Ten great things about being an entrepreneur
From Wikiversity
1. You make the rules now Yes it’s up to you; you make the decisions on your life and the direction of your business. No more having to wait for approvals or missing opportunity. No more getting frustrated at others poor decisions or bad behavior, you get to decide!
2. It’s your baby Not only do you make the rules but you have the fun of naming your baby, deciding its future from the logo to the mission statement. You can plot your own path safe in the knowledge that you stand or fall on your own merits. If you put in the effort you get a direct reward for it. You even get to have your name across the door and to stamp your own personality across the business.
3. No more politics No, you don’t have to get in at 7am or leave your jacket on your chair all night anymore just to impress or compete with colleagues. You want to come to work when you want, it’s up to you, you don’t need to clock watch anymore.
4. Time flexibility You can choose your hours and work when you need too. If your business idea means you can play golf every day, spend time with the kids or work to your personal body clock then that’s what you do. No more having to stick to the 9 to 5. Go on as many vacations as you can afford or have time for.
5. Work where you want No more need to commute to work. If you want to work from home or set up an office around the corner and ride your bike to work you can do it. No more wasted time and stress on the road if you don’t want to. One friend of mine relocated to the British Virgin Islands just because he liked the weather, how’s that for choice!
6. Work with who you want No more having to work with a low quality team or difficult people. Employ those you respect and enjoy working with. If you don’t gel with an employee then cut them loose. The same applies to your customers and suppliers. In my business we have a culture based on ‘fun, service and profit’. This means we only work with colleagues, suppliers and customers who are fun and that contribute 150% to each other, that’s how we make profit! If they don’t fit we don’t do business.
7. Run your life how you want to If you want to work in a particular style then you can. Work at 2am and go home at 3pm, great. You can mix holidays with business travel without anyone saying “no you can’t”. You get to mould the corporate culture just as you want. If you want a cool, chilled out office with sofas rather than a subdued white walled corporate environment then you can.
8. Leverage your dreams and imagination Follow your own ideas and have the freedom to change them whenever you want. If everyone else says it’s a crazy idea but you believe in it, that’s your choice. If you have an idea about a new way to structure your relationships with staff or customers just do it. Even if you want to try a collection of different ideas at once - Go ahead!
9. Money flexibility This cuts both ways, often it’s tough to start but once you are successful you get to choose the very lowest tax options. You can invest you money how you want and get some great pension and investment options not always open to employees. You can use your profits how you decide, from buying other businesses to taking nice fat dividends. You could assist local charity or buy a second home. It’s up to you.
10. A sense of pride and satisfaction Of course one of the great rewards of running your own venture is that all the successes (and failures) are your own to claim. When you win a contract, or a new client or an award it’s all down to you – so well done! You can get the acclaim and genuine respect of your friends and family.
So you want to be an Entrepreneur?, Jon Gillespie-Brown, 2008 Wiley & Co
