From Corporate to Cradle: How Fatherhood Rewired My Career Path

As someone who has always thrived on ambition, I found myself making a major career switch—not once, but twice. But this time, fatherhood played a starring role in reshaping how I approached my work-life balance.

My Career Evolution

2013: The Corporate Grind Begins

Fresh out of college, I kicked off my career in public accounting at PwC. If you’ve ever worked in public accounting, you know it’s a marathon with sprints in between. Long hours, tight deadlines, and an endless supply of client calls made it a boot camp for corporate life. But amidst all the hustle, I learned invaluable lessons about teamwork, client management, and building my personal brand. I was single, young, and eager to climb the corporate ladder—no diapers or midnight feedings on my radar just yet!

2017: A New Challenge—And a First Corporate Tax Return

After four years, I jumped ship to work for a former client in their new publicly-traded tax department. Talk about pressure—I had the opportunity to prepare and file the company’s first-ever corporate tax return and tax footnotes. It was a big deal and a bigger learning curve. But in the back of my mind, I began wondering if a long-term career as a CPA was truly what I wanted. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. At this point, I was still single, but now dating—so, while my tax deadlines were stressful, my personal life remained flexible.

2018: The Entrepreneurial Itch

By 2018, the corporate world began to lose its shine for me. I craved more freedom and autonomy, so I made the bold (some might say reckless) decision to quit my full-time job and pursue entrepreneurship (RTW Photography and WAI Consulting). I’ll never forget giving my three-month notice—I’d never do that again, by the way—and set my sights on taking an entire year off to figure things out. The plan? Build my photography business and take on consulting gigs to keep the CPA side of my life ticking. Still single, still no kids, but definitely exploring uncharted waters.

2019-2022: The Dreamer Years

This period was a whirlwind of freelancing, contracting, and growing RTW Photography. I became a full-time contractor, splitting my time between CPA consulting projects and building the photography business. Oh, and thanks to COVID-19, I lived in three different states during this time. It was the era of dream chasing—no fixed schedule, no corporate ladder, just me balancing my passions. By 2020, RTW Photography became my primary job, while consulting work became a side hustle. Personal update: I got married! Still no kids, but life was good, and the business was thriving.

2023: Fatherhood and the Search for Stability

This is where the plot thickens. My wife and I were expecting our first child, and suddenly, the flexibility I had enjoyed as an entrepreneur started to feel a bit… risky. Cue the sleepless nights (and not just from a newborn). I began to question the evening gigs and weekend work and I desired something more routine. I found myself wondering, "What’s the most secure path for my growing family?" I even dipped my toes back into corporate waters, re-entering the world of CPA work as a contractor for 6 months out of the year.

2024: Back to Entrepreneurship—But with a Twist

I started the year with a full-time re-entry into corporate America. I wasn’t a practicing CPA, but I worked closely with them—a win-win, or so I thought. However, fatherhood has this incredible way of shifting your priorities, and I eventually realized that flexibility was more important than ever. I wanted to be present for my family, not just financially but emotionally and physically. After a brief corporate stint, I knew where my heart was: back in the entrepreneurial world with RTW Photography. Sure, entrepreneurship comes with financial risks and sacrifices, but it also offers the flexibility I need to show up as the best dad and partner I can be. The foundation I had built over the past several years allowed me to make the transition back seamlessly.

What Fatherhood Taught Me About Careers

Fatherhood threw new variables into my life equation, but the most valuable lesson was this: Your career should work for your life, not against it. For me, that meant returning to full-time entrepreneurship with RTW Photography, where I get to craft my own schedule and still be there for those milestone moments with my son.

In closing, I’d like to leave fellow dads with a few pointers that have helped me:

1?? Trust in Your Ability to Provide: You’ve got this! Whether in corporate life or your own venture, have faith in the skills you’ve built.

2?? Give Yourself Grace: You’re not just balancing spreadsheets anymore; you’re balancing parenthood. Cut yourself some slack.

3?? Find the Career That Works for You: Choose a path that lets you thrive as both a professional and a parent. You’ll never regret it!

Feel free to share your stories or words of wisdom for this new dad navigating both fatherhood and entrepreneurship—because let's be real, we could all use a little advice (and encouragement)!