Starting a small business can be an exciting time, but also one tempered with a good measure of trepidation as you decide to take a big leap of faith into your ability to work for yourself. The attractions of starting your own small business – being your own boss, earning your own money – can also be the source of most of the stress related to it.
There will be times when you find yourself wondering why you wanted to start a business in the first place. It is therefore good, from time to time, to remind yourself of these reasons!
1. You get to choose
Most people starting a small business do it because they are good at something, and a lucky few get to do it because they also love what they do and are passionate about it. Is there something that you love to do that will earn you a living too? You enjoy meeting people and helping them realise their potential at work by being a career coach? You enjoy spending time with your pets and could see yourself opening a pet-supply store? Then you owe it to yourself to explore if these couldn't be career options for you.
2. Your time is your own
While running your own business can take up a large proportion of your time (likely more so than a 'regular' 9-5 job at a large corporation), and requires a lot of discipline to plan your routine and manage your own time, you will nevertheless have the freedom to decide when and how long to work at something for. No more crazy work deadlines – you have the time to pick the kids up from school, or just go for a walk if you need one.
3. You choose your colleagues
Having good relationships with the people you work with is one of the main factors for happiness at work. Unfortunately, you don't really ever get to choose your colleagues when you're working for that big multinational. With your own business, you get to choose the people that you would like to work with. That in itself goes a long way towards productive workdays. Just set realistic goals for meeting targets and deadlines, and always be ready to compromise with your co-workers.
4. You do it your way
It may sound obvious, but starting your own business really does put you in charge. And studies have shown that being empowered to make decisions really does go a long way toward mitigating work-related stress. So when you are faced with a big decision, the freedom to choose, in itself, it one of the reasons why it is great being your own boss.
5. You're your own boss!
That means: you're not working for anyone else. Your time is yours again. You are in control of your own destiny. And what could be better than that?
