by Elaine Sihera

Created on: June 13, 2008

It is not an easy thing to work for one's self because immediately that happens, it takes the onus off someone else and puts it squarely on one's shoulder to provide for one's self and family. It is a very risky thing to do, especially when there is no certainty that there will be a strong and continuous market for one's product or service. But, after all is considered, it is far better to work for one's self than for someone else for five main reasons:

1. The sheer freedom of it. One has the freedom to be one's own boss, to decide on preferred working times, to arrange personal schedules, to decide the growth and development of the business, to act according to one's discretion and, most important of all, the freedom to make those crucial decisions at important times without having to refer to anyone else or to wait to be granted permission to act. The buck starts and stops with you as the owner of the business, and that can be both an exciting and a sobering thought. To be able to decide what we want to do with our life, and how we wish to see that take shape, is one of our greatest desires, which makes working for one's self a very attractive prospect all round.

2. One's efforts, time and money is being used for one's own benefit, not for someone else. This is very important. Often people dedicate more than a quarter of a century to a business, only to leave with a handshake and gold watch and little else. No matter how hard one works, or how loyal one is, it is always on behalf of someone else, benefiting others more than one's self. One might even be a small cog in a big wheel, often never seeing the end product of one's efforts. By working for one's self, one rises or falls with one's contribution. Success or failure depends on one's own input and decisions.

3. The sheer sense of achievement seeing the results of one's labour and creativity. In any major commercial ventire, most people do not see the results of their labour. They are but one small part of the whole. Working for one's self means starting the whole prcess, developing it closely and seeing its effect. That can be quite a heady experience, especially if it is very successful. To go from having very little to start with, then seeing the business become very rich is an awesome experience. This aspect is lost when working for someone else, so there is no greater feeling of achievement than being able to see the results of one's input and hard work. Additionally, one will seldom get rich working for someone else.

4. The opportunity to be totally creative. When one is working for one's self, being creative is a daily activity, not just when it might be required for others. One can put any idea into effect without having to worry too much about what the 'boss' might think. In fact, one can even be like a mad professor creating all kinds of activities and putting them on trial whenever one wishes, whereas one would be more restricted in someone else's establishment because of the wider issues.

5. One can take greater risks without worrying too much about the consequences. One can be far more entrepreneurial and open minded about the possibilities in discovering the right product or service. It is also easier to utilise one's personal talents in the right way without having to sell one's soul in the process.

The only thing that working for an establishment gives the individual is a greater level of job security in tenure and payment. But nothing in life is guaranteed anymore. If one feels comfortable extending one's self and branching out on one's own, self employment is definitely the most satisfactory and rewarding aspect of life, as many new millionaires and billionaires are proving every single day.

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