I’ve been working in the food industry for about 3 years now, and the long hours, no prospect of upward mobility, and bosses (derogatory), I can safely say I don’t enjoy this anymore (not that I really did to begin with, just needed pocket money bro).
Luckily, I do have a considerable sum of money saved up over the years. I do have a business idea in mind which would be somewhat passive (mushroom growing), but I’m afraid that it would just be a money pit and I’d be worse off. On the other hand, there’s going back to school. I’m still young, but alas, the prospect of a student loan is not enticing at all.
I could do maintain the job, go to school, and do the mushrooming…in theory…but I do enjoy having time for the gym and just going out for hikes.
What seems like the best course of action?
Get some small business training specific to your jurisdiction. Some unemployment programs around the world have such training and funding associated with them, but you have to dig around and ask. The business-training/mentorship environment can sometimes feel pretty hypercapitalist, but there are good skills and understandings to be found in there although you’ll need to bend some of it to fit more anti-capitalist ideas.
Learn how to create a formal business plan, and some basic financial modelling skills. What ends up happening might be wildly different to expectations, but at least you have a model to adjust then. Being able to understand your business lets you understand when things are failing, and correct or avoid disaster.
Mushrooms: Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, by Paul Stamets
Food growing/distribution systems+support: https://openfoodnetwork.org/