Will everything truly be Ok if I quit my ‘horrible’ job and start my own business?
“After 8 long years working for that man and his company, the only good thing I can say about him is, he gave me my first job.Saminu*
I love building things. It's the career I chose and I'm good at it.
But that man was never going to change. So, I left and started my own business.
Hm. It wasn't easy in the beginning.
There was always something else to do and something 'important' to get done.
I spent most days doing things that had nothing to do with what excites me about the business – which is construction.
I was my own boss. But I was overwhelmed and making no profits.
It was loss, loss, loss.
I had to take loans to cover my expenses even during my first year.
In the end, it was obvious that the business was going nowhere.
Besides, I had already lost interest in it by then.
I closed down the business a while ago and I've been working for the past two years to pay off the loans.”
Builder and Ex-Owner of a Small Construction Firm.
“My friends hated it.Agnes*
They were not happy that I chose to work in that restaurant.
The pay was horrible, the kitchen was tough and my co-workers were ruthless.
But I knew working there will help me learn what I need to own my restaurant one day.
So, after being overlooked a couple of times for the Head Chef position, I knew it was time.
I quit and opened my own restaurant; and I've never looked back.”
Ex-Sous Chef, Restaurateur, Avid Food Tourist and Co-owner of a Small Cooking School.
“It's very demanding, working as a software engineer and for an online fashion store.Kwame*
But my last bosses, never made it any easier.
I was fed up with both of them and their company.
But I was rather more fed up with the fact that, I had to work to make money.
It didn't feel safe or secure to me.
So, I started preparing and when I knew the time was right, I quit and started my first company.
And now, I own five thriving businesses that work for me.
I'm free to follow my passion, always there for my family and I work when it's necessary."
Software Engineer, Serial Entrepreneur and a Stay-Home Dad.
*Names in this article have been changed.
First off, life is too short to be stuck in a job that doesn’t see you or excites you anymore – regardless of the salary.
But, starting your own business just to escape a ‘horrible’ job, isn’t really the best solution.
Going into business does offer the biggest chance to freedom and security.
But then, it’s still not the only game in town; in most cases, it isn’t even the best option.
For instance, you could find another job or do some classes that’ll get you a better job and so on.
The point is, some people want a career and are happier working for someone else.
And if that’s who you are, then you have lots of options that’ll help you live that lifestyle.
“don’t believe the hype”
But what you should never do, is believe in the lie that, you’ll easily be successful doing your own thing.
Especially, when you’ve never even dreamt of owning a business.
But of course, when you’re really good at your job but work for a ‘shitty’ boss or company, people would tell you to quit and do your own thing.
Yes. Sometimes such an advice works out well.
But more often than not, it doesn’t.
That’s because, owning a business is neither about proving you’re better than your boss or that you can do it better on your own.
No, business is already challenging, as it is.
It’s rather about building something that’ll give you the freedom to live the life you so badly want. Something that:
- runs itself
- makes you money
- and will help you live the life you want.
“your job won’t be enough”
Besides, just because you’re good at your job doesn’t necessarily mean you can build a successful business.
As a matter of fact, the work you do now won’t be the only work you’d be doing if you want to successfully build a business.
Like it or not, you’d also have to learn and understand your boss’ job and your colleagues’ jobs – aside your job.
In other words, the skills you have right now, won’t be the only skills you’d need.
Your responsibilities would multiply by more than 2000%.
Responsibilities that’ll require you to have business skills and work in a way that’s different from what you’re used to.
You’d need to be creative, determined, effective and work smart – not hard.
Your hard work will be useless; and your confidence will quickly disappear – they won’t help you.
In fact, you’d kill that business before it even starts, if your only plan to build it, is by being a confident and hopeful workaholic.
“quitting and truly doing your own thing”
Look, you have every right to quit that ‘horrible’ job.
However, “my pay is shit” and “my boss sucks” are not good enough reasons to go and do your own thing.
Owning a business has to be something that you’ve always:
- dreamt of doing
- been preparing for
- and badly want to do.
So, you want to quit and start your own business?
Then, do it.
But do it because you’ve been using that job to improve your skills and learn the business; and you think it’s time to do your own thing.
Do it because you feel your time is worth more to you than working for a paycheck.
Do it because you so badly want to live your dream life now, and owning a business is part of that life.
Otherwise, you’d just be escaping a horrible job only to end up as another victim in the graveyard of failed businesses.
Or worse.
Enslaved in a business that’s unrewarding, has no future and fills you with regrets every day.
Way worse than how your ‘horrible’ job makes you feel now.
Small To Sprout 