I have never been an outstanding student. During my education at a small university in Tennessee, I stayed thanks to a football scholarship. My average grade barely exceeded 3.0. I studied finance and economics. I wanted to get to the NFL, but when I realized that it was unreal, I started looking for a job in my profession.
After years of work in accounting, also in companies from the so -called Big Four, I gave up my career in a corporation to open a restaurant. I've never been happier.
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My first job is an accountant in PRG-Schultz, a company dealing in recovery of tax receivables. I submitted the application through a portal with advertisements.
Later, I worked at the International Rectifier as an accountant for turnover tax. It was there that my superior suggested that I try to get to the big four. My CV was not impressive, but I was accepted as a senior tax consultant in Deloitte.
Employment in Deloitte has opened many doors to me.
Working in the Big Four is the dream of every accountant
In the world of finance, it is enough to have one of these companies in the CV so that nobody would pay attention to where you studied. I did not consider this work to be difficult. I rarely stress and do not take matters too seriously. We were required to make a lot of hours and stay after work. Added to this was the entire corporate policy.
Over the next 10 years I changed my job every year, always for a higher salary. In those days, such a career model was the norm.
I chased the highest increases as possible
A friend recommended me to Ernst & Young, which was beneficial for both sides – the company gave bonuses for effective recommendations.
Soon another position opened in Deloitte in San Diego. I moved because it meant another salary.
Annually, my salary increased by 2-3 percent, so it was more profitable to change the company. At that time I received a 20-25 percent increase. plus a bonus for signing the contract.
During the recession in 2008 I lost my second job in Deloitte. I came to Burger King as a senior tax specialist, and in 2011 a former friend recommended me to Accenture as a senior consultant.
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Companies only differed in the atmosphere
My ratings in company rankings were good or average. I didn't consider myself a star.
All these companies operated similarly – only people changed. Deloitte was laid back, EY more restrictive.
I remember PwC best, where I started working in 2014. It was there that I made friends with a former Microsoft employee who recommended me to this company.
Microsoft had the best balance between work and private life.
I was fed up with office policy and senseless meetings at Zoomie. I thought more and more often: “I couldn't be born just to deal with taxes.” The work was neither groundbreaking, nor satisfying nor demanding.
Now it is called a “quiet departure” and I just felt less productive and less and less involved.
I began to wonder what to do next.
I grew up in a family running a Chinese restaurant. I missed Korean chicken in Colorado. In Los Angeles he was great, terrible here.
A place with Korean chicken
I decided on Bonchon because I loved their food.
I invested life savings. I allocated a pension fund worth about 100,000 for the first place and franchise fee. hole. (PLN 388 thousand).
I went through a three -week training and learned to fry chicken, prepare dishes and cut vegetables. I also went through a work course in the room.
When I opened the restaurant, I still worked at Microsoft. I gave up after eight months, leaving behind a salary close to 160 thousand. hole. per year (PLN 620,000).
I opened the first place in Denver in 2018 and the business started immediately
I bought the rights to the whole franchise in Colorado. Now I run six Bonchon and Bubble Tea tea room. My next project is a Food Hall with an area of 1400 sq m, in which there will be seven restaurants.
The biggest difference? In the corporation you have to sit in the office 40-50 hours a week, regardless of whether you have something to do. Own business requires work when you need it.
For the first year, learning everything from scratch, I worked 60-80 hours a week, seven days a week.
By opening the third place, I could already delegate the daily duties of managers. Now I have more time for my wife and two children.
I will never, never return to the corporation
Working in a corporation is like slavery in a matrix. Once you get out of it, the difference is like between day and night.
Once you feel this freedom, you can't come back.
Leaving the corporation showed me how much I could do. At the beginning it was terrifying – giving up security, a fixed salary and benefits is a big step, but my property has increasedaccess to capital for business development or investments has become easier.
I regret only one thing: that I didn't do it before.
The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition
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