Reasons to Start a Business

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June 6th, 2008 by Jon Colier

I recently posted a question on LinkedIn, the business networking web site.

The question was:

Why did you start working for yourself?

Forgetting what you know now, why did you first choose to become self-employed? Are those still the reasons you are self-employed?

I received some GREAT answers to that question. Many of your reasons to this question, I am sure, will be similar to the responses that are posted below. In essence:

1. Freedom to work for yourself

2. Freedom to express your full potential

3. To be your own boss, and control your future

Below are the responses.

Bob Lenthart

Chairman, President & CEO

I owe a lot of other people for my success over the years. So one day, quite recently, I decided to start my own company and with those same people’s help, make it a wonderful place to work. I’ve witnessed all the management and leadership styles firsthand and if I surround myself with quality people, I hope they replace me with brilliance. My business theory is already proving itself to be true, because when you hire incredible talent, reward them, praise them, and turn them loose, they perform so far past your expectations it’s emotionally thrilling. They look to me for the vision and then to get out of their way. It’s the trust and creativity that made me venture out on this journey. There is no greater reward than leading a group of people, but knowing when to step aside to watch them flourish.

Dr. Letitia Wright, D.C.

Owner, The Wright Place TV Show

Because I would have never gotten anyone to hire me to be a talk show host. By creating my own show and revenue, not only have I gotten paid for the last 8 years but I also get to work when I want to.

Glenn Curry

Partner, Efficient Technologies LLC

I was in the bleeding edge of high tech computer graphics. I always joke that I got tired of jumping from disaster to disaster, so I thought I’d start my own.

Jenet Doubrare

Owner, Consultant, SKS

Several reasons:

1) I didn’t want to have my income determined and restricted by my employer
2) The freedom to choose who I work with and when I work
3) Knowing that the decisions I make will be mine and I would have total responsibility for them, right or wrong
4) Personal satisfaction knowing that I’ve created everything from the ground up and that it would impact my customers in some way.

These are the same reasons why I’m still self-employed.

Sundi D. Hayes

Chief Virtual Officer, My Office Zilla

I was beyond tired of my career path being out of control and unpredictable! Hence the reason why I’ve decide to take it into my own hands and make it my responsibility rather than corporate America’s unpredictable responsibility. Also, I’ve decide my development is no one else’s obligation…it is mine and mine alone.

Why do just any job when you can do your DREAM job…designed by YOU for YOU!?

Create an amazing day!

Bob Lenthart

Chairman, President & CEO

Erik Fehrenbach

Owner of FAI – Aerospace, Industrial & Commercial Castings, Fabricated Tubing, Plastics & Engineering

I am stubborn. I am convinced that I know the best way to do things. (Just look at how many times I use the word “I” – talk about self-obsessed.)I had been fired (or laid-off) due to a downturn in the economy. Clearly, I disagreed with the decision. I was 28 & my wife told me that I could never be happy working for anyone else. We decided to risk everything then, figuring that I could always sell insurance or teach gym if things didn’t work out. It’s been 6 great years since.

Cheers,

Erik

Juan Mateu

CEO & co-founder at www.solaiemes.com

I felt blocked in my career after years of being assigned in several countries in my former company. The key,…, if you think you can do more things and your company (of its HR) is not understanding that, you can move to other large organization and the philosophy could be just the same, or take the little risk of proving yourself as entrepreneur, finally I decided to become entrepreneur.

Wendy Tefft

Owner, Spotlight Design & Photography

To do what I love on my own schedule, I’m a bit of a night owl & time with my family is important to me.

Monique LaCour

Professional Training & Career Coaching

I just wanted more autonomy and the ability to be creative than most companies were comfortable with. In order for me to do the type of work that I thought was perfect for me, I had to create it myself!

I did not like performance reviews, even though my scores were good, and the pitiful “raises”, working 60+ hours and being paid for only 40 (love those “salaried” jobs) and just not feeling empowered that really did it for me.

Wouldn’t turn back for anything!

Ashley Hunter

International Insurance Agent

The reasons why I no longer work for anyone are the same reasons why I still work for myself. In a nut shell – I couldn’t stand to make someone else wealthy why I sat at a desk night after night doing a perfect job for them for the same pay. I decided that if I were going to work night after night I should see all of the reward! I also love the idea of creating new ideas without having to go through a million chains of command to get it done!

Scott Clous

Solutions Guy at Campus Crusade for Christ

On one hand, see my profile, I feel connected to the others I work with — and I’ve always being “working for myself.”

I just do it in a large team (6000 people) environment.

I think one of the tests of character is to be able to work with others in a challenging place — customers are going to be a challenge as well.

To make a contrast, I’ve been reading the blog of a twenty something who wants wealth, has terrible attitude, and I don’t think he’s going to succeed, because in this day and age, who wants to go through the hassle of dealing with him… when there are others as competent also available.

I put myself into all the work I do — it’s my pride and my work. I’m glad they pay me to do something I enjoy so much.

Having said that, I enjoy doing other things, creating art, writing music, which bring with them additional work (distribution) which at times is, well boring. I don’t want to sell it, if it’s good enough, it should sell itself…. well, then I learned to be a marketer, sales person, web designer, blogger, podcaster, etc. but all of this focuses on consumer sales… the large entities sell to other large businesses or to customers.

What are you selling?
What’s your attitude about work?
Do you have pride in what you do, every day?

Ja War

Owner, Music Industry Connection

It has been a natural progression. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs it was sort of breed in me.

JaWar -Motivational Speaker/Author/Business Consultant speaks at conferences and consults on personal achievement, self publishing your own book, making money online and the music business. Schedule JaWar for a speaking engagement by contacting kemetic0 [at] yahoo dot com.

Mari-Lyn Hudson

Artist, Creative Marketing Specialist

I just got tired of all the &%@? and crap that most companies I worked for dished out. since I grew up in an Entrepreneurial home it was a natural flow to me to explore working for myself.

I wrote an article about what they don’t tell you about working for yourself – there are a lot of ups and downs.

I am in the process of becoming a Full-time Artist – which was my original plan when I was 20. Yes, it’s Freedom, it’s doing what I want to do when I want to do them and leaving room for God’s plan.

Sorry, a bit of rambling. Are you considering being solo Jon?

Mari-Lyn

Success Through Inspiration