Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship is a thrilling adventure, vastly different from the routine of a typical 9-5 office job. The decision to start your own business catapults you into a whirlwind of exhilarating highs and challenging lows. What motivates individuals to take this leap into the unknown?
To gain insight into the essence of entrepreneurship, we sat down with nine seasoned small business owners to understand what drives them and sustains their passion through the tough times.
Embracing Flexibility
The concept of flexibility emerged as a recurring theme in the responses we received. Maryam Henein from HoneyColony shared her love for the freedom that comes with being a digital nomad:
“Entrepreneurship means freedom. I’m a digital nomad, and owning a startup allows me to embrace my inner gypsy. I can work from anywhere as long as I have a Wi-Fi connection.”
Casey Meraz, the founder of Juris Digital, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the perk of being able to work from any corner of the world:
“An added benefit of being in a digital business is the freedom to work from anywhere. Whether it’s a beach, a different country, or just at home with my family, being an entrepreneur gives me the flexibility I desire to be happy.”
Whether it’s the freedom to dictate your schedule or the ability to work remotely, the flexibility of entrepreneurship is undoubtedly a significant allure.
Pursuing Your Vision
A vast majority of small business owners highlighted the liberty to pursue their vision and create something extraordinary as a driving force. Lauryn Williams from Worth Winning beautifully encapsulated this sentiment:
“It means passionately pursuing a project that you feel the world could benefit from. When you are selling something, sometimes people think only about the money, but truly believing you have something that fits a need is the spirit of entrepreneurship.”
Elizabeth Venafro, Cofounder & Managing Partner of True Exec, added:
“Entrepreneurship represents the opportunity to make something from nothing. There are no rules and no limitations. You set your own boundaries.”
Ross Simmonds, a serial entrepreneur from Crate, emphasized the power of turning dreams into reality through entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is the ability to turn dreams into realities. Regardless of how small your business may be or how massive it grows to become — entrepreneurship offers you the ability to create something that impacts lives, and to me, that’s powerful.”
Being the Decision Maker
Research by Cox Business revealed that over 50% of small business owners venture into entrepreneurship to be their own boss. This desire for autonomy was a recurring theme in our conversations with entrepreneurs.
Travis Bennett, Managing Director of Studio Digita, shared his perspective:
“To me, entrepreneurship is all about taking control of your own destiny. You get to spend every day working in a business you love, and enjoy every minute of it. My favorite part is having the freedom to pick and choose the projects our agency takes on, which was also a big factor behind starting my own business.”
Alex Reichmann from iTestCash expressed his love for having creative control and the ability to drive business decisions:
One of my favorite aspects of owning a business is having creative control over how I run it. As a business owner, if there is ever an opportunity to grow or improve my business, it can be done without needing anyone’s approval.
Seeing Hard Work Reflected in Income
In many corporate settings, it can be challenging to witness a direct correlation between your effort and income. Carrie Simpson, the founder of Managed Sales Pros, finds fulfillment in knowing that her income aligns with her hard work:
Every day is different, every day is exciting, every day brings a new problem to solve and, of course, my income is reflected in the success of the business — the harder I work, the smarter I work, the more rewarding entrepreneurship becomes.
Seeing tangible results of your labor in the form of income serves as a motivating factor for many entrepreneurs.
Becoming an Inspiration
Some unexpected benefits of entrepreneurship emerged in our conversations with small business owners. Sara Marie Moylan, founder of Shefit, highlighted the positive influence of her entrepreneurial journey on her daughters:
“My daughters keep me going, seeing the passion with which they embrace the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Last year, my 12-year-old started a business, and she made over $1,200! Our eight-year-old just asked for a logo for her plant-watering business. I think it is so important for my girls to see me doing this.”
Entrepreneurship not only impacts the individual but also has the potential to shape the aspirations of future generations, as demonstrated by Sara’s daughters.
What Does Entrepreneurship Mean to You?
From the autonomy of being your own boss to inspiring the next generation, the journey of entrepreneurship is a blend of challenges and exhilaration. If you’re contemplating starting your own business, the insights shared by these seasoned entrepreneurs offer compelling reasons to take the leap.
Entrepreneurs: What does owning your own business mean to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below or connect with us on Twitter @Grasshopper.