5 Hard Truths About Being An Entrepreneur

5 Hard Truths About Being An Entrepreneur

I have been an entrepreneur for over five years now. I work as a freelance writer, scholar, and consultant. I have accomplished much since I struck out on my own. It has never been easy, but I never believed it would be.

When I tell people about what I do, most of the time I get a nod of envy. They imagine?and a few have actually articulated these thoughts ?that I live a rather care free lifestyle in which I sleep in, work in my pajamas, take long lunch breaks, and take days off, whenever I feel like it, to travel or recreate with friends.

The truth is nothing like this image. Although I do get to work in my pjs, the rest is pure bunkum. Anyone who has been an entrepreneur, and I am acquainted with more than a few of them, knows how mundane and underwhelming it can be. They also know of the long hours and frequent frustrations that come with running your own shop.

A great article on this topic is now in Entrepreneur magazine. The author hits on five hard truths about being your own boss:

• You never stop working
• It?s often lonely
• You make mistakes
• Progress can be frustratingly slow
• Outsiders won?t understand

The full article can be read here. I was prepared to face pretty much all of these things when I decided I go it alone.? However, I have had some difficulty with the fourth. Coping with the sometimes slow pace of advancement can be hard, especially when you have kept a steady strain on work but are forced to wait on others to get your product to market.

Nevertheless, I would not trade what I have now for what I had back then?when I was an employee. There is a sense of pride that comes with working for myself, with knowing that I am ultimately responsible for my own success or failure. My frequent feelings of malaise are mixed with a general sense of happiness and fulfillment. I am pleased to be in a position of creating my own path to financial and professional prosperity.

If you are thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, you will certainly have challenging days. But the feeling of satisfaction that comes with asserting control over your life will prove more than enough to get you through them.