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What's Your Biggest Inspiration For Running Your Own Business?

by Mav91890
17 replies
I have been thinking about this quite frequently, recently. What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning and work for yourself instead of going to an ordinary 9-5 job?

I don't know about any of you, but I trust myself far more than I could ever trust any corporation with my livelihood. I'm assuming at least some of you have been royally screwed over by corporations who only care about the bottom line.

Recently, my father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. He had worked for Publix (grocery chain) for around 20 years, most of it being a top producing bakery manager. Over this period he took only a few days of sick pay and ended up saving 24 weeks of additional sick pay. Now when he needs it the most, the company only let him use 12 weeks of it before forcing him to resign, completely robbing him of the other 12 weeks, which is a decent chunk of money. Also, it's important to note this is the exact opposite of how the corporation markets them-self, always quoting and telling stories of the company's founder, who never stood for such betrayal. He was honestly the most stand up guy and an inspiration.

Sorry for blabbing on and on but I wanted to get my point across. That relying on others, especially greedy corporations, has a high chance of burning you in the end. This is my new found inspiration for building my business and relying only on myself, with my future.

Do any of you share the same belief? If not, what is the key principal for you managing your own business?
#biggest #business #inspiration #running
  • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
    Making a company is not for the faint of heart. I haven't met many people who were ecstatic with their jobs... Anyone would love to work for himself / herself. Not all humans are built like that. You gotta be willing to fail and to keep going. Most success stories start with failure.

    My two cents.
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    • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
      Originally Posted by TheBigBee View Post

      Not all humans are built like that.
      I disagree. I get kind of angry when people say "You are a natural" or "Not everyone is like you" - As if when I came from the womb I was smooth talking.

      We all start at zero - and our experiences train us to be something. Some people (not me) had great experiences during those formative years that gave them a head start.

      For the rest of us - the process and training is the same. It just starts later in life.

      It takes 15 years to become an overnight success. For some people, that 15 years started the day they were born. Some start that journey when they are 20 years old. Some at 40.

      When people say I was born successful, it discounts the agony. The anguish. The grinding losses. The days I sat at my desk and cried.

      Aside from severe physical/mental handicaps, we are all built the same. And we all have burdens and scars. It comes down to a choice whether we will waste our lives or fulfill them.

      You gotta be willing to fail and to keep going. Most success stories start with failure.
      Agree 100%! I can't even count my failures anymore. I am failing 99% of the time.

      To the OP -

      I believe that I have a duty to fulfill my potential. I remember when my grandfather was learning to read. I was there. He broke his back in a coal mine. He fought in Europe in WW2. He worked his ass off, and I am shaped by him.

      My father worked his ass off to provide for us.

      I would be letting them down if I didn't scrap and fight every single day to be the best I can be. It is my duty. My obligation.

      The world economy is suffering right now because too many people are lazy. We don't need more jobs - we need more workers. It is my duty to my community to succeed.

      I look at this picture on a very regular basis:


      That child is surely dead by now. He didn't have the opportunity to fulfill his potential.

      I DO.

      If I do not - I am failing that child. That picture was taken just outside of a food drop in Rwanda. The kid and the vulture both needed to eat that day. The photographer later committed suicide because of his work there.

      I MUST NOT QUIT.

      Whatever success I have earned - it is not enough. In the last collapse, we watched rich people become poor. I do not have enough security.

      I owe it to my wife and my son to work harder, every single day, to secure their future. If the economy hurts us, it is my fault. I cannot fail them.

      THIS IS MY DUTY. EVERY. DAMN. DAY.
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      • Profile picture of the author MerchantRevenue
        Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

        I disagree...........
        One of the more powerful comments I have had the pleasure to read, well said.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

        I disagree. I get kind of angry when people say "You are a natural" or "Not everyone is like you" - As if when I came from the womb I was smooth talking.

        We all start at zero - and our experiences train us to be something. Some people (not me) had great experiences during those formative years that gave them a head start.

        For the rest of us - the process and training is the same. It just starts later in life.

        It takes 15 years to become an overnight success. For some people, that 15 years started the day they were born. Some start that journey when they are 20 years old. Some at 40.

        When people say I was born successful, it discounts the agony. The anguish. The grinding losses. The days I sat at my desk and cried.
        .
        Dan; We are different. Everyone in business has setbacks, and there are days when you are crying at your desk. The difference is...you didn't quit. You didn't blame others for the setbacks. You didn't blame the economy, or competition, or bad luck....
        There is an inner strength that I see in Entrepreneurs, that I don't see in others.

        This is just an observation. But it's an educated observation.


        Originally Posted by Dan McCoy View Post

        I believe that I have a duty to fulfill my potential. I remember when my grandfather was learning to read. I was there. He broke his back in a coal mine. He fought in Europe in WW2. He worked his ass off, and I am shaped by him.

        My father worked his ass off to provide for us.

        I would be letting them down if I didn't scrap and fight every single day to be the best I can be. It is my duty. My obligation.

        The world economy is suffering right now because too many people are lazy. We don't need more jobs - we need more workers. It is my duty to my community to succeed.
        Your post was one of the most motivational things I've read in a long time. Thanks.
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        • Profile picture of the author socialentry
          I agree with Dan.

          It's not that they're not build like that, it's that they don't want to.

          Human beings really have the capacity to do great things under pressure and while entrepreneurship not as easy as a 9-5 jobs, it's hardly the epitome of human suffering either.

          I mean, Dan's image really puts thing into perspective.

          Most of my friends chose the corporate path and office politics sounds freaking annoying.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by socialentry View Post

            I agree with Dan.

            It's not that they're not build like that, it's that they don't want to.

            Human beings really have the capacity to do great things under pressure and while entrepreneurship not as easy as a 9-5 jobs, it's hardly the epitome of human suffering either.

            I mean, Dan's image really puts thing into perspective.

            Most of my friends chose the corporate path and office politics sounds freaking annoying.
            I can't speak for others, only myself.

            I have no herd instinct. But I observe that almost everyone does. They belong to companies, churches, interest groups, they share hobbies and interests with other people......and this makes up a culture...a community.

            When politicians talk about "Jobs", I get a blank look on my face. I have no idea why people want to work for others. Is it a sense of security? Maybe. Is it a sense of community? I think it may be a sense of imposed discipline. If you aren't told to be there are 8AM sharp, you might just decide not to show up until later.....If you aren't told exactly what to do, maybe you just goof off (Like I'm doing now).

            When I hear relatives and customers talk about needing a good job, I sometimes ask why they just don't start their own small business. They can offer the same service, and charge more. They would just have clients instead of one boss. They would earn all the money, instead of a low fixed amount.

            It would simply never occur to me to work for someone else.
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            • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              I can't speak for others, only myself.

              I have no herd instinct. But I observe that almost everyone does. They belong to companies, churches, interest groups, they share hobbies and interests with other people......and this makes up a culture...a community.

              When politicians talk about "Jobs", I get a blank look on my face. I have no idea why people want to work for others. Is it a sense of security? Maybe. Is it a sense of community? I think it may be a sense of imposed discipline. If you aren't told to be there are 8AM sharp, you might just decide not to show up until later.....If you aren't told exactly what to do, maybe you just goof off (Like I'm doing now).

              When I hear relatives and customers talk about needing a good job, I sometimes ask why they just don't start their own small business. They can offer the same service, and charge more. They would just have clients instead of one boss. They would earn all the money, instead of a low fixed amount.

              It would simply never occur to me to work for someone else.
              I can literally go on for days on this subject... I was a history major and found myself studying this exact thing. I've been reading; "Capital In the 21st Century" by Thomas Picketty.

              He can be a little "nutty" - but numbers don't lie. The data suggests that the decline in population coupled with the accelerated rate of return on capital is going to lead to an ever widening income gap. As the gap becomes wider, an insidious affect is the natural aversion amongst the haves to do all they can to make sure the "have not's" don't acquire too much of what they are amassing. More automation, stagnant wages, etc.

              Additionally, we need people to want to feel like they need to get a job in order for capitalism to work. Jobs is the culture. It's on TV, newspapers, the conversations of passersby, happy hour at the bar... There's nothing more Americana than having a damn "good job you can be proud of." We need job seekers for you and I to be viable.

              If you think about the alternatives; I choose capitalism. It's not perfect, but I prefer it to communism or socialism any day. Jobs became our "beacon" after World War II when they national debt soared... and the government enacted the IRS to make sure we collected from citizens to keep up with debt payments.

              We actually more jobs than we ever have... Because we are flat broke.
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              • Profile picture of the author TvMarcas
                I have to say that the biggest motivator was spending time with my family. I used to work 80 to 100 hours per week the company used to make piles of money and the workers wouldnt get squat. now im my own slave i work the same 80 to 100 hours per week but my family comes first and i have the time to enjoy life with them because last time i checked going on a trip and writing a book on the trips location and taking photos is tax deductible.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheBigBee
    Not all humans have what it takes to follow through on the idea of "owning their own business."

    We all have different psychological profiles. There isn't a single entrep in my family going back two generations. Hard workers though. I'm a "weirdo" to them because I didn't aspire to a career, in much the same way they are weird to me for being able to live under the (professional) rule of others.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mav91890
    Really? You think the economy is in the position it's in because people are lazy? I guess you're right if you are talking about the bankers and corporations who caused many of the problems in the first place.
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  • Profile picture of the author Naim717
    My biggest inspiration is seeing other people work harder for a company than they will themselves. People will do anything for a promotion but won't left a finger to put themselves in a better situation. I figured if I am going to work hard I might as well work hard for myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterme
    What keeps me going is that I'm basically unemployable.
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  • Profile picture of the author keystonecontent
    Having the flexibility to spend time with my family and travel. I can't imagine going back to a regular job, not seeing my kids, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author efil4renots
      I have always hated taking orders from people, I don't mean to be like this but I always have been! If you ask me to do something - No Problem. If you TELL me to do something, I will hate you for it! haha (not really, but I really dislike it).
      Now that I am self employed I am making way more money and I get to spend my time not working if I want to.......PLUS I LOVE WHAT I DO!
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  • Profile picture of the author socialentry
    Ghenghis Khan.
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  • Profile picture of the author Peter Lessard
    I am very sorry to hear about the difficulties your father is experiencing.

    I'm a big picture guy, always have been.
    Had a father that suffered serious illness when I was only 6.
    Threw us into poverty.
    The ensuing difficulties helped to mold my character so I don't look back
    at it with anger. To the contrary, I know how much it helped me be who I am today. By 9 there was not much I would or could not sell. By 12 I had more cash on hand than most of the adults I knew and helped with most of the family bills.

    For my own health and happiness I prefer not to be cynical or hate.
    I simply accept there are truths and to ignore them will cause you pain.

    I do not blame external forces.
    I am a big fan of the late Jim Rohn.
    "Change yourself and everything will change".
    There will always be illness, layoffs, break ups, wars, etc..
    How you react to them and prepare for them is the difference.


    If you adopt blaming external forces that would be too much hate for any human to carry and have a happy life.

    I accept that being an employee of a corporation makes me dispensable and that my fate is in someone elses hands. This does not make them evil it's just the way it is. If I want control over being fired or let go then I have to be my own boss.

    What motivates me? Control is one. I want to have as much control as possible over my fate while being smart enough to realize I can't control everything. My family. I have raised 6 kids and time with them was a huge factor. Despite being ill I had an amazing father and I wanted to be like him. He always had time for me so I made sure to be home with them.

    Now I have moved on to experiences. Time on this planet is limited. My wife and I are always together, and lucky to still be madly in love after so many years. Shared experiences with her, my kids and a close circle of friends trumps being stuck in a cubicle somewhere. They could not pay me enough and believe me I have been offered 6 figure salaries to do it. By working for myself online we are starting to enjoy prolonged travel and hope to continue that for as long as we can.

    We are both 46 and enjoy our lives. That is not to say there are not some major problems that we face daily like everyone else on here. I won't go in to those because I don't focus on illness and issues as I prefer to spend my time on solutions and positives.

    Good luck to you I wish you well.
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  • Profile picture of the author MWatson
    The sense of accomplishment knowing you didn't need anyone else to manifest your potential, for me that sense of accomplishment far outweighs any 9-5 paycheck.


    Cheers,
    Mark
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