Personally I love being an entrepreneur.
I know, however, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. If fact, if all or most of the five reasons in this article resonate, skip being an entrepreneur altogether.
You see, each one of us brings something incredible to the world. The way we manifest our life work differs– sometimes it’s best done as an entrepreneur, and sometimes it is not. Read about the five reasons you may want to steer clear of the entrepreneurial career path.
1- Saying “No” isn’t part of your repertoire
While “yes” is THE super word we all want to hear, “no” is a much needed and exceptional word for taking control of how an entrepreneur spends precious time and energy. “No” is empowering to the entrepreneur but can be catastrophic to the employee especially when that “no” is directed at the boss.
The entrepreneur is the boss and therefore on many levels the word “no” serves as a great gift. This gift empowers the entrepreneur to strategically choose when or if to take on new projects, territory or team members. Saying “no” is, in reality saying “yes” to bigger priorities.
This isn’t a blanket statement that all entrepreneurs say “no” when they need to, in fact, I believe it is a skill that is acquired over time through learning. Aspiring entrepreneurs learn that “yes” leads to overwhelm.
Saying “no” isn’t always easy. It’s human to want to please others. It can be a difficult pattern to break. If “no” isn’t in your current and future repertoire then run the other way, Forest! The entrepreneurial life will frustrate you more than “the song that never ends.”
2- You visualize hippies singing around a campfire singing Kumbaya when you think about personal development
Of course, employees grow. The point here is entrepreneurs are stretched in many areas because the choice to march the the beat of one’s own drum demands personal development. It is ongoing, lifelong because the only thing that is constant is change.
Employees are often caught up in maintaining the status quo so personal development isn’t a natural occurrence. Don’t hate me because I don’t believe this is always true. However, those I do know who get promoted within their company often do an outside job where personal development is where they create their cutting edge for advancing.
Still not too keen on embracing personal development? I suggest skipping out on being an entrepreneur. It will save you some sanity.
3- You rather belong to the more popular club
Belonging and community is in our DNA. On some level we want to be a part of a “club.” It’s part of our design.
Employees make up the largest, most popular club. Each with their own set of pros and cons, culture and mindset.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires courage not to take most traveled path. At times, it may feel as though you are in a class all your own and in a club with little to no membership.
Eventually the entrepreneur tends to find other entrepreneurs where exchanges happen for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s for exchanging contact information for a good CPA or attorney, other times it’s to glean information about what each other is doing in the realm of social media or sales.
If belonging to the bigger club they most everyone else is a part, perhaps you should skip out on entrepreneurship. However, if you have patience to forge a club of your own or persistence to find the tribe that runs with your same vibe, you may just be fit to be an entrepreneur.
4- Adventure scares you
Every successful entrepreneur I’ve ever met holds a high tolerance for adventure. Let me explain.
I’ve yet to meet one that doesn’t travel or hasn’t traveled. It seems that the makeup of the person, mindset and purpose calls them into some sort of travel. Sometimes the entrepreneur travels for pleasure other times, for business either way it increases adventure.
The mere responsibility of creating and running a business that supports one’s personal expenses isn’t quite the adventure for everyone. If you’d rather avoid this, no worries, the important thing is to know your limitations.
5- You’re more comfortable with someone else calling all the shots
One word– control. It’s how you see it.
At some point in time most entrepreneurs have probably been called “bossypants” or “controlling.” They like to call their own shots, assume risks, forge new paths, and cause their mothers concern. On the other hand, employees tend to play by a certain set of rules, follow a path that is designed for them and receive and act on orders given by a superior. Again, each path holds its own set of pros and cons.
It is simply wise to know where you are most comfortable. Rather call your own shots? Or, are you more comfortable with someone else calling all the shots?
An entrepreneur likes the control and adventure of being in the driver seat. Most employees rather avoid off-roading and enjoy the ride instead.
Chime In!
What sayest thou? Entrepreneur or employee? Why have you chosen this path? Share with us in the comments below.
