Entrepreneur lifestyle - can you handle it?
Posted on June 27, 2005
Entrepreneurs - you just met the worse employer you could have - YOU
So you are thinking into getting your own business and have a relaxed work day and a full package of benefits? Hahahh! You just found your worse employer so far - your business. Let me tell you how your life will be. Your working day will increase suddenly from 9 to 17 to 9 - 21 in the best case. Every time leaving the office you will have the feeling that you could do more by just a little more overtime. Vacation? What’s that word? Being happier? Well at least not in the starting years. Every success you will have will ask for more, and while you start to have more, nothing is enough. Relaxation? Not if you need to pay the bills, or even worse if you have some staff hired.
So why people want to become entrepreneurs?
- It brings more satisfaction
- Could bring financial security in few years
- It creates something that could be left to your children
- Social position and self esteem
- No boss
- More chances for success
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?
In a random order:
- Self confidence and determination
- Long working hours, in long working weeks and long working years - just be prepared to live on coffee.
- Management, commercial, marketing and technical knowledge
- People skills
- Ability to handle stress situations
- Commitment toward yourself
- Positive thinking
- Ability to set and follow goals
- Mental and physical strengths to keep on going
- Ability to plan, control and develop your business
Living on coffee - your work will never end
Once you become an entrepreneur your life will change completely. You will soon realize that time is money and you will have a self imposed overtime job, a not so secure working place, very short vacations, and every chance to find troubles each minute.
Living in style - being your own boss
You will be your own boss, in a complete control of your decision, and be positioned higher on the social scale than any 9 to 15 job. Your rewards will come in time and you can leave them to your children. You will have more power and control than ever before. Your skills will become stronger and stronger as your self esteem will do. By the age of 40 (considering that you are in the middle 20’s) you will feel more accomplished and more prepared for the rest of your life: maturity.
It’s very interesting to find out that being an entrepreneur usually means more work, an uncertain future and a big chance. While for the moment being an entrepreneur doesn’t necessarily make me happier it makes me feel more accomplished. Still, I have lost all my friends somewhere in the process. It must have been my lack of time.
Are you prepared for the entrepreneur life style? Are you prepared to live on coffee?
PS: since you took the time to read this article, you might as well want to read this one on Entrepreneurship as a part time job
Related posts- Why to sale throughout partners
- You’re not a regular sale guy
- Being an entrepreneur
- Entrepreneur fear
- Entrepreneurship: is this going to work for me?
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4 Responses to “Entrepreneur lifestyle - can you handle it?”
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Great post! Although I think many should consider this lifestyle option, it is not for everyone. Also, I would like to note that I believe entrepreneurship is much easier if you are single with no dependents. It is a hard choice to ‘live on coffee’ when you have a responsibility to others. Beyond any money issues, raising children and real, committed relationship require lots of time and energy as well. Starting a business and raising a family both devour great bundles of time and there are only so many hours in the day. To do this right, know your values, your life mission, and keep your priorities straight.
no personal offense,
but i think you’ve been too hard on yourself. i’ve been an “entrepreneur” since the age of 16 and and now i’m 26 and i’ve never since had to work for anyone. now, if you’re drinking too much coffee and you’re spending 17 hours a day on your work, then i suggest you learn to manage your time.
if time is money for you than your life is money for you and that’s pretty sad… i’ve never spent more than 8 hours a day doing anything.
Cristian - Your article brings up some interesting points. I’d like to add a few more crucial items - passion and balance. You have to be passionate about what you’re doing and at the same time avoid being consumed by what you’re doing. All things in moderation is one of life’s credos. I say this only to help, I’m not demeaning you. Take care.
It’s very true that, that “little extra ” keeps
you working for long hours if you are one of those
who own small businesss. Since Working hours are never
scheduled. So it always pokes me to work a “lil Extra” than what I did last day.