There are dozens of great reasons to start your own business. There are the basics like not having a boss, making more money, setting your own hours, job security and others. I’ve come up with a list of ten surprising reasons that you should work for yourself.
These reasons are really great for people that work at home on the Internet. They can also apply to people that start brick-and-mortar businesses also but may not have the full benefits listed here.
These are the top reasons I love working for myself. I started my own company using the Internet in 1999. I went 100% on my own in 2002 after I quit my full-time job. I never looked back even during the tough times because I’ve loved it so much. I would never trade working for myself for any amount of money.
The amount of money I’ve made has never been a factor for me. I’ve actually put the brakes on businesses I’ve created when they started making more money because it was going to require hiring more people and possibly opening a location outside of my home.
Here are the most Surprising Reasons To Start Your Own Business:
1. Freeeeeeeedom!
This one is actually not much of a surprise but it is without a doubt the #1 reason I love working for myself. I have the freedom to work when I want, where I want, doing what I want and with whom I want. There’s the freedom of making as much money as I want with only limits I set myself. I have the freedom to change what I’m doing and pivot to something completely different. The freedom to come and go whenever I want is worth a million times more than some corporate title. I raised my girls being a stay-at-home dad and went to every school activity they had. I can run to the grocery store or bank on a whim if I want. I can take off for a full day and I don’t have to get approval from anyone and I never get turned down! Freedom is not being tied to an office and a boss and a time clock. I start my day when I want and I end my day when I want.
2. You Can Build Your Personal Brand
Creating your own business feeds into your personal brand. People that work for themselves are thought to be experts in their fields. Owning a company causes you to stand out over someone unknown in a bigger company. Your friends will look to you for answers to anything related to your field. The more well known you become the more popular your brand will become. Having a popular personal brand can lead to speaking engagements, invitations to special occasions and many other benefits that other people don’t get. Having a well known personal brand can also lead to books, podcasts, radio shows and more. In a sense we all are personal brand these days anyway due to social media. You might as well take all of the advantages possible.
3. You Won’t Feel Like You’re Working
If you create a business around something you’d be doing anyway, it rarely ever feels like work. Think about getting paid for doing a hobby you really love. This saying is very cliche’ but it is so true. There are times I will put in a 10 hour day and never have turned on the TV or radio. When you love what you do you can get caught up in the work so you completely ignore time. If you’ve ever been addicted to putting a puzzle together you might know the feeling. It’s something you can’t wait to get to so you can continue from where you left off. Building a business can be the same way. Once you start building momentum it can be hard to stop. There were nights when I would find it hard to stop working and go to bed. Enjoy what you do!
4. You’re Family Will Have An Asset
Building a business or a brand will become an asset to your family. If your family joins you in the business they can eventually take it over and they make it their career. You can look forward to retiring while still having a hand in the company. If you pass away you will be leaving your family with something that will continue to make them a steady income or they can sell the business to help with future expenses. It’s not only an asset but also a legacy. There are many companies that have been run by multiple generations.
5. You Can Pivot Anytime You Want
What if a new technology or service comes along that you fall in love with? You will have the ability to pivot your current occupation into something new. Everything I do today is related to technology, computers and the Internet. When I graduated from college almost none of what I do today had even been invented! I was able to become a graphic artist and turned that into a cartooning career. Putting cartoons online led to a web design business. Web design led to an affiliate marketing and blogging business. Blogging led to building a community website and a digital media company. From there I’ve started podcasting, built an online radio station, stated a t-shirt business and more. Pivoting can keep things fresh if you start to dread your day to day routine.
6. You’ll Learn To Work Harder
To survive on your own you have to work harder and longer in the beginning of the business. Working for yourself has a ton of upsides but it also takes hard work and long hours. Building a business from scratch will teach you how to work hard and how to ignore putting in lots of time. The great thing about working harder is that all of your labor will benefit your business and you’ll see the rewards. Many times working harder for someone else gets you nothing but more work. As your business begins to build and you put systems in place things will get easier and there will actually be times when you barely need to work.
7. You Will Save Money On Taxes
Working from home can be a huge tax reduction. There are many things you can purchase for your business that can be deducted on your taxes, like your computer! You can also take off business trips, lunches and more. The home office deduction is also a fantastic way to save money if you qualify. I am able to deduct almost all of my electronic equipment because I use it all in my work. I also have a room in my home that I use as an office and I can deduct the percentage on my mortgage and some bills. You can also pay members of your family to work for you and up until a certain amount they don’t have to report their income you pay them. Ask an accountant about all of the benefits.
8. You Can Put Entrepreneur On Your Social Media Profile
LOL! Being an entrepreneur seems to be one of the big careers to have online these days. If you truly are an entrepreneur it can help give you some cred. Unfortunately anyone can call themselves an entrepreneur online so be careful who you follow. Entrepreneurs can now become social media influencers which can be a gold mine. Those that make the most money have large following but you can also influence if you are knowledgeable in a tight niche.
9. You Can Stay In Shape
I hear a lot of my friends saying they just don’t have the time to workout. If you work for yourself you set your own hours and there is no excuse to skip the exercise. I wake up every day at 6am and do 90 minutes of aerobics. I also take afternoon walks if the sun is shining. As you get older you will want to stay in shape. I’ve seen many of my friends parents lose their ability to get around. Stay in shape as long as you can. Being mobile will be an important factor in your senior life. Staying physically in shape is just as important as maintaining your mental health and financial health.
10. The Little Things
These are the best reasons to work for yourself. You can wear shorts and sneakers everyday! You can listen to any music that you want, as loud as you want. You can take lunch at anytime. You can turn a one hour meeting into a three hour talk. You can try many different things. You can do work while on a long vacation. You can have a drink at lunch if you want. You can’t be fired due to a layoff. You can take your kids to school and pick them up. You can get a part-time job if you want. You can do lawn work during the week. Since I built my own business and personal brand I have interviewed Garth Brooks and Gene Simmons on my own, I have flown with the Thunderbirds, I’ve acted in movies with Jake Gyllenhaal and Bo Derek, I’ve chased and filmed tornadoes, I’ve slept in a park in another state just to see a total solar eclipse, I’ve traveled to Washington DC and covered a Presidential Inauguration, I’ve photographed Reba, the Beach Boys, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, etc., and I’ve had many other fun adventures!
Leave a Comment