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Why I think everyone should have their own business
I started Nerd Enterprises, Inc. my bookkeeping business in 2003 which I now run out of my home in Burbank, CA. It was the scariest thing I did and at the same time it was the best decision I ever made. Now I am convinced that everyone should own their own business. There are several reasons why I think everyone should own their own business.
For one thing, we spend most of our day at work. Most of our waking hours anyway. I recognized when I was in my last rehab that I was in a place where I had no control over who was around me. In a sense I was at the mercy of the rehab facility in terms of who they let in. When I was pointing that out in one of our group therapy sessions someone pointed out that I was going to be in the same situation when I went out and got a job. They were right. As long as I was working for someone else I would be subject to working and being surrounded by the people someone else chose. I realized that to be truly happy I had to be able to choose whom I was surrounded by - especially in the place where I am going to spend most of my waking hours. At work. Having my own business is the only way I get to have exclusive choice about whom I am surrounded by on a daily basis.
I am a firm believer in the idea that we all create our reality. The people I invite into my life from one day to the next will contribute to forming the daily experience that I have. So even while I was still employed I kept my distance from the toxic, negative people who were always complaining about the company and how "wrongly" management was handling things. My feeling was always that if it's that bad then you owe it to yourself and those around you to move on, so you don't sit there bringing other people down. When I found myself in that position I moved on. It happened 3 times after I moved out to California before it became painfully obvious that the only way I was going to be truly happy would be to start my own business.
I am also a firm believer that when I have my own business I am more committed to the work I am doing. I do a better job for two reasons. First and foremost, I am doing the job for me - working to put money in MY pocket and not someone else's. The second reason I am more committed to the work when I have my own business is that I am doing what I love. It goes without saying that going out there and freelancing I am going to solicit work that I really enjoy doing so I will wind up doing work that I really enjoy rather than just because it is my job and I have to do it.
So it's true - I really believe that everyone should own their own business. I think if the entire corporate world went to a model along these lines we would Quickly weed out a lot of lazy and unhappy people. They would be forced to go do something they love and people would also be forced to be accountable more so than now. I remember when I was working for others I was not as committed. I would stay out late knowing I could just drag my feet and hide all day in my cubicle. I would never do that now because I would only be hurting myself. I don't believe anyone can truly reach their maximum potential as an employee. If everyone started their own business they would have no choice but to pursue what they love and do their best.
For one thing, we spend most of our day at work. Most of our waking hours anyway. I recognized when I was in my last rehab that I was in a place where I had no control over who was around me. In a sense I was at the mercy of the rehab facility in terms of who they let in. When I was pointing that out in one of our group therapy sessions someone pointed out that I was going to be in the same situation when I went out and got a job. They were right. As long as I was working for someone else I would be subject to working and being surrounded by the people someone else chose. I realized that to be truly happy I had to be able to choose whom I was surrounded by - especially in the place where I am going to spend most of my waking hours. At work. Having my own business is the only way I get to have exclusive choice about whom I am surrounded by on a daily basis.
I am a firm believer in the idea that we all create our reality. The people I invite into my life from one day to the next will contribute to forming the daily experience that I have. So even while I was still employed I kept my distance from the toxic, negative people who were always complaining about the company and how "wrongly" management was handling things. My feeling was always that if it's that bad then you owe it to yourself and those around you to move on, so you don't sit there bringing other people down. When I found myself in that position I moved on. It happened 3 times after I moved out to California before it became painfully obvious that the only way I was going to be truly happy would be to start my own business.
I am also a firm believer that when I have my own business I am more committed to the work I am doing. I do a better job for two reasons. First and foremost, I am doing the job for me - working to put money in MY pocket and not someone else's. The second reason I am more committed to the work when I have my own business is that I am doing what I love. It goes without saying that going out there and freelancing I am going to solicit work that I really enjoy doing so I will wind up doing work that I really enjoy rather than just because it is my job and I have to do it.
So it's true - I really believe that everyone should own their own business. I think if the entire corporate world went to a model along these lines we would Quickly weed out a lot of lazy and unhappy people. They would be forced to go do something they love and people would also be forced to be accountable more so than now. I remember when I was working for others I was not as committed. I would stay out late knowing I could just drag my feet and hide all day in my cubicle. I would never do that now because I would only be hurting myself. I don't believe anyone can truly reach their maximum potential as an employee. If everyone started their own business they would have no choice but to pursue what they love and do their best.
Comment
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Comment by Seth David on November 28, 2010 at 12:02pm -
One sure way to override this is to form a corporation and have them pay your corporation. There is a 20 question test you have to pass to be defined as a "truly" independent contractor so the trick is to make sure you pass it, or at least substantially all of it.
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Comment by Justen on November 28, 2010 at 11:42am -
Unfortunately the legal system is designed to prevent contract-oriented relationships. I have been successfully freelancing for years now but just recently my largest client was forced by their CPA to hire me on as an employee or terminate our relationship over fears of government persecution. I ended up taking the position with them (still freelancing on the side), but it pisses me off to no end that the government thinks it knows better than I do what kind of arrangements I should have with my clients, and it creates a big barrier to entry for others looking to get independent.
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Comment by Seth David on November 27, 2010 at 11:49am
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@John - I agree. I would describe it differently though. For me it is not so much about having to have "control" as it is about wanting to have "freedom". The freedom to choose what I want to do, when I want to do it and most importantly, with whom I want to do it. Everybody wants to make more money - that's a given so that is not a reason to start a business. You start a business because you want the freedom and the excitement that comes with knowing that everything you do is for YOU and not some other person who was promoted too quickly and lacked the maturity to handle the power and responsibility they were given. That was my specific experience working for big companies - and even one not so big company :)
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Comment by John Bottomley on November 27, 2010 at 6:44am -
Control is a biggie. I hated begging management for something you shouldn't have to ask for, much less beg. Like "My father is in the hospital, I need to go", or "There's ice an inch thick on the roads" or "I have the flu". If you do get time away, it is held against you come review time and may be taken off of the few vacation days you are allowed.
Taxes are another. I will never be without my own company, even if it is only a dba.
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Comment by Seth David on November 24, 2010 at 3:02pm
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I've thought about that. It would be better - every job we need done - that we now hire employees to do would be sub-contracted to other business owners. They would do a better job because they would be doing it for themselves, instead of for a paycheck from an employer.
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Comment by JavaWizKid on November 24, 2010 at 2:50pm -
Nice! Except if everyone started their own business, there would be no people for the business owners to employ haha
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