Dear Disgruntled Employee,

Every morning you drag yourself to work, already tired before the day begins. Your boss is always on your case. Your colleagues aren’t the easiest people to be around. You give your opinion, but it feels like it goes unheard. You keep a silent record of every slight, every moment they’ve dismissed or mistreated you, and you carry it home where your partner probably knows the full list too.

You tell yourself you’ll start your own business. You even promise yourself you will. But the fire only comes when something at work pushes you over the edge—or when your salary disappears within 48 hours of hitting your account. In that moment, you’re ready to quit. You picture freedom. You picture control. You picture yourself building something of your own.

But then things calm down. Your boss lightens up. A colleague makes peace. The storm passes and so does your motivation. You tell yourself, “Maybe I’ll wait a few more months before I resign.” And the cycle begins again.

You’ve been here for months. Maybe years. You have a good business idea—maybe even a brilliant one—but it only lives in your head. It has become your “happy place,” a fantasy you visit when the job feels unbearable. But you haven’t taken real steps to bring it into the world.

And so, the best years of your life are being auctioned off cheaply. Your energy, your creativity, your strength—traded for someone else’s vision. You are multiplying wealth, but not for yourself. You are digging gold that will never belong to you.

One day, you’ll retire with just enough to get by for a few months. The company you built for someone else will continue to thrive. Their children will inherit a legacy. Yours will inherit your struggle—and you’ll expect them to support you while they’re trying to build their own lives.

I don’t mean to offend you. I only mean to hold up a mirror. The truth is, you may not really want freedom as badly as you say you do. Maybe you’ve given up before even trying. Maybe you’ve been lying to yourself. Because if you really wanted out, you would’ve taken the first step by now.

So, let’s be honest. You love your job enough to stay. Your boss, your colleagues, your paycheck—they’re the best you’ve decided you’ll settle for. And until you prove otherwise with action, that’s the truth.

Sincerely,
Someone Who’s Been There

P.S. If you truly want to break the cycle, don’t wait for a grand moment. Take one small step this week—write a one-page plan, open that side-business bank account, register a name, or make your first sale. Freedom doesn’t start with quitting your job. It starts with proving to yourself that you can act.

Edit: I wrote this letter 7 years ago today (September 2025) and I realize that there is a lot more I have learnt about life, growth, career and business since then. I no longer encourage people to simply jump in to start their own businesses because it’s a trap on its own in some ways. Read more about my thoughts about it here: Entreprenuership is not self-employment