Growing up, I never really considered myself an entrepreneur.
I wanted to be a pilot. A lawyer. An author. I knew I wasn’t a fan of the corporate world, but I never really thought about going into business for myself.
That’s one of my biggest regrets, really. Maybe I’m too young to have “real” regrets, but I do feel a little disappointed in myself when I think of how much time I’ve wasted.
But I’m not writing this post to mope about it.
I’m writing this post because I love small business. I stumbled into the world of startups and entrepreneurs almost by accident, but I’m definitely here to stay. It’s a great way to work and a great way to live.
Let Me Count the Ways
- I love small business because of the passion. It’s amazing to see what happens when people really care about their work. And it’s amazing to see the different kinds of work that people care about. Passion makes it that much easier to get up in the morning and take on another day of hard work. It can even make whole thing a lot of fun.
- I love small business because there’s no safety net. Small business really teaches you to rely on yourself and to surround yourself with people you can trust. In a start-up, there’s no cushy safety net if something goes wrong. There’s no corporate office to run to for help. And that’s a good thing! When I know there’s no safety net – when I know that my actions and decisions will have real consequences – I’m motivated to work even harder.
- I love small business because it makes me think. I love solving problems. Difficult problems. The kind that takes hours of brain-twisting effort. The kind where the answer is actually important. And there’s no better place for an avid problem-solver than small business. Every day is different when you’re working at a start-up. Sure, there’s some routine to follow, but more often than not, something unexpected will pop up.
- I love small business because I meet great people. I get to meet and work with people who are passionate. Creative. Quirky. Or just plain weird. Which makes going to work a hell of a lot more fun!
- I love small business because I have fun. No stuffy cubicles here. Of course, every small business is different, but where I work, the entire team sits at long glass tables in one giant room. Collaboration doesn’t happen in boring meetings; it happens by rolling your chair over to someone else’s desk for a few minutes. Plus, because we’re all good friends, we actually enjoy being in a room with each other.
- I love small business because I matter. To me, working in a giant corporation is a little like taking your successes and failures, rolling them up into a giant ball, then tossing them out into space, never to be seen again. You don’t get to reap the rewards of your efforts, and you might not even feel the sting of your mistakes. But in a small business, what you do every day matters. When I do something right, I get to see all the good things that happen; when I do something, I have to watch all the damage that occurs. I matter. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
- I love small business because of the enormous opportunity. As the son of immigrants, I heard a lot about the wonderful opportunities laid out before me – but I never really appreciated this until I got my first job. The truth is, opportunity is an incredible thing to have. It’s an incredible thing to know you have. Working a small business drives that point home. You learn to dream big. To be confident in your abilities and where they can take you. You watch your company grow and realize that living the dream isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s something you can see and smell and do – as long as you never stop trying.
What Do You Think?
Do you enjoy working in small business? What’s the best part about being an entrepreneur? What motivates you to get out of bed and go to work every day?
Tell me what you think by leaving a comment. I’d love to hear what you have to say!
- Jeffrey