Why bother?

[Steve]

I was talking to a friend yesterday and he said why bother with a business. Why bother being an entrepreneur? What are your thoughts on that? Have you ever had that conversation with a friend? What did you say?

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[swstout]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Steve I was talking to a friend yesterday and he said why bother with a business. Why bother being an entrepreneur? What are your thoughts on that? Have you ever had that conversation with a friend? What did you say? Some people are just afraid of the prospect of failure. Some just can’t commit. Some have an entitlement mentality. Some can’t see the big picture. They rear that most small business fail I the first year, that it usually takes 3 tries for success (which means they will fail twice). As the comedian, Buddy Hacket once said, “I used to be self employed, but I couldn’t get along with the boss!” There are uncounted reasons why some won’t become an entrepreneur and only a few who will. Some are: ·The challenge ·An independent outlook ·Unlimited advancement ·The satisfaction of creating something that is for the future (not just the now) ·The thrill of overcoming the cycle –of-failure mentality ·Motivation ·The ability to see a need and find a better way to fulfill it (a vision) ·Pride I have had many such conversations and probably will have many more. Planning, organizing, researching, and implementing a business is hard work. Financing is even harder. Most aren’t willing to start part time and still work their job while budgeting, saving, and planning. On the other hand, if they have the financial background they are not willing to invest in (gamble) their abilities. Timing the start of a business is scary and intimidating. For some, it is paralyzing. I have a philosophy – I will not deal with problems or threats. Problems I solve and threats I find a way to neutralize. The biggest threats come from within! Change is a threat! Resistance to change is natural, but constant improvement means constant change. Change is not a threat, it is an opportunity. Being an entrepreneur means managing change. Being an entrepreneur is not a function, it is a process. A process that will and must always change. There is always a better way! To me, my own business is the better way. Steve

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[picframer]

That is an easy one, it is well known that small business and specifically Entrepreneurs are the foundation to any solid economy. Other than having a government job, which is supported by small business, ask your friend how he thinks the company he now works for, assuming he has a job, was started. After all small business in the USA alone supports 52% of workers, 99% of business's in the USA employe less than 500 workers.

[outerelements]

Originally Posted by Steve

I was talking to a friend yesterday and he said why bother with a business. Why bother being an entrepreneur?

What are your thoughts on that? Have you ever had that conversation with a friend? What did you say?

Why bother being an entrepreneur? More like, why not? Keep in mind, its not for everyone. Most people do not like having the sole responsibility of a business over their heads. Most people like to get up, go to work, go home, repeat, etc.

Personally, I couldn't live any other way than being my own boss. I am fortunate in that ALL of my friends are small business owners, with the exception of the one who works for me. The opportunity is there, why not take it?

Plus driving around all day and picking up filthy girls at the Wawa beats the hell out of sitting at a desk watching someone else get rich!!!!!

[Steve]

Great insights so far.

If you had to shake some sense into someone and show them what they were missing out on, what would you say?

I have a bumper sticker that says "I love my boss. I am self employed." But that is only part of the reason. Maybe it is because I don't take orders very well. but probably not because I take orders from my customers and that makes me money. I love being able to make money and still help out a friend, neighbor, or simply the other human being in the equation.

I think for me part of the issue is I can't stand the way an organization is run. I want to do it better. I want to be in control of something myself. I want to be in control of my own financial and physical destiny, right or wrong. I think being a small business owner is kinda like it was traveling out west during the pioneer days (after all you are pioneering a business). Traveling west required an adventurous spirit. How many of those died on the trail but they left their "comfort zone" and ventured out anyway, know their chance of being killed (failure) was very great. I believe there are many folks who are happy to stay behind in the city (8-5 job, work, go home, eat, sleep, repeat) while others venture out west on the Oregon trail to find the gold in California. On the frontier they dealt with physical death. In business we fear financial/business death. I think it comes back to believing that you can do it and having done some background investigation to see if it really can work.

Reminds me of the old story of the little train engine who said "I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!" while the big train engine said he does not think he can. The little one was able pull the train because he had already made up his that he as going to. The big engine had already made up his mind that he was not able to pull the train and thus had already given up. My dad always said "whether you think you can or can't, you are usually right!" There is agreat deal of truth in that and I proved this right in many small individual endeavors, not neccesarily in any business endeavor alone.