At one point or another, you’ve probably thought about what it would be like to go into business for yourself. Maybe it came at the end of a rough day in the cube, or maybe it crossed your mind as you sat in rush hour traffic with no end in sight. Regardless of the situation, it probably went something like this: “Man, this is ridiculous. I wish I was my own boss. Then I wouldn’t have to put up with this crap!”. It’s definitely a tempting proposition, but have you really ever thought the whole process out?

I came across this interesting article written by Alan Reisch, who has some experience in the area of being your own boss. Take a look, my comments immediately follow the end of the article in the My Comments section.

Working for Yourself - Make Sure It Is Right for You
By Alan Reisch

Going into business for yourself can be a challenging yet rewarding undertaking. The freedom offered from being the boss is definitely an alluring temptation; but do the advantages overshadow the disadvantages? The answer will vary from person to person, but for me the overwhelming answer is yes. However, this is not the case for everyone. For example, I have friends that can’t imagine life without a steady paycheck. Still others lack the self discipline of not having to be “at work” by 8:00. Without consequences from the boss, it can be very difficult to force themselves to start working. Another argument I have heard is: You know when you have to be at work and when you don’t have to be at work. While there may be some truth to this opinion, I disagree for several reasons that I will discuss shortly.

I have worked both for myself and for others and to me it is no comparison as to which is better. First of all, I don’t view a steady paycheck as security but rather as a ceiling or limitation. I do pride myself on doing a good job when working for others, but the fact remains that I get paid the same whether I make the company $1,000,000 or $5,000. Granted, I may be rewarded with a bonus or raise, but I would rather try and make the million for myself. Secondly, I feel like my time is my own and not controlled or dictated by someone else. If I want to work 12 hours a day or 4 hours a day it directly affects me. Keep in mind; to start and grow a business takes hard work and time. Don’t expect to work 4 hours a day right away and have a full time income. Finally, the best reason for working for yourself is to do something you enjoy doing. The first business I owned was an existing business I purchased from someone looking to retire. I was able to triple the business in 5 years, but I didn’t love doing it. I enjoyed running my own business, but it wasn’t the right business for me. As a result, I sold the company and moved on to something else. The point is, make sure you enjoy what you decide to do.

Unfortunately, doing what you enjoy is only the first step. To be successful in business you have to be willing to wear many hats or pay someone else. Some things are going to be easy for you and some things will be a struggle, but you still have to be able to work through the difficult tasks to accomplish your goals. For example, I am good at coming up with new ideas, structuring and managing a business, and maintaining financial records. On the other hand, sales and marketing are much more difficult for me and I have to force myself to work through my frustrations. Ultimately to grow a successful business, a delicate balancing act must be achieved in all areas. Of course, the other alternative is to pay someone else to do it for you, but most new businesses don’t have the resources to choose this option.

Whether or not you decide to pursue a business of your own is up to you. It is a wonderful opportunity if you decide to pursue it, but it is also difficult. So take a good look at yourself and evaluate if going into business is right for you. Be honest with yourself and if it something you want to do, make sure it is something you enjoy doing. Good luck, I wish you the best.

My Comments

The best thing I like about this article is that it is written by somebody with some actual experience in running their own business. Too often I’ve come across articles on this topic from people speaking in the “theoretical” sense, which you can only get so much information from.

I think Alan makes a number of good points in this article, in particular I think he touches on an extremely important question that you have to ask yourself: Are you willing to be realistic? You have to go into something like running your own business with your eyes wide open. Working four hours a day? Keep dreaming. Vacation whenever you want? You wish. Remember, people don’t give money away for free. You’re still going to have to work for it, regardless of who you work for. The difference is (and the way that I look at it) that when you work for yourself, the sky is the limit. You are constrained only by how much work you’re willing to put into it.

I’d like to be my own boss, and someday I think I will. However, when that time comes, I hope I can approach it objectively and with clarity as opposed to just blindly rushing in.

Author Resource Box

Alan Reisch is the founder and operater of HB Shells & Sea, an online sea shell jewelry and craft store. He prides himself on using only shells he has found naturally along the beach. View his unique, natural, and beautiful sea shell products at http://www.hbshellsandsea.com

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