I have learned things I didn't expect to learn while taking this course. We had a conversation today about politics, as the Presidential election is coming up very soon. Someone mentioned that one political party believes that people start businesses to create jobs, but the real reason people start a business is to make money.
I never had the desire to start my own business, and I think that this is why. I didn't feel like 'making money' was a motivation enough for me to take the risk. This week we discussed the challenges of the entrepreneur, and not giving up. It is important to maintain the long-term goals and perspective. Throughout this course, I've learned that starting a business should not be just to make money. In fact, we received counsel from Mr. Kiyosaki that if you start a business for the sole reason to make money, you have less chance of being successful. The REAL reason one should choose to starta business, is to make a difference in the world. The money will come. This is how to become a successful entrepreneur.
So, bringing it back to today's conversation, I spoke up and said, actually, no, creating a business should not be about making money, OR creating jobs. The reason to start a business is to find something that you love, or passionate about...or think of something you can do to make the world a better place. Then figure out a way to do that in such a way that people will pay you for it...THEN you'll have a successful business. The money will come, and you'll likely be able to create jobs in the process, but those are side benefits, not the motivation.
I now actually have a desire to start a business, and I think it's because my thinking has shifted and I can embrace the risk and challenges of starting a business if it's for the right reasons. I am a service-oriented person, so the idea of thinking what I can do for others, and then finding a business in which I can do that and get paid, is not as terrifying for me.
This week's lesson was encouraging, and helped me in the small business decisions I'm making now. It inspired me to let go of things I don't want, and embrace those things I do want. I want to think long-term, and control my business, not let it control me.
