional 9 to 5 to seek fulfillment and they are setting up multiple revenue streams. People are using their talents to make money in ways that weren’t even thought of 10 or 20 years ago…and honey, I. LOVE. IT.
The world has more entrepreneurs, creatives, influencers, life coaches, financial coaches, bloggers, app developers, and first-generation business owners than any time before. People are using their genuine interests, their personal experiences, their education, and their God-given talents to start businesses, supplement income, and change their lives in dramatic ways. It’s inspiring. It’s motivating.
It’s also the reason for a lot of pressure.
Everyone’s doing it, and if they aren’t, they feel like they should be. People feel like they, too, should be blogging, influencing, working day, night and weekends for a side hustle…and the truth is, it just isn’t everyone’s idea of happiness. But the internet, the gram, and the blogs…have people feeling like if they aren’t “leveling up”, if they aren’t creating multiple streams of income, if they aren’t constantly on their grind, creating content, developing branding, doing product research…working towards independence and entrepreneurship, they are somehow lacking.
Personally, I have a lot of varied interests, and my day job just doesn’t fulfill all of my needs. For that reason, I have hobbies, and I have things that I’ve turned to as a way to make additional income. My side interests have turned into side businesses, and I do hope that they continue to grow and prosper.
But I do them because I love doing them. I’m not relying on it to put a roof over my head or to put food in my fridge. I do them because, whether I make money or not, I truly actually enjoy the things I do outside of my traditional job. They fill a void that my 9 to 5 doesn’t fill. They serve as an outlet for me. But maybe someday, that will change. Maybe my side hustles will pan out for me one day, and I’ll be able to live completely off the money generated from my businesses. That would be great. But I am also really into my “regular job” and I think that’s ok as well.
Let’s face it–everyone is not meant to, nor desires to be, an entrepreneur. Not everyone wants a side hustle. Not everyone has that hatred for the establishment. Some people truly and genuinely enjoy their 9 to 5.
Not every “regular job” is terrible. Everyone doesn’t view working for an employer as working for “the man”. Some people truly like their colleagues and they like whatever security they have in their 9 to 5. They like having a paycheck that hits their account reliably and predictably, a benefits package that suits their lifestyle, job expectations that are communicated, a mission that they want to be a part of…being able to feed their families, secure a mortgage, and take vacations without stressing about making payroll, covering expenses, and creating social media content. Millions of people live and love this life. And that is ok.
I think it is time we stop shaming people for not desiring the life of an entrepreneur. Or rather, stop shaming people who like their life, whatever it is, just because it’s not the life that YOU want for yourself. This world needs all kinds to make it go-round. And we need to get out of the habit of shaming people for playing the role that they want to play in the world.
I think we need to all agree that everyone makes their own decisions for their own personal reasons, and we need to focus on our own decisions and why we make them. Make the best decision for your life, be it an entrepreneur, a part of the labor force, or a combination of both. And let’s not worry about putting our work expectations on other people.
What are your thoughts on Labor Day? Or do you not even think about it? Lol. No shame here!
Just a Maryland Girl 
Published by