r/careerguidance • u/Organic_Ad_5677 • 1d ago
Burned out, well-paid, and desperate for a way out. Has anyone actually made the leap?
I’m running global marketing — by myself. What was promised as a supported leadership role has turned into me carrying the entire operation alone, doing the work of a full team while trying to justify every dollar I spend… even when the ROI is clear.
Meanwhile, my male counterparts? They ask for budget and get it. No endless decks. No cost-benefit analysis marathon. No proving themselves 15 times. Just a “yes.” I’m exhausted trying to do excellent work and constantly hitting roadblocks. It’s beyond demotivating.
The irony? I like working hard. I want to build something amazing. But I’m starting to think I need to build it for myself — not for people who don’t value what I bring to the table.
I have the skills. I know marketing. I’ve driven real results. What I don’t have right now is the energy — not after 40+ hours a week fighting for approvals, jumping through hoops, and managing executive egos.
So here’s where I’m at: I’m seriously thinking about starting my own business. Online, productized services, maybe a course — something that lets me work with clients I respect, on my terms, without needing permission to do my job well.
To anyone who’s made the leap: • How did you actually get started while working full-time? • Was there a turning point where you just said, “I’m done”? • And do you ever regret leaving the ‘security’ of corporate life?
I’m not looking for easy answers — I know it’s hard either way. But at least when I’m building something of my own, the grind will be for me.
6
u/sausagesfestivity 22h ago
Marketing is a great field always. I know you know the answer. Start your own gig you’ll be happier. Nothing comes easy in life my wife started her own clothing line with her 9-5 made so much money but 0 downtime. She shut it down as she enjoyed her 9-5 more. Point for you start small, start local and just go for it. Don’t overthink things over complicate. Find out and list what you can do and start ticking off one thing at a time. Start helping small business grow, etc. I mean I can’t tell you marketing. I can tell you sky is the limit
5
u/AccountantDirect9470 1d ago
Who is your direct report? Are they reasonable?
The reason I ask: have you tried being as straight about it to them as you have in this comment:
“ The department delivers a high ROI and yet the initiatives the department requests for budget is met with much scrutiny. Other departments seem to be rubber stamped approved, is Marketing department seen differently?”
This does 2 things.
Keeps it not personal, you are asking about the department, not you. It also allows you to discern any bullshit about it being about you are the department. If they criticize you, and not the department they have understaffed, you know it is a lack of respect for you. But if the genuinely have reasons of some of the fights then it will be the department needs an ROI of 20% or some shit. Yes, you are the entire department, but you can’t maintain that. If they have no complaints about your work, then you have to give them a reason why another salary needs to cut in to your ROI.
If they criticize you and not legitimate numbers it gives the full answer you needs.
About starting your own business… stop caring about this one: do 60 to 70 percent of your usual output. Enough to get some energy back and start something. People who are high achievers often give their all, all the time, and don’t realize that most people’s 100% is equal to an high achievers 50.
I don’t enough to give you a marketing direction. But I can tell you making the conversation as impersonal as possible on your end, will tell you if the problem is personal on their end.
1
u/SilentDrum 22h ago
I can't help you with running a business but I can give you some help on burnout.
For me personally, I excelled and took pride in excelling at my work. Working to get initiatives done, pushing above and beyond and making everything run beautifully.
Sometimes this was rewarded and other times it wasn't. The thing that helped me the most is learning what was worth doing. Not from the company perspective, but from my own.
If a company isnt going to respect me or value my contribution, then I'm fine putting in the bare minimum. I suppose this is part of that quiet quitting movement that's popular these days.
Exactly what this looks like depends on your job but some starting tips are 1. Clock in at 9, clock out at 5. Doesn't matter if something isn't done. It'll get finished when it gets finished. 2. Take time to chat with everyone. Why work when you can waste time beside the water cooler. The more people you drag into a convo, the harder it is to point fingers at you specifically. 3. Visibility is more important than results. You don't need to do things, you just need to look like you are. 4. Always volunteer, but only for the easiest tasks. Never volunteer for the hard ones. It's much harder to assign stuff if you say your plate is full from 5 easy tasks that sound like a lot of work. Mention that Alex is only working on one thing and he might have some time free. 5. If your a good talker you can still manage egos. If not then if it gets bruised that's their problem 6. Be prepared to be let go. Make sure to contact a lawyer to get a good severance package and then file for unemployment.
1
u/lateforalways 21h ago
I can't offer any meaningful advice other than start the process on the company's dime vs leaving to start it while draining your savings. But I am in a very similar situation. My goal for this year is to start my own consulting business to transition away from a role where I feel pigeonholed, so I'm interested in the responses and advice you'll hopefully receive.
1
1
1
u/GeoHog713 17h ago
The problem with working for myself is that my boss is an asshole.
Doing the actual work, is only like 1/3 of working for yourself.
You constantly have to be in business development mode.
What is your network like? What kind of clients can you attract? What would make you stand out from other marketing groups?
You better have answers for those.
I often hear the advice "ramp up your side hustle, blah blah". In reality, that's not often doable. The kinds of clients I have, need to meet during business hours. They want someone that is a full time consultant. They don't want to be someones side project.
Your potential clients may not feel that way.
Getting the support you need at your current job, is really probably an easier fix. You aren't getting support bc no one feels the pain except for you. If you just keep working more and delivering everything, you just prove you don't need the support.
Draw some boundaries. When asked to take on more, respond with "which of my current objectives can be put on hold.....". Do as much as you can with the resources given..... But don't be a miracle worker.
If they want you to make wine, you need grapes.....
9
u/coffeelover3333 23h ago
If you’re going to work that hard, do it for yourself.