Aware Brain

Whether you already have a regular job, full-time or otherwise, having a side-business of your own is the most important thing you can do to improve your future. Having a “business” of your own, no matter how large or small, reinforces the skills and attituted of self-sufficiency, responsibility, awareness of your environment, and pride.

A personal venture will also keep you from becoming too dependant on an outside employer. People who rely solely on their “regular job” for income and security are at the mercy of not only the management of their workplace, but also the business environment in which their company operates. This is something that most employees have little knowledge of and no influence on.

Even if you will always keep your “day job”, having this secondary venture provides many benefits. Most obvious is an additional income. However, this should  not be the primary reason for chasing an outside business venture. The side business should be an activity you like, or related to something you are interested in.The other benefit of having this business is for mental stimulation. It gives you an outlet for creativity. There will be days when your regular day-job will be monotonous, or stressful, even frustrating. On those days, your side-business will be a welcome sanctuary of being able to control your life. You will not have to deal with the irrational personal character flaws of supervisors, or the financial pressures of bad management.

Many people make bad career decisions because their day job is all they have. They chase bad work options because they need the money. In many cases, excellent life opportunities are overlooked because of being too wraped up in working for someone else.

“Most people are too busy making a daily living to get rich”

This is an old saying, which while overly simplifying the philosphy, it does describe the frustration of struggling to get a weekly paycheck, and how that gets in the way of planning for a career goal. An outside business will fix that. Even if you stay in your day job, you will end up with more promotions and raises because your work skills will be superior. You will aquire a “business owner” mentality rather than an “employee” mentality. Understanding the reality of running a business, and what your employer is facing everyday will change the way you work everyday. Your results in your job will be higher, and your appearance to your bosses, compared with your “employee” co-workers will be dramatically contrasting. You will stand out.

Everyone needs to be challenged in their work. Your day job may not do that every day. However, your side-business will provide a constant source of entrepreneurial creativity, to keep you motivated in everyday life.

A high level CPA and economic analyst lived in Detroit growiing up, and was tempted to enter the auto industry. Where would she be today if she chose the seemingly secure, apparently high-paying automotive manufacturing job at an early age.

“Those who took jobs in the auto plants closed the door on a lifetime of opportunities. Don’t get me wrong – there are plenty of good folks in those factories who do great work. Some people see that as their best option, and they make the best of it. But not all of us are made for that life. I knew that I needed to think and grow and be challenged for my paycheck.” – Karen DeCoster

Full Article - I Escaped Life in an Auto Plant

This decision making process is an excellent analogy to the side-business plan. It reinforces the idea of keeping control of your own destiny. Not everyone wants to be a CPA, or go to graduate school, creating a business of your own will make a big difference in where you end up.

~ by Dave on January 2, 2009.

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