What Does Entrepreneurial Freedom Mean to You?

For many people, one of the main motivations behind starting their own business is the idea of the freedom it represents. In many ways, this is quite a bizarre concept because most of the small business owners I know are also some of the hardest working people I know. Despite this, I know very few who, once they have made the leap, would go back to the 9 to 5.

Entrepreneurial freedom is about so much more than escaping the same old, same old of the working day. It’s about being the master of your own destiny and reaping the rewards of your own endeavors.

Forget the 9 to 5

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. It might be a bit cliché, but the old saying is true.

When you embrace entrepreneurism, you can forget the 9 to 5 – probably because you’ll be working the 5 to 9. But when you love what you do, your job becomes your passion – and how many hours could you dedicate to something you were truly passionate about?

A Note on Passion

Of course, some jobs might appear to be more open to the concept of “passion” than others. But if you put your heart and soul into any job it’s very easy to become passionate about what you do. Strive to be the best hairdresser, plumber, baker, shop keeper or guest house owner and your passion will help you reach the top. When you are master of your own destiny, the only thing that can hold you back is your ambition.

Note: Almost every trade has a “celebrity” thought leader. The only difference between the guys at the top of the ladder and those further down the rungs is ambition and opportunity. Opportunities have a habit of presenting themselves to the most ambitious and hardest working.

What About Risk?

Entrepreneurs don’t fear risk, they embrace it. Some months will almost certainly be better than others and the entrepreneur’s ride can be a bumpy one at times – but what job doesn’t have ups and downs?

In fact, I believe the biggest risk in life is regret. If you think you have it in you to become an entrepreneur, you’ll only have one person to blame if you don’t take the risk.

Don’t Quit Your Day Job

If you think the entrepreneurial life is for you, it’s not quite time to quit your day job – at least not yet. The Internet has opened up a vast range of opportunities for wannabe entrepreneurs to dip their toes in the water and test markets.

eBay and Amazon provide the perfect route for start-up retail businesses. Etsy is an amazing platform for craft- and design-based businesses. Upwork can help you sell any professional service, and sites like Udemy and SkillShare provide a valuable resource for entrepreneurs in the education and training industries.

The opportunities to test your market, optimize your strategies and grow accordingly have never been so easy or affordable.

Grab a Slice of Freedom Today

What could you do to help yourself secure a little entrepreneurial freedom?

Share your comments below:

Andries van Tonder

Serial Entrepreneur/investor since 2013.

Selfemplyed for over 40 years
South Africa.