What it’s like to run a business
Most new entrepreneurs find that running their own business is
more emotional and more involving than any kind of work they've
done before.
People compare it to bringing up a child or having a romantic
relationship - more often than not it's a total rollercoaster. But
if you love and believe in what you're doing, it can also be the
most rewarding job in the world. This guide explores what it's like
to run your own business.
The lows
- Starting a business is hard work - seriously hard work. You'll
almost certainly encounter all of the following along the way at
sometime - if not all the time for your first year or so.
- Long hours:
- Pretty much a given. There are a few fortunate souls who are so
super-disciplined they can get away with an eight-hour day, but the
vast majority find themselves working until the early hours, waking
up tired, and working weekends.
- If this is going to be too much of a burden for you, consider
an internet or part-time business that doesn't need you constant
supervision.
- Constant setbacks:
- You'll be lucky if everything goes to plan when you're starting
up. Expect setbacks - everything will take far longer than you
expect, cost more, and bring less money in.
- Optimism is a great asset, but if you accept that things will
go wrong you'll be a lot better emotionally prepared for it when
they do.
- You need to be the kind of person who is not easily defeated to
overcome this. Determination is one of a successful entrepreneur's
most defining characteristics.
- Remember to account for mistakes and missed deadlines in your
plans and budgets. Draw up best case, expected and worst case
scenarios and save emergency cash reserves and time periods
to give your business buffers.
- No money:
- You should be taking as little salary as possible for at least
a couple of years - if any.
- You're also likely to have invested a lot of your own cash into
the business.
- Get used to doing things on the breadline - don't go cold
turkey, ease yourself into it so you get used to cutting back on
luxuries.
- That said, keeping a small amount separate from the business
will give you that little boost when you're at your lowest to go on
a long weekend somewhere or treat yourself to a nice meal. Some
much-needed stress-busting!
- Stress:
- Your savings are on the line, as are some of your friends.
You've quit your job. And your business doesn't look like it's
going to be turning a profit any time soon. In fact, your three
months behind deadline. Expect situations like this and they'll
come as less of a shock when they do.
- Even things such as all the accounting admin can become very
stressful. Consider bringing in administrative help to lighten the
load - your mental health is worth the cost!
- People deal with stress in different ways, but it's crucial to
try not to take it out on the people closest to you - you'll need
their support.
- Incredibly lonely:
- Unless you have a business partner, you'll be spending a lot of
time alone, working, late into the night.
- You friends and family won't understand what you're going
through.
- You have to spend a lot of time away from loved ones as you
work, work, work.
- Support groups and business-starter groups and
meetups (both online and offline) can really help - read our guides
on support groups for more info.
- Lots of people underestimate how affecting the loneliness of
starting a business will be - so come emotionally prepared.
The highs
- There are of course massive highs to counteract the lows.
That's why so many people start their own business.
- Doing something you love, every day:
- You can create your business around something you love doing.
Which means you get to enjoy your job, all the time.
- Create a business around a passion or hobby means you get to do
more of what you previously only enjoyed in your free time, all the
time.
- As the business develops, you can also tailor the business or
bring in other employees or external professional help to avoid the
parts you enjoy doing least. Which means you can focus on doing the
stuff you get the biggest kick out of.
- Business owners also often thrive from the variety of their
day-to-day - it'll keep things fresh and challenging and exciting
and you'll be learning all the time.
- The challenge:
- It will be challenging - you'll be using a vast range of skills
and you'll have to learn on the job for many, while juggling more
things than sometimes seems possible.
- And with challenge comes reward - you'll get a fantastic sense
of achievement.
- Being your own boss:
- While you're going to have tough times and work hard, it's a
lot more satisfying working late for your own business than someone
else's.
- You also have complete control over everything - no need to be
subjugated by someone more senior.
- You can work when you want, where you want, for as long as you
want, wearing what you want and, basically, doing everything the
way you want to.
- Satisfy a market need:
- Many business owners start out because they find themselves
frustrated by something they need not existing. When you're the
person filling that gap, it can be extremely satisfying.
- If your product or service is something that genuinely helps
people, it can be incredibly rewarding to realise you've improved
their lives in some way or brought a smile to their face or enabled
them to do something they couldn't before.
- There's also no greater buzz than seeing someone on the street
with your product, or meeting someone for the first time and
finding out they know about your business and like it.
- Gaining business experience:
- If you're planning on going back to being employed by someone
else in the future, then running a business can look fantastic on
your cv. It shows determination, organisation, initiative, and a
very varied skill set.
- You might also want to run a business just to learn more about
business and improve your skills and knowledge. The variety of work
involved and the responsibility of running everything will give you
understanding often far beyond what any course or degree
could.
- Create employment and opportunities for other
people. Being able to give someone a job or pay them
dividends is a huge plus that makes all the hard work worth
it.
- Meeting new people. While you'll be working alone
for much of the time, when you're out and about networking, finding
suppliers and partners and mixing with other business owners and
people in a new industry, you'll meet loads of interesting and
like-minded people who'll very often share your passion for what
you're doing.
- The money:
- While a lot of businesses are lucky to break even, there's
always the possibility your business will generate enough profit
not just to sustain itself and you, but to actually up your
personal income.
- If you plan meticulously and work hard enough, there's no
reason why it shouldn't be you that has a runaway success.
- If your aim is to make a large amount of money, focus on
building a fast-growth business that you can sell in several
years.
- Be warned though - if making money is your sole aim, you may
get too disheartened when it isn't happening to put in the effort
that's required to build a success. Supplementing a desire to make
profit with a passion for the nature of your business will help
motivate you more.
The balance
- Ultimately, you put in as much as you want to get
out.
- You choose your own hours and way of working, so
how much of a commitment you make to your business really depends
on what kind of business you want to run and how you want it to
develop.
- Think of the long-term and make enough effort to make things
work, but try to be considerate of the people close to
you as well.
- Pick a business that suits your lifestyle and way of working so
that you don't have to make too many sacrifices.
Resources
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