Not all careers start with a business plan. Sometimes, they begin with burnout, or a spontaneous auction bid made in pajamas.

That’s how Andrea Minnaert, co-owner of Raelyn’s Pub & Eatery, a welcoming small-town bar and restaurant in Geneseo, Illinois, left a longtime government job and stepped into the rewarding chaos of retail entrepreneurship. Known for its hand-battered favorites, made-to-order pizzas, and community-driven atmosphere, the space became a business, but also a completely different way of life.

So what exactly makes a retail job different from a corporate job?

If you’re considering a career shift, click to read six lessons from Raelyn’s Pub & Eatery that reveal how retail offers unique benefits and how it might change your life for the better.