4 Reasons To Consider Entrepreneurship On The Side
I’ve had the fortunate experience of growing up as a young entrepreneur. At 9 years old, I discovered a passion for balloon art and transformed this hobby into a business called the Big Balloon Tycoon. Today, I work full-time while continuing to serve as a balloon artist on the weekends. Customers can contract me, or anyone else from the team to perform at local birthday parties, wedding receptions, festivals, and more. I am beyond grateful for realizing my talents as a balloon artist. Not only do I love the craft but it gave me the opportunity to learn how to run a business.
There’s something to be said about the culture of entrepreneurship. It is a lifestyle that is vastly different from being an employee. At this point in my career, I’ve been on both sides of the equation. I understand that entrepreneurship is not easy. It requires a lot of work and sacrifice with no promise of profit. Meanwhile, as an employee, you’re guaranteed steady paychecks, downtime between shifts, and attractive perks depending on where you work. Naturally, most people would shy away from entrepreneurship, but I sincerely believe that more people should consider it. In this blog, I’ll give you my top four reasons why.
Money
Entrepreneurship yields a large earning potential depending on your industry, strategy, and target audience. This mostly has to do with ownership. As an entrepreneur, whatever you produce is yours to monetize. You could sell manufactured goods or intellectual property. You could rent out assets like real estate or equipment. You can even earn commissions by helping other people sell their products and services. These opportunities are not as available to employees. As an employee, you typically trade your time and talents for money, and you don’t own the work you produce.
Just to be clear, I’m not a balloon artist for the money. There are other ventures I could pursue that could build wealth much faster, however, I chose balloon art because it’s what I enjoy. I’m just lucky that, after pursuing this hobby for so long, people are willing to pay me for my work. As long as you’re driven by passion and willing to serve others, they’ll pay you too.
Personal Development
I obsess over the idea of personal development. In the context of entrepreneurship, the more you learn, the more you earn. I attend seminars, enjoy audiobooks, and pursue conversations with thought leaders. However, when I think about my journey, I’m thrilled to acknowledge that my background as a small business owner has taught me more than any of these other experiences. Yes, there is value in obtaining second hand knowledge, but having an application to practice this knowledge and gain first hand experience is priceless.
Whenever you think about trying something new, you must realize that there is a high probability that you will fail. Many see this as a negative thing, but it’s not. Failure is necessary for personal development, and sadly, entrepreneurship is one of the few environments that embraces failure. If you fail in the education system, you lose your 4.0 GPA. If you fail in the corporate world, you could lose your job. If you fail as an entrepreneur, you stand up, learn your lesson, and try again.
Perspective
There is a mindset that all great entrepreneurs share. Before one can become successful, they must first learn a series of soft skills. Among other things, entrepreneurs must be brave, resourceful, adaptable, disciplined, patient, driven, and willing to challenge the status quo. These character traits, although intended for business development, can translate into their personal lives as well. I find that entrepreneurs are bold individuals with a wealth of knowledge. They can be very particular about certain things, but there’s always a calculated reason. In my eyes, this level of confidence and self-awareness can only enhance a person’s potential.
Purpose
If you are fortunate enough to have a skill or a talent, you ought to celebrate it. If you can sing, then you should sing. If you can dance, then you should dance. Whatever your thing is, you should do it and be proud. It may not always fit into the context of entrepreneurship, but this shouldn’t stop you. To dim your light or make yourself smaller in anyway, would be a disservice to yourself and the rest of the world. Find a way to celebrate your gifts and you’ll instinctively invite others to do the same.
