EMPLOYMENT VS. BUSINESS

I’m not very old; neither I’m I very young. Three weeks and I’ll be done with campus. The hugest decision for me right now seems to be whether I should get employed or I should keep doing business. Trying to explain to my family, friends and relatives how my business (Which has not yet netted much profit) is better than the job offers that are flying around is harder than selling umbrellas in turkana.

It presents a bit of a conundrum really. On the one hand, employment presents security, a cheque at the end of every month, opportunities to work for some of the big names in the industry, career growth, social status and bragging rights at the next reunion.

Business is this dark world that springs surprises at me everyday, knocking me left right and centre. At times leaving me no option but surrender. A wealthy businessman once told me that, to do business successfully I have to be ready for failure. It sounds like a bit of an oxymoron to anyone who hasn’t tried business but ask me about it. Everyday is a learning curve in business. Difficult clients, cashflow problems, investments that don’t generate returns and concepts that just can’t work in this market are the daily experiences of every businessman.

The problem with entrepreneurship is that, if the entrepreneurship bug is in you, you will never get satisfied with anything but business. There is no special school to teach you the ropes of doing business. You either adapt or you die. The question now becomes, where you draw the line and hang your coat. This is something I have found no answer to. I guess we are all different; we have different capacities to cope and adapt to difficulties and that is what will separate successful entrepreneurs from the not so successful.