I run a modestly successful small gardening business. It took me a year to really get it going properly. For context im in my 30s and have worked in really demanding jobs to get into a position to start something.
Ever since I went full-time my sibling has had this attitude like I just won the lottery and wont share. Other people have also started acting like im driving around in a RollsRoyce with a monocle, I don’t really get it.
I give my sibling left over gardening supplies and i’ve sub contracted another friend who lost their job. Trying to share my success when I can. Whats with the hostility? Have other people experienced this kind of thing?
Most people miss the entire reason you make more working for yourself in your own business rather than working for someone else. Even business owners miss it often. I did when I first started out. It’s risk. You need to make 2 to 3x what others make for doing the same sort of work to balance out the risk. Economic downturn, lawsuit, theft, fraud, natural disaster, accident, health, competition, market change, divorce,new technology, new law just get passed… there’s a million reasons you can suddenly go upside down in business and lose everything. So when you start doing really well and others see it they get jealous without ever realizing that you’ve taken on extra risk in order to make extra money. If you don’t sock it away, you may be unprepared for the day “it” happens. And it always does. Every 3 to 5 years in my experience.
100% I need to be earning another a fair bit more before I’m comfortable. I’ve still been spending a fair bit getting all my equipment. Had been using some household power tools etc and have now got all professional gear. I can now put all the windfalls into a cash reserve. I hear you.