Being An Entrepreneur Ain’t For Everybody

Just because you can start a business doesn’t mean you should.

I recently completed my final project for my Master’s degree. We had to come up with a marketable business idea in the sports/entertainment field, then map out a full scale business plan. It was tedious. It was educational. It was intellectually rewarding. However, now that it’s over, the only reaction I had was:

Entrepreneurship is as old as this country itself. From the old cobblers to barbers, this country is built on the entrepreneurial spirit. In modern times, it’s celebrated and encouraged to be a boss. There’s tons of conferences annually that promise to teach how to quit your job and make money using your passion. For example, blogging used to be something people did for fun or to share ideas. Now, it’s turned into a field where people constantly refer to themselves as “brands”. (I actually hate that word now!) From what I’ve noticed, the majority of the most popular posts on this very platform are rooted in the start-up lifestyle and entrepreneur productivity.

Although, this life isn’t meant for everyone. Just because you have an idea or product doesn’t mean it’ll make you money. Embarking on the journey of being a self-sufficient CEO is way harder and more complex than paying a few thousand dollars in seminar fees and books.

I believe that being a successful entrepreneur is sometimes less about your product and more about your customer service. People have to believe in you before they believe in your business or product. They have to see something in you that gets them excited. Few entrepreneurs are charismatic enough to appeal to a mass. In fact, it’s hard to exude the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. Some traits are just inherent.

Quick story — I started this new job in September doing something that I’ve loved for as long as I can remember. The owner of the company took note of my tenacity. Not only was I excited to work for him but I was interested in helping his company grow. When he asked me about my 5 year plan, I told him bluntly that I wanted to open my own business in less than that. I’m using my employment as an opportunity to revamp the way customer service and client relations are handled in the field. He understood my elevator pitch and has given me a shot to show and prove.

I share this to illustrate that not every path to entrepreneurship has to be you neglecting your mental health and eating Ramen for months to have seed money. So many of us are results-driven people who jump feet-first into the parasitic waters of start-ups. Rarely, do we truly know whether or not we have the survival instincts to turn a passion into pesos. This economy and the accessibility of digital marketing gives people the false perception that “anybody can do it”.

Last week, I read a honest article on Medium that stated the following:

These fantasies are fed by all the times we’ve been told to believe in ourselves, to embrace the American dream of going our own way and doing it for ourselves… when it comes to entrepreneurship, the reality is complicated.

Realistically, your entrepreneurial ventures are going to fail before you find 1 that sticks long enough to make you money. I frequently quote Shawn Corey Carter’s iconic words, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business man”. However, it’s okay to not want to be your own boss. It’s okay to not have the balls to try. It’s okay to want the normalcy and security of a 9–5.