Starting your own business certainly has it’s ups and downs, and while I’m sitting in one of those ‘ups’ I thought I should write about the great things that working for yourself brings:
The Challenge
I suppose for those of us who are driven by a challenge, a constant hunger to push yourself further and harder than you ever have before, starting a business is a perfect fit. It certainly forces you to push yourself in ways you could never have imagined (such as living off a shoe-string budget) and reminds you every day that you have chosen to be different, to try to get more out of yourself and your life and to try to create something, out of nothing. It gives you perspective to appreciate what you have and what you want and makes you take an active role in creating the life you want for yourself.
Although it may not always feel so, the challenge of starting a business is without a doubt one of the best parts.
The Freedom
You are driving along, you have a great idea to improve your business, you go home and implement it.
You don’t have to write a 20 page proposal on why you believe it would be a valuable idea, and wait for days before it’s discussed and rejected by what-do-they-know-anyway executives. You don’t have to find some creative way to manipulate your boss into agreeing with you. You don’t have to jump through countless hoops and untangle all the red tape before you can get it happening. You just do it. That’s the freedom that comes with being your own boss.
The Flexibility
So far this week I’ve taken an extended lunch break to catch up with a visiting-from-far-away friend, picked up my son early from daycare just because I missed him, slept in once (OK twice), and popped down to the shop for a Red Bull anytime I’ve felt a little less-than-awake. Because I can. I did not have to ask anyone, or sneak out hoping not to be noticed, or trade in some annual leave so I could have that freedom. It’s completely guilt free and I love it.
The Journey
What else in this life, apart from maybe having kids, could be as rewarding as turning a “hmm-that-might-actually-work”‘ idea into a “wow-I-can’t-believe-we-made-that” business. All of those endless working days, sacrificing almost everything else, living off toast and other non-time consuming consumables (+ Red Bull), constant headaches (probably from the Red Bull), stress, stress and more stress are forgotten the minute you get your first breakthrough, your first client, every time you get all flustered with excitement explaining your business to an eager listener. The high’s of this journey are so addictive you just keep going back for more and in hindsight (what little I have) the parts that stand out are the good times – the bad times seem to be overwritten or deleted from memory (not unlike childbirth interestingly…).
The Unknown
Every day is a new adventure. What will the next day bring? Bills that we can’t possibly afford or a brilliant idea that will triple our revenue. A keen investor or a client that just won’t pay their invoice. (Business) life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get! I cringe at the thought of working a normal job and getting up each morning knowing exactly what the day will hold – now that I’ve jumped feet first into the unknown, I’m not sure I can ever go back.
If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business, ever had a idea you thought might have some potential, I say go for it. Don’t forget that everything that has ever been done was once just a tiny thought in someone’s head – they just got brave enough to do it. And don’t think for a minute that it was easy. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. You just have to believe in it enough to MAKE it happen.
“Do not wait; the time will never be just right. Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along.”
- Napolean Hill
What are your favourite things about working for yourself?