Why on earth would you start a business? Beer.

Today, as I was making my morning coffee, one of my staff asked me why start your own business when it's so much work? He sees the long hours I put in and the size of my workload first hand as he does my personal marketing. Good question Adnan Hussain! Let's see if I can answer it for you in this blog.

Building Your Own Business (or BYOB as I call it), is the more challenging of the employment roads compared to getting a job. There is more responsibility, staff and clients to satisfy, managing cash flow, dealing with global changes constantly - it can be exhausting! If you run a business, you know what I mean. So why do some people choose to go down this path rather than the 'easier' route of a stable job?

It's a question I have been fascinated by for a decade and I think I have an answer. It might not be right, but I'm putting it out for debate and feedback. Here is my logic.

Since starting Social Star 15 years ago, I have helped dozens of corporate escapees start a new business, interviewed them on my podcast and read every entrepreneur book I can get my hands on. What I discovered seems clear to me. People are either BYOBers or not. There are people who can't help but be their own bosses, they don't fit into the employment mould, tend to resist the constriction of company rules and are considered 'too entrepreneurial'. Sound familiar? On the other side, are those that prefer the structure of employment, like the stable pay cheque, enjoy the camaraderie of large teams and consistency of structured work days. Doesn't sound so bad actually!

After my primary and secondary research, my belief is that entrepreneurs are not made, they are born. It's nature not nurture. You are born one or the other. So it's not a choice but a calling. I actually think it's a certain personality that makes one crave the uncertainty and challenge. Similar to adventure sports adrenaline junkies.

People who have the calling, might work for others for awhile, I worked in corporate for 15 years, but always yearn for their own thing. When I worked for others, I approached their businesses like my own. I put in way too much effort to improve their companies as I just didn't want to punch the clock. I was invested, never took 'sickies' and loved the work and getting results. The problem was if I didn't believe in the company and their values didn't align with my own, I had to leave and do something else. Tricky when the economy was tough, but lucky I was pretty employable back then. I discovered, the work had to be meaningful to me for me to be able to perform at my best. Can you relate?

One of the problems for me working for others, was the lack of control over what the company did, as there was a lack of personal freedom. I'm creative and was frustrated having to ask permission to try new things, plus having to schedule holidays that suited the company and not my family, others setting my performance objectives, changing my pay based on things beyond my control and not being able to work with who I wanted and when. These issues contributed to my lack of satisfaction with work. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed my time in corporate as there were great perks! Turning left on the plane was kinda nice. But I craved more meaning, it became so strong, I couldn't not started my own business.

Since then, I have discovered that there is a universal truth in life which applies to your work. Helping people brings more satisfaction than just making money.

Therefore, having the freedom to help the people you resonate with most is the path to fulfilment. A lucky few employed people have this, but it's rare. This freedom is a double edge sword. Once you launch your own business, it's all on you. It's damn scary at times! But also thrilling. You feel the lows more, but the highs are so good! It's harder but more rewarding. I love the challenge and keep coming back for more. It's addictive. Argh...

So to answer your question Adnan, why would you start your own business? Freedom and fulfilment. If you want it, you take the good with the bad and once you go down this path, you wouldn't have it any other way. As one of my favourite directors Baz Luhrmann injected into a classic Aussie movie "A life lived in fear is a life half lived".

So if you are born to do your own thing and crave more freedom and control of your own destiny, jump on the BYOB bandwagon and let's build something cool. I'm happy to help.

Then when you want to take a few days off, because your long lost sister from Canada comes to visit, you can take a few days off without asking anyone for permission. Show her the best city in the world, drink a few daytime beers and that's what I call freedom. Cheers!