Owning a business is one of the most challenging things we’ll ever do in our lives. It’s not easy, as the explosive failure rates constantly confirm the dangers of being an entrepreneur. Millions of dollars lost everyday, relationships torn apart and dreams destroyed on a daily basis. Scary, huh? If that’s the case, then why do entrepreneurs dive into business ownership at record speed?
Why? You know why.
Freedom, baby! Freedom! Ah, yes. There is nothing in the world that can compare with calling the shots and controlling your own destiny. No risk, no reward.
But here’s a question: Even when our businesses are a success, do we really have freedom? I ask that because in the midst of a successful entrepreneurial career, I realized that, for the most part, I didn’t have freedom — I had a job. (A great one at that, but still a job). If I wasn’t there working, the business wouldn’t have survived, never mind prospered. My business therefore owned me. We are supposed to own the business, remember?
We all have different goals, and not everyone wants to be the next Google (I’d like to meet that person). Not everybody wants a billion dollar business (I’d like to meet that person too). But no matter how many entrepreneurs I meet, they all agree that “more time” is the indisputable goal right next to the goal of getting that fire engine-red Ferrari.
So that takes us to: Work “ON” your business, not “IN” it. Regardless of whether you want to conquer the world, build a business that can run with you or without you. Your business will grow. You will have freedom. You will have a true business.
And, hey, you just might get that fire engine-red Ferrari, too.
Famous quote:
Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.
Warren Buffet