Where's the Fun in being an Entrepreneur?

[Steve5001]

It sounds like a silly question but when does being an Entrepreneur become boring?

I set up my first e-commerce website in 2003 at the age of 24. Now, 3 years later, I am still working as a 'Solopreneur' and have a couple of sites which make me a respectable salary.

But am I Happy?

I'm 'pleased'!!! That's about all I can say!

I have achieved building something up from scratch on my own and have done well enough to be able to support myself. However, to me, I was really only a true 'Entrepreneur' in the first year of the business and this was the time I had the most fun. There was so many new things to learn and there was always the constant buzz that was 'This thing could fail'. It gave me an adrenaline rush and kept me on my toes!

Once you make a success of things, the excitement really does die down. Yes, you can always look to improve things within your business or look into new areas within the industry your operating in, but at some point, most people do have to accept that your small business is not going to turn you into the next Bill Gates.

So when does that buzz of being an Entrepreneur in the first couple of years dissapear?

It goes when you suddenly wake up one morning and realise that you have created yourself a job! A job just like the job that you resigned from because of boredom the 3 years before. A job that you are tied and committed to. A job that you could end up hating. You become an Employee and not the Entrperneur you once were.

Don't worry though, this for a lot of 'Solo' Internet Entrepreneurs doesn't always last for ever. (I can't really speak for businesses in other industies)

As time goes by, you start getting a lot better at what you do and in a lot of cases, the 6-7 days a week that you were once working can be reduced to 2-3. This has what has happened to me.

From reading a lot of articles on the internet and on blogs like Yaro's, I would have to say I am in a lucky position. I have moved up a level from those that have normal 'day job' and work on their business in the evenings and weekends and also from those that work couple of days a week on their own project but still need to do the odd day of part time work elsewhere. When your an Entrepreneur, your always on stepping stones.

But even with 4 free days a week, am I happy? Not Yet!

I long for the days where I was excited to work 6-7 days a week and was learning new things. I long for the adrenaline rush I once had and the excitement of possible success and failure.

I don't think 9-5 workers will ever understand that when we as Entrepreneurs finally create oursleves free time, we don't always want it.

People say 'If you've got an idea, just do it'. I agree with this and have proved it. The problem for me howvwer is that for the past year, I have loads of free time but just can't think of any new projects to get my teeth into and this doesn't make me a fun and happy Entrepreneur.

I really want to be able to 'do it' again and hope I'm not a 'one hit wonder'. I guess this spurs me on.

Just remember, there are a lot of highs and lows when you are an Entrepreneur though they are normally difficult to identfy at the time and not usually spotted until you come out the other side. Maybe step back every now and again and take a wider view on what you are doing.

Enjoy yourself!

Steve

[justme]

Steve, I'd suggest you look for satisfaction rather than happiness in your accomplishments. Being happy is an emotion, and emotions come and go. Satisfaction goes deeper and lasts longer.

That said, now that you've got time on your hands (4-5 days a week) what will your entrepreneurial spirit lead you to next? If your thrill is in the starting, then don't quit starting. Once you get one project to the point it reaches steady state (which is where you seem to be now), enjoy some satisfaction . . . and pick up the next project.

justme

[Aitch]

Great post Steve and thanks for writing it.

I agree with what justme says.

Happiness is but a feeling, an emotion, and it would be impossible to be in a constant state of joyful bliss. In fact, if you think about it, it could actually be a bloody liability. I mean, where else is there to go if you're in a constant state of happiness. It would become the norm and too much of anything looses its appeal eventually.

We're supposes to feel, we don't operate on instincts alone. It's what makes us human. Personally, I like being contented more often than not and extremely happy on occasions. I even like a bit of sh*t to hit the fan on occasions, because when the low periods have passed (as they always do), it makes me appreciate what I do have and not focus on what I don't. That includes good health, people, places, and things.

But if you talking about getting a buzz, then there are no limits as to where you can take yourself. Especially if you have lots of free time.

This thing called life has limitless opportunities for folks with disabilities, so for able bodied individuals the sky really is the limit. Try saying this to yourself: "If it's to be, it's up to me!" You're only limited by your own imagination.

A few years ago a fella said to me, "Hello Aitch. How are you today?" To which I replied, "Oh, not so good to be honest". "Compared to who?" He said. Now there's a question that made me think!

Aitch