US News and World Report has their Best Careers feature out this month. The analysis of best careers is interesting on many levels. But what jumped out at me is their view of small business. They list small business owner as one of the most overrated careers. Key quote:
"Most new businesses fold within a few years. There are good reasons. For one thing, running a small business requires you to be good at many jobs: salesperson, buyer, accountant, marketer, operations manager, even janitor. Few people can do it all."
They suggest being the #2 person at a small business is a better choice. They say "you'll go home with fewer headaches than the owner does. And probably go home earlier."
The person who wrote this article is an idiot. Thankfully, enough Americans don't subscribe to their point of view (and fewer seem to be subscribing to their magazine).
I left the corporate publishing world and started my own company for one very important reason--I was tired of subsidizing mediocrity. Too many overpaid people making "decisions by committee" and then covering their arses when things didn't go right.
Running an entrepreneurial company is not for everyone. If you have a weak heart, hate risk, get nervous about making and standing by your decisions, abhor making mistakes--then entrepreneurship is not for you.
Here's a simple question to ask yourself:
Do you want to be a participant in life, or merely a spectator?
I choose the former.
Carpe Diem!
Brian Moran
Posted by: Brian Moran | January 05, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Brian: I agree this sure seems like old thinking to me. Of course as you point out running a small business is a big challenge and not for everyone. But like you I certainly enjoy my small business life.
Posted by: steve | January 07, 2008 at 08:38 AM