In today’s tough economy, many people dream of running their own business, being their own boss. The salary earned from working for someone else is never enough to cover daily living expenses.
At the same time, many business ideas, like opening a store or selling online, emerge. However, these ideas are often never realized due to various reasons, such as difficulties in initial capital, and ultimately waiting for an uncertain time. Some even intend to save money by working for someone else before starting a business.
Almost everyone suffers from this “disease.” They have a business idea but remain stuck working for someone else. The core issue is actually fear of taking risks. However, to become rich, you need to be brave enough to take risks and become your own boss.
There are many examples of successful people who dared to take risks. Bill Gates, for example, was a Harvard dropout and started his software company. Another example is Amanda Hocking, who wrote novels in her spare time. Never stopping to innovate, Amanda published her novels as e-books.
In just one year, Amanda sold over a million copies of nine books, making over $2 million. She sold an average of 9,000 books per day and caught the attention of major publishers.
What happened to Amanda occurred because she took risks and put her work out there. Not only Amanda but you too can start your own business without having to work for someone else. Here are some things you can do to start your own business.
1. Too Comfortable to Take Risks
The main reason you won’t get rich or become your own boss is having a job. You become too comfortable because you consistently receive a paycheck and can still pay your bills, even if it’s tough towards the end of the month. You feel this situation is comfortable and don’t need to change anything.
However, you need to make lifestyle changes to become wealthy. Imagine losing your job and income, and having to start life over. Think of the change that will push you to take control of everything.
2. Unknowingly Building Other People's Assets
Many people don’t realize—or don’t want to realize—that working for someone else is helping investors get richer. You are essentially hurting yourself by spending at least 40 hours a week helping others become wealthier. So, what about you?
Imagine what you’re doing and think about how it would be if you dedicated those 40 hours to yourself. Becoming your own boss means you have 40 hours a week to dedicate to yourself and your assets.
Anything you invest in yourself and your business will come back to you.
3. Time is More Valuable Than Money
Money is something you can save, and sometimes you can even make more if you know how to use it. But money will eventually run out, and it can never buy back the time you’ve spent working for someone else. You will never be able to buy back time because its value is priceless.
When you work for someone else, you can't use time for yourself. Sure, you make money while working, but what if your work is unfinished, you have no time for lunch, or you have to work overtime just to get your salary and overtime pay?
The company you work for controls your time. They dictate when you must leave early, when you must work late, and when you should take a vacation.
Remember, if you work for yourself and become your own boss, you are in charge of your own time.
4. Too Focused on Saving
Almost everyone in the world is taught to save money from a young age. However, what people don't realize is that saving money doesn’t help you make money.
Not buying coffee at Starbucks and making it at home might save you about IDR 50,000, but that amount of money will remain IDR 50,000 if you just save it. Instead, start investing that money into a business, and it will grow.
Starting a business is challenging, but you have to start taking chances. It’s not impossible for you to take off. Be patient in building your business empire until you find your footing and take the necessary steps forward.