The Myth of the Off-Button: When Work Never Really Ends
One transition I wasn't ready for is the fact that there's technically no off-button.
After 28 years in schools—almost three decades—I had become accustomed to a rhythm that now feels almost quaint. There was a time I showed up and a time I left. Sure, I worked after hours sometimes. Absolutely, I put in weekend time when needed. I definitely brought work home. But there was still an ability to go in and come back, to turn work on and off with some semblance of intentionality.
That ended the day I became my own boss.
Working from home as an education entrepreneur means there is no off-button. I can walk into my home office, and I can leave my home office. There are genuine benefits to this flexibility, and I've definitely enjoyed them. But the downside is stark: you're always working.
Last week, I found myself up until 10 or 11 PM because something had to get done. And I want to be clear—this isn't necessarily a negative thing. I'm not complaining. I just want people to understand that after working in schools for so long, these are fundamental changes that happen in ways you might not anticipate.
The boundaries that once existed—physical buildings, set schedules, clear start and stop times—provided a structure I didn't fully appreciate until it was gone. Now, the laptop stays open a little longer each evening, or that brilliant idea hits at 6 AM, and suddenly you're responding to emails before your first cup of coffee.
Whether you view these changes as positive or negative depends on your perspective, I suppose. But I want people to be aware of what they're walking into.
Case in point: I'm going on vacation with my family next week, and I'm genuinely looking forward to unplugging. But the reality? I'm bringing my laptop "just in case." Because, you know, you never know.
This is the unvarnished truth of entrepreneurship after decades in structured education. The freedom is intoxicating. The lack of boundaries can be exhausting. Both things can be true simultaneously.
For those considering this transition, factor this reality into your planning. The off-button you're used to having? It might be more valuable than you realize.