A I don't want to denigrate your entrepreneurial urge. The gutsy individuals who launch ventures are some of society's biggest heroes. There are people who dump their day jobs, hunker down, and five years later can be seen ringing the opening bell on Wall Street.
But before you make the leap from stability to start-up, it probably makes sense to separate wishful thinking from the less rosy realities that characterise the entrepreneurial experience.
You will become your own boss. But for months and even years, that will mean less freedom for you, not more. You won't control your own life; your new business will. You'll still be taking orders-just from a new set of bosses (your customers).
Unless you've built up a pile of savings, no one is more "owned" than the founder of a start-up. The fact is: start-ups nearly always make their founders poor before they make them rich.
A bunch of bright people bursting with energy to "make it happen" can start a new business. Passionate, talented people are the key to getting a venture off the ground. But they also usually have a great idea to start with. The real engine of any start-up is a product or service that fills a market need, or better yet, creates one.
All around the world, I've seen successful entrepreneurs change the world for the better. I don't want to dissuade you from going out on your own. Just know that there is more to being an entrepreneur than meets the imagination.
And there's a lot less without a great idea to start with.
