The choice before me is A or B.
A)Get promoted and not have the time to pursue what I really want.
B)Stay in current position and have a better chance at pursuing what I really want.
The first choice will not allow me to dedicate the time to what my heart really wants to do. The second choice allows me the time to do what my heart wants but comes by saying no to an assload more money.
"Needing 100 hours a week in the beginning" is a red herring. I know people who have spent part time hours making their business grow to eventually becoming self-sufficient. So I don't really buy that. As far as being blackballed, it's the type of company where I know enough to not allow that to happen, since I've turned down offers before.
Lyrical, I just want to say thank you for this feedback. It's genuinely helping me come to conclusions. Even if it only forces me to think about things from another viewpoint it truly does help. No homo.