As I complete my first year going solo I have met a lot of business owners at events, seminars, webinars and socially. Not one, not a single one, not even a lone voice at the back regrets the decision they made to go it alone.  They were not all millionaires (though some were), they were not all new start-ups (though some were) and they were not necessarily the best at what they do (though some were).

They could arguably have made more in the cooperate world. But at what cost? There are many reasons to go it alone. . Here are the top eight:

You Control Your Own Destiny

In short that means you don’t work for anyone else.  You can create the company culture of your choice. You get to decide the future direction of the company.  You are in the driver’s seat and can decide what best for the future.

You Can Find Your Own Work/Life Balance

You can set your own hours. I do this. I take my wife and child to the swimming pool when it’s quiet (during the day). I go shopping with no crowds. I have lunch with my family every day. I get up when I want. That doesn’t mean I work less (far from it) but I work my own hours, they are set by me. For example I work in the evenings. 

You Choose the People You Work With

When you work form someone else you get no choice who you work with. If you don’t get on with some it will be time to look for a new job.  When you work for yourself you can choose who to hire and who to work with. You can weed out the people who give out negative vibes.  This also extends to deciding who to work for/ with. If a client acts up you can simply walk away.

You Take the Risk – And Reap the Rewards

If you’ve read any of my other posts you will see I’m a big believer in taking a risk. But you reap the rewards! That’s what so many people forget. It’s about taking a calculated risk, playing the game and winning. Overcoming obstacles. The more you do this the better you get. You learn to spot opportunities and get out of bad choices. Quickly. Many entrepreneurs say that playing the game, taking the risks, is the most fun aspect of their business

You Can Challenge Yourself

Some people thrive on the routine of a job: performing the same tasks over and over again. That’s not me. When you own your own business no two days are alike. You consistently learn new things. About how to run a business better, new skills you need to have, new projects to work on.  Everyday I am challenging myself to be the best.

You Can Follow Your Passion

You spend most of your life at work. Why not work on something you enjoy? Working for yourself you can choose anything you want. Work on your passion. Turn it into a business.  The satisfaction that comes from working on something you truly believe in is immeasurable

You Can Connect With Your Clients

You actually meet your clients. You can connect to them on a personal level. You are not a faceless drone performing an automatic service. Acting one on one with clients and meeting new people is a huge plus for many entrepreneurs.  You can see the real people that your service is helping. The positive impact you are having on their lives.

You Feel Pride in Building Something of Your Own

There is nothing like the satisfaction of building something on your own. The satisfaction this gives is priceless. You have something to show for your efforts.  People are genuinely more interested in  what you do and, let’s not deny it, a bit of kudos comes from running your own company.