Entrepreneurs are unusual.  You seem to be driven by something different. 

Sure you want nice things and to live more comfortably, but you think differently from other people.  You believe you can change things and create a new future for yourself and your family by going into business for yourself…  in many ways you are right. 

Many people who don’t understand entrepreneurs think you are only in it for the money. In working with people who start and build businesses, that has not been my experience.  I find that people move into business for some basic reasons:

1. As a way to try new things; to serve clients better than they could with their old boss
2. For freedom
3. To make a contribution and for self-expression
4. To create personal and financial independence

The problem is that it costs a lot of money for freedom and independence. That’s the reason for the focus on money.

The Quest

Most entrepreneurs are seeking new levels of freedom and independence, first and foremost.  Sure, you spend lots of time on the money, but it is not the money you want for its own sake.  You want the freedom – the freedom to fully self-express – the freedom to contribute in ways you find meaningful – the freedom to serve clients and customers better – the freedom to provide for your family and yourself in ways that you want. 

You are very good at providing a service to your clients and customers, and now you want to take the next step… to build your own business to provide service your way, and gain freedom in the process.

The Tool

A business is merely a tool to support entrepreneurs in achieving your goals and commitments in life.  Yet this is no ordinary tool.  Set up properly, it’s the goose that lays golden eggs for its master.  Yet as a potentially high powered tool, it can also be very difficult to handle. Ask anyone who got too close to a goose.  It’s bite is nasty!

As an entrepreneur, after you start and develop the business, the problems and challenges multiply.  There are a great number of issues that each business owner has to face, merely to survive!  It is no longer enough to be able to ply your trade, whether as a doctor, a plumber, a roofer or an interior designer. You now have to handle all the logistics of service marketing and booking, service delivery, finances and personnel too. 

The Problem

Running a business is different than providing a service.  There is much more involved.  This diverts your time and attention away from what you are best at, to other necessary items in order to keep the business going.

People reach a plateau in their business when they reach their natural capacity. That can be stretched further, to a certain point.  It is there that the business stops any further serious growth.  As owner, you feel trapped by the same vehicle that was built to help you achieve your dreams.  You remember fondly those days when you didn’t have all the hassles of the business to keep you away from your family. Yet you know that if you stop, you risk losing everything that you put so much effort into building.

Instead of freedom, you are often left with a form of slavery… to the very tool you built to free yourself.

The Result

This is an all too common occurrence.  This is why failure rates in business are as high as they are – 85% fail within 5 years, and over 90% by year 10.  What initially looked like a good deal, turned out to be a nightmare.  And, for those who survive, the divorce rates are very high. 

You didn’t get into this business to lose your family, to limit your personal time or freedom, or to feel like you can’t get what you want from it.  Yet for too many business owners, that is how it has turned out, or is threatened to turn out, if you push things too hard.

Part 2…  Entrepreneurs Key Question - A way out!