Job vs Entrepreneurship; Security vs Freedom

JOB OR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Most of us don't like our dead end jobs. But the financial security it offers is a safety blanket no one can deny. Having a regular day job will surely give you a bi-monthly paycheck regularly. The job security of employment is something everyone should consider. But there are people who are already tired of the corporate slavery. The usual scenario of downgrading, bullying bosses,office politics and stress is inevitable. The corporate rat race brings a feeling of mediocrity and unfulfillment. And to some who have spent the rest of their lives in a cubicle do have regrets for taking the safety route.
Some people, especially the creative types dared to take risk of having an irregular paycheck. These are the people who have the entrepreneurial spirit, to have a business of their own by using their talents and skills.

Great entrepreneurs

Imagine if the world didn't have these individuals with entrepreneurial mindset. Do you think the world would be a better place? Imagine if Steve Jobs(Macintosh), Henry Ford(Ford Motors), Ray Croc (Macdonald's) and Bill Gates(Microsoft) just remained as employees and didn't took the risk, will there be great contributions that will ever exists? These pioneering minds choose freedom over security. Their innovative spirit should be something everyone should admire because they took the risk, regardless if they'll succeed or fail.

Decision depends on person not Family

There is much family pressure to take a job and acquire :

1. Discipline to work in a 9 – 5 job.

2. Get experience before you eventually make the transition to running your own business.

3. Bring stability to your life & pay off any debts you may have incurred at college.

All valid points, and in most cases, often the right choice for people to get a job rather than start up their own business. However, my take on the matter is that this decision is purely dependent on the characteristics and personality of the person. To argue the first point, it is all a matter of a self discipline. If you are someone with the ability to get your schedule right, and work a pre-set number of hours or more everyday, then the first point in the argument does not hold true given the crazy schedules that most graduates have in college. However, this is a quality which definitely needs to be developed.

The second point of getting experience to run your own business is bogus in my opinion. I believe the experience someone gets running their own business is far greater than anything you learn at a desk job. You may develop some functional expertise eventually in a specific area at a job, however, that will not be enough to start your own business. This essentially limits your horizon to a specific area, and more often than not, strategies taken by larger companies are not translatable in the startup world. Lastly, when do you achieve enough experience? I know a lot of people who said they would quit their jobs after a couple of years, but that seldom happens! Once you get into the corporate routine with a stable pay check, you take on responsibilities such as mortgages, leases and eventually get married. Each one of these factors work against your ever taking the plunge into the startup world.

The last point regarding stability and getting rid of your debts has some degree of truth to it. I agree with the getting rid of debt aspect of the argument, I don’t however agree with the stability aspect as much. When you are 23 do you really need stability in your life? This is the time in your life when you can take the greatest amount of leveraged risks as you do not have major responsibilities. The stability concept is definitely appealing to parents who are able to sleep a lot easier at night knowing that their son/daughter is working at a reputable firm, which will eventually enable them to live the ideal cookie cutter life.

Learnings

So focus on your expertise, your own strengths. If you're good in writing, you can self-publish, blogs or write an ebook. If you have the knowledge in graphic arts and design, you can start a logo business and anything the likes of it. Capitalize on your skills, remember the saying,"do what you love and the money will follow". Once you feel that your business is already established and earns more than your regular job. Perhaps, it's time to decide whether go full time. Remember, there will always be inherent risk. So expect the worse and do your best.

And job security is okay.But earning money and freedom on something you love to do is one of the most wonderful feeling.