5 Non-Cliché Reasons to Be an Entrepreneur

5 Non-Cliché Reasons to Be an Entrepreneur

BY NICHOLAS TART ON AUGUST 8, 2011 • 13 COMMENTS

When asked, “why do you want to be an entrepreneur?”, most people give one of three answers:

I want to by my own boss.
I want to make a lot of money.
I want to do things my way.
These are terrible, thoughtless answers that make you seem like you have no idea what you’re talking about. Instead, here are five meaningful, non-cliché reasons to be an entrepreneur.


1. Freedom
As I mentioned in this heartfelt article, freedom is the number one reason to be an entrepreneur. This is what people actually mean when they say, “I want to be my own boss.”

When you’re an employee, you have to ask permission to do things and you’re at the mercy of a boss.

As an entrepreneur, you can take action the moment an idea pops into your head and you can go play laser tag in the park whenever you want.

2. Continuous Learning
One of my favorite entrepreneurship quotes by Napoleon Hill is, “If you’re not learning while you’re earning, you’re cheating yourself out of the better portion of your compensation.”

When you have a job, you get really good at one thing. Maybe it’s flipping burgers, inputting data, or answering phone calls; that’s all you do every day, and you get good at it. Employers pay you to focus all of your time on systemizing one small portion of their business.

But when you’re an entrepreneur, you have to wear different hats and you’re constantly learning how to deal with every portion of running a business.

For instance, the other day I learned that the root word, “bookkeep” is the only word in the English language with back to back to back double letters.

3. Fulfilling Work
A friend of mine and co-founder of Sweets Cosmetics, Katie Barstow summed it up best:

“I am an entrepreneur because working for other companies is completely unfulfilling. It is hard to be proud of stuff that other people told you to do. At least when you are an entrepreneur, you can say “I did that.” Even if it’s a failure, it’s your failure (and a true entrepreneur wouldn’t stop because of a failure).”
A business is like a baby. You start it, you manage it, you help it grow, and eventually you sell it.

4. To Build an Asset
Setting aside the mushy-touchy-feely reasons, starting a business is a smart thing to do.

As an employee, you give your time in exchange for money.

As an entrepreneur, you give your time to build an asset that pays you and increases your net worth.

Now, just because you start a business doesn’t mean it’ll become an asset. But if you stick with it, learn, and implement what you learn, it’ll grow into something that you can eventually sell.

5. To Create Something Permanent
One of my biggest fears is not making a difference. I don’t want to be someone who comes and goes without leaving a mark.

Art, inventions, and businesses are the only three things you can create that can also outlast you.

By starting a company, you not only increase your self-worth, but you provide a product, a service, and a job to people who need it. And if you do it right, the business will carry on when you’re gone.

No Matter Your Reason…
If you choose entrepreneurship, DON’T tell people it’s because, “you want to be your own boss, make lots of money, or do things your way.” Not because those are cliché , but because they’re not genuine.

It’s like saying, “Good.” when someone asks you how you’re doing.

Your real reason is a lot more interesting.