My absolute favorite question since becoming self-employed is, “What do you do with your mornings now?” I get up and work! I work even harder now in order to solidify prospective opportunities. The decision to step out on my own did not come without its share of deliberation. However, it was time for me to stop living a double life and to pursue my passions full-time. Once I got a better sense of what’s possible, the decision was an easy one to make.

It is well documented that most successful small businesses start while the founder is still an employee. Being able to lay the foundation of a startup while gaining tangible experience contributes to this. At the same time, every entrepreneur has to eventually decide, “Do I continue working a typical 9am-5pm job for the security of a steady paycheck and the social approval of others? Or, do I take the risk of having the freedom to select my work opportunities and do something I love (and hopefully am good at) regardless of whether people around me agree?” While daunting, this choice ultimately determines whether the business grows and becomes a budding plant or if it is stunted and remains a seed.

Entrepreneurship requires a sustained commitment. Though it takes time for results to manifest, it takes even longer on a part-time basis. Depending on where you are on the security verses freedom spectrum determines how ready you are to step out on your own. You can’t do both indefinitely.

Tags: , , , ,