9-to-5 vs. 24/7

The Unfiltered Reality of Being an Entrepreneur

Hello, RCD readers,

9-to-5 job versus 24/7 job. It sounds weird, doesn't it?

For a long time, I bought into the classic movie trope of what an "entrepreneur" looks like. In movies, entrepreneurs are basically portrayed as glorified unemployed people—folks with endless free time, no real income, constantly brainstorming big ideas without ever actually building something that makes money.

I never saw myself fitting into that box, mostly because I wasn't selling a physical product. When I set out to become an architect, my focus was purely on the craft. I knew I had to figure out the business side eventually, but I didn't realize just how vast that side actually was.

 

Here is the hard truth: design school doesn't teach you how to run a business.

They teach you architecture, not entrepreneurship. Nobody sits you down to teach you:

•   The administration behind running a company.
•   The financial management and expense tracking.
•   The marketing required to get your name out there.
•   The customer service, client communication, and presentation skills needed to close a deal.

You don’t get taught any of it in a classroom. You learn it all on-site, in real time, with real stakes. Because I got a little push early on—as many of you who follow my page already know—I was thrown straight into the deep end. I had to figure out almost everything through trial and error.

And through that trial and error, I learned the biggest lesson of my career: You can work a 9-to-5 for someone else, or you can work 24/7 for yourself.

It’s not just a catchy phrase; it is literally true. Looking at my day-to-day life, I’ve realized just how much free time I’ve sacrificed to build my career. People constantly remind me, "You need time alone," or "You need to take a step back and relax."

And while rest is important, here is the thing: I love my job.

I genuinely love what I do. I love the process, and at the end of the day, I am completely in tune—and in love—with the final results I create for my clients. That’s the exact reason I chose this path. I was blessed enough to choose a career I’m passionate about, paired with the natural talent to pull it off.

Am I 100% great at every single aspect of running a business? Definitely not. That’s just a given. And honestly, I’m not trying to be a master of everything—I’m just trying to be authentically me while getting the job done.

So, why do I call it a 24/7 lifestyle? Because the mental load never really clocks out.

Take this week, for example. Because of my lifestyle, I wake up really, really early. Every single week starts with a master to-do list so I can map out what needs to get done. Even when I don't have hard client deadlines breathing down my neck, I have to intentionally block out scheduled time for every single hat I wear:

1. Design & Execution: When I’m actually sitting down to do the architectural work.

2. Client Relations: When I’m reaching out, following up, and managing expectations.

3. Admin & Finance: Handling paperwork, tracking budgets, and making payments for expenses.

4.Growth & Strategy: Planning what’s next and figuring out my marketing. 

Everything has a specific slot, and everything depends on me showing up. 

It’s demanding, it’s relentless, and it takes over your schedule—but when you’re

building something that is truly yours, you wouldn't trade it for a 9-to-5 any day of the

week.