Meditations of an African Woman

These aren't my words but they capture my feelings about entrepreneurship wonderfully. Luke Johnson, the 'Unrepentant Capitalist' wrote 50 of the best reasons to be an entrepreneur. Read for warm fuzzy feelings :)


Health, Wealth and Love ... Davinia x




50 Reasons To Be An Entrepreneur


I think everyone should become an entrepreneur. Here are just a handful of the reasons:

1. Because building your own company is the best fun you can have with your clothes on;

2. Because it's still the best way to get rich;

3. Because working for yourself is not just about becoming rich - it's also about making things happen and making a difference;

4. Because if you work for yourself you control your destiny;

5. Because jobs for life and final salary pension schemes don't exist any more;

6. Because if you're the boss you make the rules;

7. Because if you build a company and sell it you pay tax at just 10% on the gain;

8. Because thanks to the internet it's never been easier to set up in business;

9. Because as an entrepreneur you get the rewards for your efforts;

10. Because entrepreneurs are the main source of new jobs and growth;

11. Because being an entrepreneur can be a highly creative endeavour;

12. Because entrepreneurs are cool - just look at the success of TV shows like Dragons' Den, The Apprentice, and now Make Me a Million;

13. Because there is no hierarchy in your own firm - anything is possible;

14. Because building a team and developing talent is really satisfying;

15. Because you don't want to wake up one day when you're too old and say, "I wish I had gone for it with that idea I had;

16. Because the competition out there isn't really that good and you know you can do better;

17. Because there are more entrepreneurs in Thailand per head of population than anywhere else - if they can do it, so can you;

18. Because there are more sources of business funding - debt and equity - than ever before;

19. Because there are more start-up websites, guidebooks, advisors and other forms of help than ever before;

20. Because the worst that can happen is that you waste some time and lose some money - the world is full of nastier things than that, like illness and death;

21 Because nothing beats overcoming the sceptics and making a new venture a roaring success;

22. Because there is never a shortage of good business ideas;

23. Because economics is not a zero sum game - the more entrepreneurs there are, the wealthier society becomes;

24. Because independence and freedom makes people happy;

25. Because you can tell your boss when you walk out that one day you'll buy his or her business;

26. Because you can moonlight to begin with, and leave employment when you're ready;

27. Because you can build a business with your family and work together for a common cause;

28. Because you can explore your dreams in a way that's impossible to do as an employee;

29. Because you only live once - life is not a rehearsal;

30. Because lots of really successful entrepreneurs started with no qualifications or capital and still made it big - so why not you?

31. Because there are more management buy-out opportunities than ever before;

32. Because creating a lasting enterprise is the best form of legacy;

33. Because it means you can provide for your family;

34. Because it allows you to pursue your passion and make money at the same time;

35. Because it gives you a reason to jump out of bed on Monday mornings;

36. Because the inevitable setbacks are all part of the learning experience;

37. Because if you're a capitalist, you make the world go round - without you there would ultimately be no taxes for any public services;

38. Because creating a virtual business from your bedroom is simpler than ever before;

39. Because flexible, innovative and hungry small firms can beat the complacent big boys every time;

40. Because when you meet other entrepreneurs you'll talk to them as equals;

41. Because we speak English - the global language of commerce;

42. Because despite our system's flaws, the law works, the state is basically honest and property rights are respected;

43. Because privatisation, PFI and PPP projects, and contracting out are creating lots of new areas for entrepreneurs within the public sector;

44. Because interest rates and thus financing costs are low - and likely to remain so;

45. Because banks and other funders have more techniques to back small firms than ever before;

46. Because there are more government grants and initiatives like the Loan Guarantee Scheme than ever before;

47. Because life is not about excuses - it's about seizing the day;

48. Because it might be the only way you can create a decent enough pension to retire;

49. Because if you're an entrepreneur you'll be enjoying yourself too much to retire;

50. Because whatever happens, you'll learn more than by doing anything else.

So what the hell are you waiting for?