Employee or Entrepreneurship?

As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I’m currently commuting between LA and KC for a software client of mine. I’m performing some sales coaching for their inside sales team. 45% of their yearly sales revenue happens between September 1 and December 31.

I was offered the Director of Sales position in July and politely turned it down since I didn’t want to uproot my wife and 2 kids and move to California. But I don’t mind being onsite through the fall.

I’ve co-owned or owned my own company since August 2006 and love it.

There are a few advantages of being an employee of a firm:

1. Steady paycheck (Until they lay you off or fire you.)

2. Benefits (If they provide them for you.)

3. Security (Whatever that means.)

As I type this, I read this week that Blackberry was laying off 300 employees. So I hope you can hear my sarcasm and cynicism in this post!

Top 10 Reasons I’m an self-employed entrepreneur:

1. I don’t have to dress up unless I want to and I get to set the company dress code.

2. If I don’t like my income, I can directly do something about it rather than wait on the company to act.

3. No politics, bureaucracy or drama! (Unless I want it!)

4. I’m all about results. Not how many hours did I put in.

5. I get to choose the employees I want to work with.

6. I get to choose the clients I want to work with.

7. If I want to leave early on a day to do something I want, I don’t need to ask permission.

8. I have total freedom and flexibility to get work done.

9. I have equity in the company and an asset in case it gets sold one day.

10. The sky is the limit. Yes, there are factors outside my control but I control my own destiny more than employees at other firms do.

How about you? Which do you favor? Being an employee or self-employed?

I’m Ray Ruecker with Connect 5000! Greetings from Torrance, CA!