10 Things to Expect as an Entrepreneur
Not everyone is prepared for the realities of entrepreneurship compared to working an office job.
To be quite honest there are times that I miss some of the perks associated with working at a large corporation. But, if youâre called to entrepreneurship then those perks wonât cut it in the long-run.
The day I put in my notice to my employer was the greatest day of my professional career. It was a mix of excitement, hope, and a little bit of healthy fear. I wouldnât ever go back to that life now even knowing the sacrifices that have to be made.
Thinking about giving entrepreneurship a shot? Go for it! Here are 10 things you can expect when you do make that leapâŚ
- Family wonât support you. When you tell your immediate family of your decision to go out on your own then there is a good chance that they will voice their concerns rather than encouragement. Just know that in most cases this comes from a place of love. Not everyone has an entrepreneur mindset. But there is good news becauseâŚ
- Family will eventually support you. Over time they will be quite proud of you. So donât be discouraged at the onset and stick to your decision to go out on your own!
- Vacations donât really exist. Gone are the days where you can take off work and completely disconnect. Sure, you can find some days to get away every now and again (sometimes for even a week), but youâll be glued to your computer each day.
- You learn more than you want to know about healthcare. The great thing about working at a big company is that healthcare is so cheap and presented in easy to understand plans. I remember having a little bit of âsticker shockâ the day I had to shop for my own healthcare plan.
- You will feel like an impostor. At many points along your journey you will fall victim to âimpostor syndromeâ. This is just self-doubt and we all deal with it. When you fell this way just recognize what it is and keep moving forward.
- No more water-cooler talk. I went from traveling the country consulting with a bunch of very intelligent people to working at a home office, alone. The silence was deafening at first. You can get over this by attending conferences and other local events.
- Weekends are now weekdays. Initially you will work Saturday and Sunday. You just will. Over time though you will get a better idea of how to detach. However, if your business gets customers 24/7 then expect emails and messages sent your way any day (and time) of the week.
- There is no such thing as taking a day off. You will eventually give yourself a Friday off from work. Sounds great, but the universe will say otherwise. Honestly, whenever I attempt to take a day off I coincidentally receive a barrage of direct messages on social media.
- Your work is often thankless. When you work for a company and you have a good boss, he or she will give you feedback on the work that you do. As an entrepreneur you have to learn to be content without this kind of external recognition. If you are someone who needs validation from others, then you will find this difficult about entrepreneurship.
- Youâll never be happier. Itâs true. The trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship can be stressful at times but it is worth it to be working everyday on your passion. As an entrepreneur you will never be more content than when you are working on own business. Time just seems to melt away as work never really feels like âworkâ. đ
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