“Otherwise do something else”
cdixon.org
cdixon.org
Then we can consider the advice of another philosopher, John McCarthy (coined the term A.I. and "discovered" lisp), "If it doesn't work right, we can always try something else."
He's right, from what I can tell. I've done my whole career in startups, and ~6 years into this one it's still costing me significant sleep and cortisol.
What about those of us who hate [almost] everything that comes with running a company, but can't imagine being happy in any other context?
I've almost decided that having a company is simply a necessary evil for what I want out of my life.
Perhaps in my case a partner would help. Someone who is in charge of that end of the business, but I can still jump in and help.
Slightly longer story: ever since I was very little what I've always wanted to do most was to change the world. In whatever nontrivial way possible.
At first I thought this meant I should become a scientist, but as my understanding of the world matured I realized the scientists I look up to most are actually entrepreneurs and that without being entrepreneurs their contribution to the world mostly simply wouldn't have as big an impact.
Some things just need to be done.
Years ago I read similar advice for musicians in bands that want to "take it to the next level". The short version was "Don't!" and the longer version was "The only people that should be in a touring rock band are the people who can't not be in a touring rock band."
I spent several years trying to act like I needed to be in a touring rock band. Luckily I was and still am young enough to be wrong and not have any serious regrets.
This can apply to other creative fields too, of course.
When someone says what it like to be an entrepreneur I would just point to it.