The Owner Of This Bus Company Abruptly Quits…And Leaves A Profane Note for His Staff

(This post originally appeared on Inc.)

Hey “entrepreneurs” and dreamers. Here’s a little reality for you: running a small business is not as great as you think it might be.

Sure, there’s independence and the ability to build something. Yes, you have the opportunity to make some money and do something you truly enjoy. But in reality, you probably won’t. Running a small business is really hard work. People oftentimes don’t do what they say they’ll do. Customers don’t pay. Employees don’t show up. Vendors don’t deliver. And when there’s any problem, it’s always your responsibility to fix it. Some people thrive in this kind of environment. Others…well…just can’t take it.

That seems to be the case with Sydney Hardy. According to this report on TheLondonEconomic, the 57-year-old owner and managing director of the Nippy Bus company in Somerset, England oversaw 27 full and part-time drivers who operated 17 buses used by the town for public routes as well as school and college services. A couple of weeks ago Hardy just packed it in. Without warning.

“F*** it,” he wrote in a note to his employees. “I have had enough and realize I cannot work with you a moment longer.”

Ouch. The company was struggling and had been losing drivers to competitors over the past few years, forcing it to cut its routes. That sounds familiar to many who run a business. Unfortunately, Hardy’s sudden decision caused the cancellation of routes which affected more than 300 children and hundreds of other public riders that depended on his company’ services. It also stunned his staff.

“Nobody expected it,” said one driver. “It was a shock to see an email saying you ain’t got a job tomorrow.”

Can you blame Hardy? The guy ran a business for more than 13 years and was clearly unhappy. He didn’t like the people he worked with and decided that it was just time to move on. “I am quitting to pursue my dream of not having to work here,” he wrote to his staff, which were immediately made redundant in the wake of the company’s closing.

No, I don’t blame him at all. Sure, if that were me I would have done things differently. I would have had an exit plan and exercised a little more patience, perhaps to find a buyer or at least wind things down slowly enough to give people a chance to look for other jobs and customers the ability to come up with alternatives to the services I provide. And let’s not forget one’s community. Hardy lives in a relatively small place so it won’t be easy for him to show his face around town over the next few years.

But you know what? If you’re not happy, you’re not happy. Sometimes running a business isn’t for everyone. I’ve learned that no business is so critical that the world stops turning just because it disappears. Life is short and what we do with our time is up to us. I hope that Hardy does find something in his life that he enjoys. Clearly, it’s not running this kind of small business. So what about you? Are you really happy running your business?

If not…consider a change. But please, take a deep breath. Have a plan. Demonstrate a little patience. It’s OK to say f**k it. I get it. But try to take in to consideration all the other people who rely on your company for their livelihoods.