I joined a business someone started, personally invested $200k, and forwent income for a year. This is after leaving a prestigious finance job after 5-6 years in the industry and quitting a senior role at a Fintech.
Company’s sales is flat, and it’s running out of money. If this doesn’t work out, I’m a guy who quit the previous start-up (not doing very well rn) after 1 year, blew money, and joined another one that’s also not doing well.
I feel like I’m not employable and that maybe my judgment is poor. Has anyone experienced or gone through this?
I had a similar path. Left a 6 figure job to start my own business. Ran the business for 3 years it was profitable but I never got back to 6 figures and got burnt out. Sold what I could of the business about 2 years ago and transitioned back into the corporate world.
I foolishly thought my experience would translate to corporate environment and get a great job, it did not. With that being said I do not regret trying and you should not either. I still miss running my business and will definitely give it a go again. You should feel good about the experience and lessons you learned most people do not have that. It takes time but after 2 years in the corporate world I consider myself back to a respectable place job title and salary.
You are not unemployable, nor will anyone judge you. Most people will actually be jealous you tried something. The hardest part about the transition is getting that job back in corporate. I would rely solely on your network, your resume is not going to do well in large portals with a lot of candidates (this was my experience). And make a point in every interview to really drill down the point that this is what you want to do with your next career move. I found a lot of interviewers would ask questions about “do you want to start another business”. I do but not for a couple years. Good luck you’ll be fine.