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I learned a valuable career lesson this year: it’s okay to admit that you don’t want certain things. I used to feel ashamed of the fact that I really didn’t feel a pull towards certain goals that, clearly, have some benefits. People would ask, “Do you think you’ll ever write a book?” and I’d sheepishly say, “Um…maybe.” But my gut reaction was no I don’t want to write a book. It was so clear, however, from the looks on the faces of those who would ask that writing a book should be something I wanted. So I felt like there was something wrong with me for not wanting to do that. The same goes for owning a business: I don’t want to do that. And that’s okay. Part of learning what we want to do is also identifying what we don’t want. And even though there is a lot of pride to be had in running a business, it isn’t for everyone. If it isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean you are lacking in some way. So if you’re feeling pressured to start a business by, say, your family or colleagues, please first consider signs that owning a business isn’t for you.
You need sacred free time
As a business owner, you will have employees, sure, but if any of them cannot show up, you may just have to be your own employee for the day. So no free time is really ever guaranteed. You can be at a concert with friends when you get notice that your receptionist or cashier got sick and had to go to Urgent Care, and now you just have to drive to your business to be the receptionist. Unless you can find someone to cover. But even then, that task eats into your free time.
