5 Reasons Why I Quit My Own Business to Work for Someone Else

You can still be an entrepreneur at heart while earning a paycheck at someone else's company.

learn more about Brandon Turner

By Brandon Turner

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Two years ago I quit my own business to work for someone else, and it was the best decision I've ever made.

I was 26 years old when I "retired" from a terrible desk job at a local bank and set out to become self-employed. As with most modern entrepreneurs, I had read The 4-Hour Workweek and was convinced I could create a lifestyle business on my own that could pay my bills while I enjoyed a life of freedom.

Between my rental properties and my growing real estate investing blog, I had built up enough semi-passive cash flow to pay the bills. I was financially free.

Only … it wasn't free.

Within a year I quit the real estate investing blog and jumped back into a day job as vice president of growth at BiggerPockets.com, and although it was agonizing to make, it was perhaps the best decision I've ever made.

Here's why.

1. Paid education

When I look back at the year I spent trying to build my own online business, I laugh.

I had no idea what I was doing.

Related: How to Shut Down Your Struggling Startup

Sure, I got the basics: start a blog, build an email list, monetize that list. But I knew nothing, Jon Snow.

When I joined BiggerPockets.com, a niche-dominating startup in the real estate education space, my knowledge on growing a company grew at an astonishing rate. In fact, to this day I probably spend 50 percent of my time just learning and testing new ideas, and I get paid for every minute of it.

Yes, I could have figured this stuff out on my own, but it would have been a much slower process, and I would have paid dearly to learn it. I would have had to focus on trying to do 50 different tasks at once rather than learning the things that are going to benefit me the most.

I don't have to deal with bookkeeping. I don't have to deal with hiring and firing. I just to focus on growth, both personal and business.

2. Accountability

While working under a boss, I am held accountable for making progress.

I am paid to drive the company forward (and incentivized well for doing so), and as such, I am not tempted to simply relax and "take the day off" as I did during my self-employment time. Instead, I am able to produce incredible results.

People often ask me how BiggerPockets is able to accomplish so much with so few people in the company (I was the very first employee, and we are now up to around 10).

The answer is simple: accountability.

Sure, we all hate having a boss. But having a leader consistently drive you to be the best you can be is not a liability -- it's an incredible asset.

3. Play a bigger game

Deciding to take a job again was one of the most difficult decisions of my life. The internal argument that finally won me over, however, was this: I could play a much bigger game.

When I was growing my own business, I could work for days to create some incredible new lead magnet to attract more subscribers, but in the end, the results were hard to see. After all, if I'm converting 10 percent of my readers into email subscribers and I'm able to move that needle to a 15 percent conversion rate, it's not all that impressive to the bottom line when I have only a few hundred unique visitors.

However, by jumping on board a larger company, I'm able to leverage myself into a much larger sandbox and have a lot more fun with the results. A conversion increase of a few percentage points could result in thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands) in new revenue. The results of a split test could be seen in days rather than weeks. Writing a blog post can help tens of thousands of people, rather than just a few.

To emphasize this point, in the past year I've published a book, spoken at Google, maintained one of the most popular business podcasts on iTunes, and am having serious conversations about creating a television show about my life.

I simply couldn't play that game on my own -- at least not this quickly.

Related: Before You Quit Your Job, Do These 10 Things

4. Meaningful relationships

Let's be honest: being self employed can be lonely at the start.

Working in my pajamas at the kitchen table seems like the ideal life for those stuck in a cubicle, but it's not the answer I was seeking.

By working with a company, I am able to build meaningful relationships that help both personally and professionally. I am able to learn from an incredible serial entrepreneur (my boss, Joshua Dorkin) who bootstrapped a real estate forum into a 250,000-member niche social network. I am able to brainstorm new ideas with my coworkers for hours and work together to achieve something great. I am able to sit down with major influencers in the business world as equals, not as a super fan.

The relationships I'm building today will extend much farther than just my current job.

They'll positively impact my life forever.

5. More disposable income

Finally, it would be a lie not to mention one of the greatest reasons for having this job: stable income.

But not in the way you might think.

Buying stuff is nice, but at the end of the day, it doesn't get you any closer to financial freedom. Wealth is built over time collecting assets such as real estate, stocks or businesses.

By working a day job, I am able to substantially increase the amount of income, but at the same time keep my expenses constant at "pre-job" levels.

Translation: I have a lot more disposable income.

While most of the world would simply buy a larger house, a nicer car and better wardrobe, I've been sinking this cash into several other more productive avenues, including more real estate investments, paying off debt and going on some relaxing vacations.

Simply put: I'm leveraging this job to create even greater wealth in my future.

Conclusion

I'm a lifelong entrepreneur, and that will never change.

However, just because I'm an entrepreneur, it doesn't mean the highest and best use of my time right now is building my own business.

During this period of my life I am gaining an incredible volume of knowledge from incredibly intelligent people. I'm moving the needle forward in a business that's helping millions of people. I'm increasing my net worth and designing a lifestyle that allows for both work and play.

And I'm having a blast while doing it.

I'd like to hear your thoughts. Please share them in the comments section below!

Brandon Turner

Real Estate Investor and Co-host of the BiggerPockets Podcast!

Brandon Turner is a real estate entrepreneur and the VP of Growth at BiggerPockets.com, one of the web’s largest real estate investing communities. He is also the author of The Book on Rental Property InvestingThe Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down and several other books. Buying his first home at the age of 21, Turner quickly grew his real estate portfolio to over 40 units using a variety of creative finance methods. He and his wife Heather live in Grays Harbor, Wash. 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.

Business Solutions

Learn to Build a ChatGPT Bot for Only $30

If you want to see what AI can do for your business, grab this course bundle today.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Health & Wellness

5 Essential Steps to Expand Your Vision and Start Living Your Dream Life

It's time to break free from your comfort zone and expand your vision. When you refuse to settle for a mediocre life, you can start building a life you love.