What is your primary aim for building a business? Why quit your day job? Here are 8 strong reasons you should take the leap to become an entrepreneur. Everyday, employees are quitting their jobs and new business ventures are started all over the world. Every day, I come across entrepreneurs basking with enthusiasm and passion just because they have launched their new startup.
Every day, I hear pitches of employees talking passionately about their desire to start a business. While I am not against the launching of new startups, my main concern is the primary aim for which these businesses were started.
“Aim for the highest.” – Andrew Carnegie
“There are no bad business and investment opportunities, but there are bad entrepreneurs and investors.” – Rich Dad
I felt prompted to write on this because every day; I see people quitting their jobs and starting a business for the wrong reasons. Entrepreneurship is a journey; not a destination and to undertake this journey, you need enough motivation and guts to succeed.
If your reason for becoming an entrepreneur is weak; you will never complete the entrepreneurial process. Now before I ask the reason why you became an entrepreneur; I want to share my primary motivation for dumping college to focus on my business.
Why I Became an Entrepreneur
“It was in my life’s darkest moment, when there seem to be no hope that I discovered my entrepreneurial spirit. I thank God for that situation. If not for that single situation, I might have died without giving the entrepreneurial spirit in me a chance to manifest.” – Ajaero Tony Martins
Before I tell you why I became an entrepreneur; I want to state clearly that I am entitled to my own opinion. My reason may differ or contradict yours; that’s why we are humans and please don’t intertwine your primary aim of starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur with your business mission, they are two different things. Now why did I become an entrepreneur?
To be sincere with you, I can’t really pinpoint why I became an entrepreneur but I think I did it for several reasons. First and foremost; I am very ambitious and I love the word “control.” I became an entrepreneur to gain greater control over my life. I want to determine my own pace; I want to move at my own speed, I don’t want to limited by circumstances beyond my control.
“Why don’t you go to school and get a job? My answer to that question is this; I will get a job if only you can show me one that will help me become a billionaire. Unfortunately, the only job I know that can help me achieve that dream is entrepreneurship and it doesn’t require a college degree.” – Ajaero Tony Martins
I became an entrepreneur because I want to give my kids unborn the life I never had; I became an entrepreneur because I want to leave a legacy for my generation. I became an entrepreneur because I want to be free to do what I want; I want to spend time with my family and I don’t want to be under any pressure outside my control.
“It is my utmost desire to become a billionaire in my life time and also give away billions of dollars. I don’t think any paid employment on earth can help me achieve that dream. If I become a billionaire in my life time, I will just be another self made entrepreneur on the list. But if I don’t; I will die knowing I gave that dream my best shot.” – Ajaero Tony Martins
I have a strong desire to break the jinx of average in my family; my family name “Ajaero” has been in existence without anybody giving a hoot about it, I think it’s high time that name begins to ring a bell. Ultimately, I want to be remembered after I exit this world; not for causing chaos but for improving the life of humanity.
Now why should you become an entrepreneur; I have been able to pinpoint eight primary motives why people become entrepreneurs. You can read them below and see if they fit yours.
8 Reasons People Become Entrepreneurs and Build Businesses
1. Money
I am sorry to say but when it comes to starting and building businesses, those with money as a primary aim are majority. Everybody wants to be the next Bill Gates or John D. Rockefeller. Whenever I ask an entrepreneur the question: “Why do you want to start your own business? The usual answer I get is, “I want to be my own boss and make a lot of money.”
Please I want to clearly state that there is nothing wrong with making money alongside building your business but the wrong comes when making money becomes your primary aim. I say this because I regularly come across forum posts with questions such as:
- How do I make $1million a year?
- Can somebody teach me how to make money online?
- I need a business idea that can make me a lot of money?
“Build wealth as a byproduct of your business success. If wealth is your only objective in business, you will probably fail.” – J. Paul Getty
I sincerely advice against starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur primarily for the money because money may not provide the drive or enthusiasm needed to emerge a business success. Take a look at successful entrepreneurs such as Henry Ford, Anita Roddick, Aliko Dangote and Oprah Winfrey; and you will see they were not driven by the quest for money. Rather; they were on a mission to provide value and quality service.
“I don’t make deals for the money. I’ve got enough much more than I’ll ever need. I do it to do it.” – Donald Trump
“Being first is more important to me. I have so much money. Whatever money is, it’s just a method of keeping score now. I mean, I certainly don’t need more money.” – Larry Ellison
2. Fame
The next motive why people become entrepreneurs is to acquire fame. Along with a successful business comes fame and many entrepreneurs desire this fame. They see building a business as a leverage to achieve this dream and be in the limelight. That’s why many entrepreneurs have Steve Jobs and Warren Buffett as their role models or business mentors.
“If you come to fame not understanding who you are, it will define who you are.” – Oprah Winfrey
3. Investment purposes
Most people become entrepreneurs and build businesses simply for investment purposes. I think I became an entrepreneur because I saw building a business as an investment for myself and future.
From personal experience, I can say that those who see their business as an investment vehicle are usually long term thinkers and they are the ones who build businesses that stand the test of time. I think entrepreneurs such as Henry Ford, Warren Buffett, John D. Rockefeller and Thomas Edison fall into this category.
“Of all investments I know, building a business is probably the best because you can start with nothing and your returns may be infinite.” – Rich Dad
4. Power
“Unfortunately, we are not a public company. We are a private group of companies and I can do what I want.” – Richard Branson
Another primary aim why people become entrepreneurs and start their own business is power. Most people fancy the power weird by successful entrepreneurs; power to bend the law, power to influence political policies, power to crush competitors and control price.
“Bill Gates is the pope of the personal computer industry. He decides who is going to build.” – Larry Ellison
The danger of building a business for the power attached to it is that you might end up engaging in illegal vices just to achieve that dream. Don’t build a business just for the power but if power comes, grab it with both hands.
5. Prestige
Everyone loves to be appreciated; everyone loves to be associated with greatness. So it’s not out of place to build a business to gain prestige; to build something you will be proud of. Have you ever heard a statement as these?
- Where were you when I built this business empire from scratch with my sweat?
- I wanted to build something you will be proud of
- I did this because I love you
“I was interested in creating things that I could be proud of and so, you know, I was interested in being an editor of a magazine, but in order to be an editor of a magazine I had to become a publisher as well. I had to pay the bills. I had to worry about the printing and the paper manufacturing and the distribution of that magazine.” – Richard Branson
To be sincere, every entrepreneur wants to be appreciated and that’s why they grant interviews. So that someone out there can see what they’ve done and what they went through in the process. I think I am also in the game for prestige; if you’ve built something great, be proud of it.
“See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before vain men.” – Proverbs 22: 29″
6. Lifestyle
When interacting with aspiring entrepreneurs, I usually ask why they want to start their own business, I get replies such as:
- I want to be my own boss
- I want to be free.
- I want to have the time to travel the world and spend time with my kids
Entrepreneurship offers the kind of lifestyle few people will ever know but it takes sacrifice and pain to get there. If you are starting a business for a better lifestyle, always remember that the way to the promise land is through the wilderness.
“I get to do what I like to do every single day of the year.” – Warren Buffett
“I think after a certain amount, I’m going to give almost everything I have to charity. What else can you do with it? You can’t spend it, even if you try. I’ve been trying.” – Larry Ellison
7. Challenges Involved
“I have no complex about wealth. I have worked very hard for my money; producing things people need.” – J. Paul Getty
Building a business is quite challenging and demanding but I have seen entrepreneurs who are in business because of the challenges it offers. I have seen entrepreneurs who have made enough money to quit but they remain in the game.
“And obviously from our own personal point of view, the principal challenge is a personal challenge.” – Richard Branson
I have come across entrepreneurs who start businesses simply to go through the entrepreneurial process; to have a taste of the real challenges it offers. One thing with being in the game of entrepreneurship for the challenges it offers is that you will never be tired of playing it, you will develop personally and the money will surely follow.
“I’m not afraid of turning 80 and I have lots of things to do. I don’t have time for dying.” – Ingvar Kamprad
“It’s my job for Oracle, the number two software company in the world; to become the number one software company in the world. My job is to build better than the competition, sell those products in the marketplace and eventually supplant Microsoft and move from being number two to number one.” – Larry Ellison
“You must not only learn to live with tension, you must seek it out. You must learn to thrive on stress.” – J. Paul Getty
8. Self Expression
The final motive why people build businesses is to express themselves or their abilities. Expression of skills, talents, passions and creativity is a major reason why there is a surge in the growth of small businesses. Take a look at your neighborhood and you will see mom and pop shops, pie bakers, barbers, hair stylist, graphic artists, technicians and so much more.
“We were young, but we had good advice, good ideas and lots of enthusiasm.” – Bill Gates
“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun and it has to exercise your creative instincts.” – Richard Branson
In my opinion, I think every entrepreneur is entitled to his or her motive for starting a business but it is recommended you balance your motives and focus more on providing your customers with real value for money. A good way to balance your motives for becoming an entrepreneur is to develop either a personal mission statement or a set of core values and stick to it.
Subjecting your life to a set of core positive value will ensure you stay on focused on your long term objectives without been distracted by your short term achievements.