~by Haley Lynn Gray~
A lot of times when people hear that I’m an entrepreneur, they start making assumptions about what I’m like, or about what my work ethic must be. Other entrepreneurs get what we go through — the ups, and the downs, and the sheer unpredictability of being an entrepreneur.
The Good
Since I’m my own boss, it means that I am in control of my destiny. Nobody is telling me what to do, or how to do it. It is quite liberating, and also scary at times.
I get to choose how many hours I’m going to work, and when I’m going to work. In fact, if I want to come into work late, and leave early, no-one is going to notice.
I get to decide nearly everything about my work. What freedom!
The money I’m making is for myself, and not some huge corporation.
I’m creating jobs, and putting money back into the economy. Most job creation actually comes from small businesses like mine.
.
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Good, Bad and Ugly of Entrepreneurship
The Bad
No-one is there to tell me “no” unless I make a point of surrounding myself by people who are able to tell me “no”.
It can be terribly easy to go off into the weeds and get lost, and it can be incredibly tempting to just take days off, and lose focus on what I’m trying to accomplish for my business at any given point in time.
The Ugly
All decisions are ultimately my own, and the consequences are as well. It’s not like when you work for a large corporation where there is plenty of blame to go around. If things don’t work out, it’s no-one else’s fault but your own.
The unpredictability can be frightening at times. Some days are really good, and some days are really not so good. When clients are misbehaving, complaining, and not paying, it’s all yours.
Income can vary widely, and be all over the place. Some months will be really, really good, and others won’t be nearly as good. That means that when planning for expenses and income, you will have to be incredibly conservative so that you know you can survive the lean months.
There are lots of highs and lows of being an entrepreneur, but I think that for me, the benefits far outweigh the costs. I have found that if I have an evening where I need to go take care of my child, then I can do so, and nobody is going to judge me for being less of a mother, or less of an entrepreneur for taking care of my children. The same cannot be said for a corporate position.
Meet the Author: Haley Lynn Gray
Haley Lynn Gray
Haley helps female entrepreneurs create a strategy plan for their businesses – so they can make enough money to spend quality time with their family, pay for their children’s dance lessons, pay bills – and not worry about where the next client is coming from.
Haley is a serial entrepreneur and founder of Leadership Girl. She offers Business Coaching, Business Plan Development and Strategy Sessions for entrepreneurs. Whether you want to get a new business off the ground or expand an existing business, Haley can assist you.
Connect with Haley:
- Work with Haley: https://leadershipgirl.com/work-with-haley/
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Leadershipgirl
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleygray
