My Journey Beyond the 9-5: Why I Started My Business

Finding fulfillment, flexibility, and freedom in my work

Photo by Mike Petrucci on Unsplash

Many people start their own businesses for fortune or fame. I started mine for a different reason—one that had nothing to do with money or recognition.

Sometimes, the best time to start something new is when you don’t have all the answers. It’s easy to wait for clarity, but I’ve found that uncertainty eventually leads to certainty—if you’re willing to take that first step.

Why I Started Made by DW

I started my business to regain control. Here’s why.

My career felt like a rollercoaster ride ever since 2020. In the past five years, I was fired, laid off twice, and went through four job searches. Needless to say, I didn’t feel in control of my professional life, and I knew something had to change.

In 2023, I got my first taste of building on the side and stepping into entrepreneurship. I joined forces with a few people who wanted to build a tool for product development teams. While we didn’t find traction with our idea, I made some great new friends—and it completely reshaped how I thought about entrepreneurship.

Made by DW was born in 2024. Right now, my focus isn’t revenue—it’s on creating, learning, and making an impact.

I’m writing, building, coaching, and learning along the way. It’s not just about money for me. It’s about personal fulfillment and helping others. I want to build a business that excites me and makes work feel meaningful. And a big part of that is aligning my work with what truly inspires and energizes me.

I might not have much control in other areas of my life, but when it comes to my business, I do. The freedom to choose which projects to work on is empowering. I don’t know exactly where my business will take me, but I’m excited to find out.

Reclaiming Control: Taking Ownership of Your Career

At some point in your life or career, you’ll likely feel a loss of control. You might feel like someone else is calling the shots, leaving you without the time or freedom to focus on what truly matters to you.

As a software engineer on a team, this can show up as:

• Having no say in what you work on—just following priorities set by others

• Seeing your ideas dismissed or slowed down by bureaucracy

• Having decisions made for you without your input

• Getting assigned tasks that don’t align with your interests or strengths

• Not having time or freedom to explore new technologies

• Being stuck in endless meetings instead of doing meaningful work

That’s why I started my business—because I wanted more control. Control over my work, my impact, and my future. Rather than leaving it in someone else’s hands. I still have a full-time job, but this gives me the freedom to build something on my own terms.

If you’re craving more control but can’t find it at work, there’s another way.

You don’t have to quit your job or go all-in on a business. And you don’t have to commit hours of your free time. Here are some actions I’ve taken to learn and make an impact outside of my day job:

• Write a newsletter

• Offer coaching services

• Build SaaS apps

• Host webinars

• Create content for LinkedIn

• Collaborate with other professionals

There are countless ways to take back control. You just have to start.

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That’s why it’s so important to take ownership of your growth. Whether it’s through a side project, writing, coaching, or something else entirely, you have the power to create opportunities beyond your day job.

I don’t know exactly where my business will take me, but I do know this—I’m no longer waiting for someone else to hand me fulfillment. I’m building it for myself.

And you can too.