Entrepreneurs anonymous
economist.com
Entrepreneurs anonymous
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Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#2[deleted]
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#3[deleted]
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#4I used to encourage everyone I know to quit their job and start a company. Now, after having done just that, I no longer recommend this path. Not because I regret doing it. In fact, I think it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. But the road is, as the article says, about as romantic as "chewing glass."
Sure, there are wonderful days when things are working even better than I had planned. But then there are also the regular sleepless nights where I wake up puking, just from the stress. And it's been like this for years. It's a great path for the right person, but if you need someone to talk you into starting a business, then you're probably not cut out to be an entrepreneur. Owning a business isn't all it's chalked up to be. Turns out it ends up owning you. And yet, there's an amazing satisfaction that comes from entrepreneurship that you just can't get by working for someone else.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#5> make time to exercise and learn to relax
This is the #1 priority for me now.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#6As a person hoping to start my own business within the next couple of months, this scares me quite a bit.
Honestly the entire notion of building my own company and not having the security of a stable paycheck is frightening. But even taking that into account, it doesn't diminish my desire to keep following this path regardless of the risk and warnings I've frequently heard.
Maybe this means I'm "over optimistic" bordering on "completely delusional" but I'll be damned if I don't try and make this work anyways.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#7As a person hoping to start my own business within the next couple of months, this scares me quite a bit. Honestly the entire notion of building my own company and not having the security of a stable paycheck is frightening. But even taking that into account, it doesn't diminish my desire to keep following this path regardless of the risk and warnings I've frequently heard. Maybe this means I'm "over optimistic" bord…
The terms optimistic and delusional describe the two states of hypomania. Hypomania can be managed through good diet, exercise, meditation and other things that have absolutely zero to do with your business and everything to do with you. However, you are what makes your business successful at the end of the day. Manage it like you manage your business.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#8I used to encourage everyone I know to quit their job and start a company. Now, after having done just that, I no longer recommend this path. Not because I regret doing it. In fact, I think it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. But the road is, as the article says, about as romantic as "chewing glass." Sure, there are wonderful days when things are working even better than I had planned. But then there are…
When people ask me if they should start a company, I do a short interview with them to understand their motivation. It's usually dissatisfaction with their job combined with a grass-is-greener view of entrepreneurship. I believe in many circumstances people have a higher chance of finding happiness by pouring deliberate energy into finding a great job rather than starting their own company.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#9> Would-be entrepreneurs need to have a more measured view of the risks involved before they start a business. But society also needs to have more respect for people who put their lives on the line to build something from nothing.
Anyone entering the startup space thinking their lives will be easier is going in with their 'eyes wide shut'. Having said that, if you manage your own personal expectations of being the next Mark Zuckerberg and are realistic, then you should manage.
Always make sure you have more money then you think you need to prove your concept, always estimate longer then you need and always listen to what your body says it needs.
Great article.
Re: Entrepreneurs anonymous
#10I used to encourage everyone I know to quit their job and start a company. Now, after having done just that, I no longer recommend this path. Not because I regret doing it. In fact, I think it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. But the road is, as the article says, about as romantic as "chewing glass." Sure, there are wonderful days when things are working even better than I had planned. But then there are…
When people ask me if they should start a company, I do a short interview with them to understand their motivation. It's usually dissatisfaction with their job combined with a grass-is-greener view of entrepreneurship. I believe in many circumstances people have a higher chance of finding happiness by pouring deliberate energy into finding a great job rather than starting their own company.
I quit a good banking job after making it through the recession and several rounds of layoffs. My friends thought I was nuts. I had friends take me out to lunch and tell me most people were looking for jobs, not quitting them. But I didn't quit just because I was dissatisfied. At the heart of it, I just felt like a caged animal and I knew I had to break free.