Why I want my kids to be Entrepreneurs

I read a shocking statistic last week - only 13% of employees are “engaged” in their corporate jobs. We only live once, and it’s a tragedy that a majority of people spend their working life feeling unhappy or unmotivated. As a mother, I really want something better for my kids. As an entrepreneur, I know what that something might be! In fact, there are many reasons I want to encourage my kids on an entrepreneurial track, which cut to the very essence of what life should be about.

Freedom

Many employees in big companies have a feeling of confinement, that they’ve been “put in a box” which contains a narrow position description defining their responsibilities and stakeholders. They don’t have the freedom, on a daily basis, to go outside their box. This approach thwarts talent, and discourages the freedom of thinking that leads to innovation. A start-up business, by comparison, allows – even requires – its employees to wear multiple hats, and put up their hand to pitch in wherever they have ideas or skills to help. This environment is inherently more rewarding for those of us who do not crave rigid structure and process.

Creativity

Entrepreneurs have to be creative – finding creative ways to solve everyday problems is simply at the core of their raison d’etre. Just like a chef inventing the recipe for a new dish, entrepreneurs can creatively experiment with new combinations of ingredients. Corporate employees, on the other hand, often find their creativity stifled, as the ingredients are already fixed. Creativity makes the workplace more enjoyable, as it paves the way for personal and professional adventures which bring so much fulfilment in life. That’s not to mention the business benefits which are derived when employees are encouraged to harness their creativity to invent better ways of doing things.

Accountability

As an entrepreneur, you are accountable to yourself and everyone around you, from the decisions you make to the way you spend your limited budget, and the people you hire. This means developing the capability to think on your feet, to make quick, sound decisions and take complete responsibility for them. On a personal level, this means developing traits of confidence, character and independence – the sort of things we encourage in our kids, yet sometimes are discouraged or simply not possible in a large workplace. Many ideas need layers of approval and are fraught by rules and restrictions, which lead employees to feel like they’re just another cog in the wheel, powerless to take accountability because they are never given the chance to try. Even when ideas do get approved, you can nurture a sense of accountability way faster when the money is coming from your own pocket!

Lifestyle

Since becoming an entrepreneur three years ago, I can say hand on heart that I now lead a healthier, happier lifestyle. It’s not that I work less hours, since starting a business is no pushover. But when you feel you are making a difference and are passionate about what you do, it’s no longer “work”, it’s a mission. I feel adrenaline rather than stress, I feel challenged rather than stifled, and the sense of self-worth that comes from adding value to society – with a service that wouldn’t exist in the world otherwise – is incredibly empowering.

But perhaps the biggest reason I’m so happy with my entrepreneurial lifestyle is flexibility. I can now juggle my schedule to spend more time with my highest priority in life, my family, removing the burden of guilt that plagues so many women in corporate life. I more than make up for lost hours on my business while the rest of the family sleeps or plays. Further, I’ve been able to join a gym for the first time, reducing the health risk of my otherwise sedentary lifestyle.

And while one of my previous employers frowned at my work-at-home request, I’ve found not having to commute adds 20% productivity to my day.

While some entrepreneurs lead unquestionably “workaholic” lifestyles, this is their choice. But at least entrepreneurs have the choice – they can choose to put in as much as they want, and are not at the mercy of a corporate taskmaster.

Challenge

A classic complaint of corporate employees is that they are bored or learning nothing new. Many get stuck in this rut for months or years until they find a better job. Being an entrepreneur, life is never monotonous. You are stretched in many directions and challenged to acquire new skillsets, overcome roadblocks, fears and failures. I recently read that exercising your brain – for example, learning a foreign language in your sixties or seventies – can delay dementia for several years, and having variety in your diet increases your longevity as well. Variety and mental exercise are both constants in the life of an entrepreneur. Every day is a new challenge which requires new thinking, and for most of us who are interested in exploring and maximising our individual potential, this is not only beneficial but also highly enjoyable.

Passion

Most of us are passionate about a cause or an ideology or a hobby. Entrepreneurs sometimes build their whole business ideas around their personal passions, and this is far more rewarding than working in a job which you have no interest in, other than to make money to pay the mortgage. There is something very soul-nurturing about having the flexibility to support charities you truly care about, and creating and implementing products or services you truly believe in. Passion – or lack of it – is indeed what often separates the “true” from the “wannabe” entrepreneurs.

Giving back

While money is not the key driver for most entrepreneurs, clearly being successful often brings with it financial security and comfort, as well as the opportunity to give back – whether in a philanthropic sense, or in the form of giving up time to coach or mentor up-and-coming businesspeople. Giving back is a reward in itself.

I recognise not everyone has the aptitude or fortitude to build a business. But I‘ll definitely be encouraging my kids to consider entrepreneurship as an exciting and rewarding alternative to the big corporate world I spent a few too many years in!