I Left My Corporate Job to Become a Chocolatier — It Was the Right Choice, But I Miss Some Things
Over a decade ago, I walked away from corporate life to pursue my dream of running a chocolate business. The move was absolutely the right one for me, yet it also taught me to appreciate many aspects of traditional employment that I once took for granted.
For years, I quietly daydreamed about leaving office life for something more creative. Chocolate started as a hobby and slowly became a genuine passion. By 2015, I was working for a large American company with a pleasant office in London. The role offered good pay, smart colleagues, and stability — but I often felt like a small cog in a big machine. Long commutes and uninspiring days left me longing for more control and work that felt meaningful, ideally involving food.
When a redundancy opportunity arose after nearly three years with the company, I saw it as my sign. I had already been sketching business ideas — a café, a baking company — but nothing had quite clicked until chocolate did. I told myself I’d have a solid plan and be turning a profit by the end of the year. Reality, of course, had other plans. The path was far longer and more winding than I expected.
The Unexpected Gift of Self-Employment
While figuring out my next step, I took part-time work and freelance gigs, including a memorable role as a chocolate tour guide in London. It took several more years of building skills, networks, and clarity before I finally launched my current business: a company that combines chocolate-making with meditation and wellbeing.
Running the business as a solopreneur has been incredibly rewarding. I create beautiful, delicious products and do work that feels deeply meaningful. I love the flexibility and freedom that come with being my own boss.
Yet the experience also gave me a new appreciation for the hidden benefits of corporate employment. When my laptop crashes now, there’s no IT department to call. I handle my own bookkeeping, marketing, product development, and delivery. There’s no automatic sick pay, holiday pay, pension contributions, or health insurance. The steady monthly salary I once received has been replaced by the financial ups and downs of self-employment.
Even something as simple as structuring my day took adjustment. I used to complain about having a packed calendar and line manager check-ins; now I sometimes miss that external structure and sense of teamwork.
No Regrets
Despite the challenges, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Discovering a supportive community of women running small food and wellbeing businesses, along with wonderful mentors, made all the difference. More than ten years on, I’m proud of the leap I took.
I sometimes miss the security and perks of corporate life and wish I had valued them more at the time. But I wouldn’t reclaim them if it meant giving up the joy, creativity, and daily chocolate that now define my work.
If you’re thinking about making a similar jump, know this: it’s rarely easy, but it can be profoundly worth it — especially if you’re willing to embrace both the freedom and the responsibility that come with it.
And yes, eating chocolate for work is every bit as good as it sounds.