5 Myths Keeping You From Self-Employment

By Maya Ackerman

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
~ Thomas A. Edison

Many of us today are lucky to live in a world filled with opportunity. We live in a free society, where everyone has the right to be their own boss. Yet most of us, well, we take it for granted. Even worse, we don’t do anything about it.

We should appreciate how truly lucky we are. There were times and places where owning a business was a crime – a punishable, serious offence. Never-mind renting a building and hiring employees, opening a lemonade stand could have landed you in jail.

Then, why is it that many of us never take advantage of this world of opportunity in which we live?

There are good reasons for this. Many of them are stemming from common myths – myths about what business is and what it’s like to start one.

I am here to debunk these myths, so that hopefully you can come out of your shell and live up to your full potential.

Myth #1: you don’t have enough Time

Too often, we think of a business as something large and complex. Names of multi-million-dollar companies come to mind. We feel overwhelmed before we even start.

But businesses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. And today, with the internet, you have before you more options than ever before.

You don’t need a lot of time to get started. You don’t. It’s that simple. You can start a business with as much as two hours a week. Surely you can squeeze out this much time.

There is no need to quit your job. Many business can be started from the comfort of your own home, on your own schedule.

Million-dollar applications, including simple phone apps, are often developed by a single person working in his or her free time. Some of the most profitable websites were started by those with full-time jobs. Services you can offer on your own, such as private teaching, consulting, and graphic design, can be arranged at your convenience.

Expend your definition of a “business”, and you will find a world full of opportunities that fit your schedule.

Myth #2: you don’t have enough money

A surprising number of businesses can be started with minimal to no initial investment. Many service-based businesses, such as the ones mentioned above, have minimal start-up costs.

Even more so, software and internet-based business, which have incredible earning potential, can be started on a very low-budget.

In fact, some experts recommend avoiding external investors as a general strategy. Having limited resources forces you to be creative, and can sometimes result in better solutions.

Myth #3: You just don’t have a good idea

I used to imagine that the founders of successful companies simply woke up one morning with a great idea, and jumped out of bed screaming ”Eureka”!

But in reality, a good idea, just like anything else, takes time to develop. To come up with a good idea, the first step is to try!

Start brainstorming, or better still, read my free Book of Brilliance, whose sole purpose is to help you come up with brilliant ideas.

Myth #4: You need to do something COMPLETELY unique

Another big mistake that we make is believing that if we are to start a business, it must be something entirely unique, something that is in no way similar to anything else.

While brand new business ideas are certainly worthwhile, so are ideas that improve on existing work. Perhaps you can find a worthwhile improvement for something that is already there. Or maybe you can give it your own personal touch. Remember, the iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player.

Myth #5: Business is corrupt

Business has a bad reputation. Businessmen are sometimes perceived to be immoral people who would do anything for profit. Some even believe that business can corrupt otherwise moral people.

But the truth is that there are different types of business people. Many of them do business in an honest way while genuinely benefiting their customers.

In fact, business is highly compatible with very high moral standards. When you have nothing to hide, you pave the road to long-term success. Moreover, when you work towards something that you believe in with all your heart, when you feel that your work is truly benefiting society, you are that much more likely to succeed.

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I sincerely hope that becoming aware of these myths will help you start acting towards your business goals. Think up some ideas, get started on it, and years later you may look back at this time with delight: this is when you were brave enough to take that first step.

Also, if you know of other myths that prevent so many of us from working for ourselves, we would love to hear about them! Please share with us in the comments below.

There is little in life that feels better than being your own boss. You deserve to take a chance at real freedom. Reward yourself with that chance.

This world is filled with opportunity. Now, it’s your turn.