Not Just Candle Talk: Burn the Rules. Build Your Legacy
This isn’t your average business podcast.
Not Just Candle Talk is the unapologetic, unfiltered audio home for ambitious entrepreneurs, creatives, and side-hustlers ready to do business on their own terms — no fluff, no fake motivation.
Founded on real experience and raw truth, this podcast dives into the real-life challenges behind the candle business and beyond. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your empire, every episode is packed with lessons, strategies, and mindset shifts to help you build a business and a life you don’t need to escape from.
Hey, I’m Toni, and I know what it’s like to start from scratch.
When I launched my candle business, I had big dreams but limited resources — no investors, no fancy marketing team, just grit, Google, and a lot of trial and error. I built my brand from the ground up, burned out more times than I can count, and learned to pivot, scale, and get smart about what really makes money in this game.
Not Just Candle Talk was born out of my journey — the highs, the hustle, the hard lessons — and the deep desire to have conversations no one else is having in entrepreneurship. The stuff beyond the surface. The why behind the work.
This Podcast Is For You If…
- You’re tired of overnight success stories with no receipts.
- You want to make real money while staying true to yourself.
- You believe business can be both profitable and purposeful.
- You’re building your brand while managing your real life.
Not Just Candle Talk: Burn the Rules. Build Your Legacy
Trading the Hustle: Why Entrepreneurs Are Heading Back to Jobs
We're witnessing a significant shift as entrepreneurs increasingly return to traditional 9-to-5 jobs for financial stability, mental wellbeing, and work-life balance. This episode explores the data behind this trend, real stories from former business owners, and strategies for both employers looking to attract entrepreneurial talent and business owners considering a return to employment.
• Quit rates dropped from 2.7% in 2022 to around 2% in early 2025 as entrepreneurs recalibrate
• 90% of startups fail while entrepreneurs with day jobs have 33% lower odds of failure
• Financial pressure is the #1 reason entrepreneurs return to traditional employment
• Mental health concerns and burnout are driving many to choose stability over hustle
• Post-pandemic priorities have shifted toward valuing time, family and wellbeing
• Hybrid work arrangements offer entrepreneurs flexibility without full business ownership stress
• Former business owners bring valuable skills to employers: vision, resourcefulness and resilience
• Strategies for re-entering the workforce include redefining success and highlighting entrepreneurial wins
If you're thinking about going back to traditional employment or have already made the transition, I'd love to hear your story. Text me through the website at www.notjustcandletalk.me – you might be featured in an upcoming episode!
Collect all free downloadable checklist and access to other items including the featured Stanley on the go tumblers. https://linktr.ee/notjustcandletalk
Are we watching the death of the hustle era? From side hustles to startups, many entrepreneurs are making a surprising move, going back to nine to five jobs. But why? Is it burnout or bills, or just better balance? Today, on Not Just Candle Talk, we are unpacking the raw truth behind the trend Real stats, real stories and a real conversation about what it means to walk away from the grind. Hello world, welcome back to Not Just Candle Talk, the real and raw space where entrepreneurs, creators and dreamers talk truth beyond the filtered highlight reels.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is a little different. It's bold. It's necessary because, while many podcasters talk about launching businesses and leaving jobs, we're talking about going back. Yep, there's a rising trend of entrepreneurs who've said this, ain't it right now? And are re-entering the workforce for money, mental health, or is it just for peace? Whether you're thinking about it, silently, judging it or living it, this episode is for you. Let's start with the facts because, emotions aside, the numbers are loud.
Speaker 1:In 2022, we saw the peak of the great resignation. A historic 2.7 percent of the workforce quit their jobs each month, many to start businesses. But now that quit rate has dropped to around 2% in early 2025. That's not just a dip, it's a recalibration dip. It's a recalibration. More importantly, over 50% of small business owners are solo run, but 44% of owners plan to hire help this year. Still, many find that entrepreneurship isn't always what it seems. And you ask why? Well, 90% of startups fail. Entrepreneurs with a day job have 33% lower odds of failure. And let's be real Instagram glorifies entrepreneurship, but it rarely shows the unpaid invoices, the panic attacks or the nights you question your own value.
Speaker 1:What we've witnessed now is a quiet shift, a rebalancing. Entrepreneurs aren't quitting dreams. They're choosing survival and strategy. So let's unpack the reasons behind the wave of the return. Number one financial pressure. Cash flow kills more dreams than Entrepreneurship can be a feast or familiar. And when rent, student loans or medical bills come calling, many realize I don't want to struggle, just to say I'm free.
Speaker 1:Number two mental health and burnout. Two mental health and burnout. Let's talk about the wait, the late nights, the guilt when you rest, the imposter syndrome when growth slows. Some are walking away, not because they fail, but because they're finally listening to their nervous system. Listening to their nervous system. Number three post-pandemic priorities. Covid changed everything. We all agree about that. It made people value time, family and sanity. We're seeing people return to roles that gave them remote work, stability, healthcare and peace. Number four hybrid work is winning. Right now, over 19% of professionals want to be in the office full-time. Hybrid roles are growing. This opens doors for entrepreneurs who still want flexibility without the stress of solo entrepreneurship. So let's take a moment to hear from some humans for a minute behind the headlines.
Speaker 1:I talked to a couple of people about this subject and I wanted to share their thoughts on this. The first person I talked to was Jessica. She's a 35-year-old former wellness brand founder. This is what she said I built my brand from scratch, but I spent more time doing taxes and chasing clients than actually creating. I didn't sell out. I chose sanity. I also had a quick conversation with Marcus, a 41-year-old digital marketing consultant. Marcus said the money was good, but I miss collaborating. Now I lead a marketing team at a company that respects my boundaries and I still freelance on the side. I also got an email from Britt in Atlanta. I launched my candle business with all the fire in the world, but it burnt me out. I'm now applying for a remote creative role and keeping my business for fun. I finally sleep again.
Speaker 1:These stories aren't about failure. They're about choosing a different kind of success. Okay, so real quick, if you are an employer listening to this podcast right now, this is your time to shine. People who ran businesses are not job hoppers. They're visionaries. They're resourceful, resilient. And if you want them on your team, here's how to attract and keep them.
Speaker 1:Number one you can offer autonomy. Don't micromanage. They're used to leading. Number two champion entrepreneurship. Let them build inside your brand. Number three prioritize flexibility. Time freedom is currency right now.
Speaker 1:Number four acknowledge their journey, their past hustle. It really adds value. So if companies start honoring entrepreneurial talent, they won't just hire better, they will build better cultures. So, right now, if you are an entrepreneur secretly Googling jobs near me, I see you and I've been you. So here's how to re-enter without guilt. Okay.
Speaker 1:Number one you can redefine what success looks like. It's not quitting, it's only pivoting. Choosing peace over pressure is power. Number two update that resume. Highlight your entrepreneur wins, managed budgets, led teams, adapted fast and put all of that inside your resume. Number three negotiate like a founder. Okay, you've worn all the hats, you've done all the things. Use that to ask for what you need Remote work, equity or just plain old flexible hours. Number four, keep one foot in the door. Going back to the nine to five doesn't mean giving up. Maybe your business becomes a side hustle or you can take it up at a later time.
Speaker 1:Before we close out, I want to hear from you. Are you thinking about going back? Did you already do it or are you torn? Let me know. You can DM me, you can email me. I have a text. Text me on the website, on wwwnotjustkendletalkme, and if you want to share your story, you might be featured in an upcoming episode. I would love to hear from you.
Speaker 1:I did an episode like this before. It was similar to this. It was nine to five versus entrepreneurship and my guest I had on. She was 100%, uh, a nine to fiver and she explained why. Uh, if you guys want to check that episode out, I did that one about a year ago and I might add that I am in the 33 percent of that.
Speaker 1:I've always been in the 33 percent of of of this episode, where I've always held employment as I'm doing my entrepreneurship role, and it does give you an edge. It does take away from being micromanaged. I've never had a manager looking over my shoulder. They let me do as I will, and I just mentioned, you can negotiate those types of things and I lead with any interviews I've ever been on, I lead with that. I don't shy away from it. I let I let my employers know like, hey, this is what I do and I make that my my, make it known that, that my business is my focus, but I'll add value to you and they shy away from micromanaging me. So that's just a quick tip and a little insight.
Speaker 1:So in a few days I want to do another episode. It's going to be about people who think like founders inside companies and, like I said, I am one of those people and I'm going to do an episode about that and, trust me, you don't want to miss it. I'll share more of my insight and the things that I've learned over the years that benefit me and made me a stronger negotiator. Also, if you want to, if you like this episode and it hits a core with you and share it for me, you know, share this episode with your friends who've been questioning, having conversations about their entrepreneurship journey, because it's not easy. Um, we all know that and we don't want to keep putting on the front like it is and it's, it's not. It's like I always say I've said it in many episodes it's peaks and valleys and it will continue to be that way.
Speaker 1:Um. So let let them know they're not alone. Let you're not alone in this. This is a real thing and we're going to keep these type of energized episodes going and have discussions about them. Thanks for tuning in to Not Just Candle Talk. We talk dreams, but we also talk detours, because success isn't linear and quitting the hustle doesn't mean quitting the dream. So until next time, keep your light lit, but don't let it burn you out. Thank you so much. Have a good day, bye.