Don’t be average… take a chance and be an entrepreneur!
Financial freedom comes from entrepreneurship and owning a business that is thriving. Most people understand this, and I would bet that at one point in your life you thought about what it would be like to own your own business. For those under 30, chances are you want to run your own business right now! This is what a University of Phoenix survey of 1,600 adults showed, where 63% of people in their 20s either owned their own business or at least wanted to. For those who were not already entrepreneurs, 55% hoped to be one in the future. As time passes, lack of action — and possibly failure — directs people down the conventional path of eight-to-five Monday through Friday, hoping for retirement at 65.
Here’s the Depressing Facts…
Only about 10% of the adult population comprised of the employed and unemployed in America owns a business, according to economists of the Small Business Administration. That means that 90% of the adult population is working for someone else or not working at all.
According to various statistics that float around, only one in 10 startups will ultimately make it, and just from general observation, this seems pretty accurate. Gallup, which is generally accurate, recently indicated that there are 26 million businesses in America, but out of that number, 20 million of these reported “businesses” are inactive companies that have no sales, profits, customers, or workers.
So to say the least, running a business is hard.
Here’s the Deal: Average Statistics Scare off Average People
The problem with average statistics, however, is that they are representing average attempts, conventional wisdom, and a great deal of people that don’t have the commitment it takes to be successful.
Just do it: a large portion of the 90% of people that are working regular jobs that say they would like to own their own business will never try. People who don’t try have 0 chance of owning their own business. Dramatically increase your odds by actually trying.
Persist: understand that the beginning is the hardest part, and you have to break into the industry to be successful. This is true of gaining experience, obtaining customers, generating sustainable income, and building out your network. All of these areas, when starting out, are likely to be in their infant stages and will take persistence to breakout into sustainable success.
Serve others: most people going into business are thinking about themselves swimming in money, rather than serving others with the highest level of quality. Successful business owners understand that their success comes from giving others around them positive experiences, and they prioritize this in their practice.
Don’t be average: this is true from the way you think, act, and conduct yourself in everyday life. Successful business owners have a long-term perspective on things and are not recklessly impulsive the way the average “Shmoe” tends to be. Take some time to analyze successful people and you’ll quickly find out they are far from average.
Aside from being handed millions of dollars, financial freedom today will come from owning your own business and generating significant cash-flow that isn’t capped by an employer who is occupied building his own business (think about that).
Overall, other people’s general way of life and thinking does not need to be you. In all aspects of life, if you don’t want to be part of the general statistic, you have no other choice but to think differently and be exceptional.