Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Be Your Own Boss

If we learned one thing from the job market over the past few years, it’s that nobody’s coming to take care of our careers. We can’t wait for a big bailout, a massive economic turnaround or some miracle to grow our paychecks. We’re each responsible for taking charge and making things happen for ourselves. And that’s why you should consider working for yourself! Here are 10 reasons why it’s good to be the boss:

1. You work the hours you want
Want to start work at 2pm? Sure, you’re the boss! As is always the case in business; the more work you put in, the higher its chance of success – however, if you have a great team around you that can handle the heavy-lifting, then you can sit back and reap the benefits, Tony Stark style!

2. You make all the money
To some people, this is what business is all about. Don’t forget, you’ll have overheads and wages to consider, so you don’t actually make all the money. But hey – it’s your company so you get to decide what happens with the profits!

3. You get creative control
Having the final decision on the direction your business goes in is not one to be taken lightly, but it is one that allows you to challenge your brain and put your creativity to the test. Regardless of what your vision incorporates, it’s your vision – and when it all works out (which it will), you get to show off!

4. You can do what you’re interested in
One of the oldest business sayings goes along the lines of ‘if you do what you love, then success will follow’. We could spend all day discussing what ‘success’ means, but as far as I’m concerned – if you’re running a business doing what you love, then you’re already far more successful than 99% of the other people on the planet!

5. You get all the glory
In one form or another, it’s happened to all of us. You have an idea or finish a project at work only for someone else to swoop in and take all the glory. When you own the business, you automatically become the front man so the glory will always be yours!

6. You don’t have to commute
No longer will you have to drive, cycle or even hitch-hike the lengthy commute to work. You’re the boss, so you decide where your headquarters will be located. Office building down the street? No problem. Your kitchen table? You got it. Stay in bed and fire up the laptop? You get the idea.

7. You get to live an interesting lifestyle
For all I know, your life may already be pretty interesting, but if not – think about Richard Branson. Have you ever heard a story about him sat behind his desk filing a tax return? Nope. Ever heard a story about him nearly dying in hot air balloons and hanging out with celebrities on his own private island? I rest my case.

8. You don’t have to suffer fools
Something we can all relate to is ‘that guy’ in the office that epitomises Dwight from … The Office. From the outside looking in it’s hilarious. Experiencing it first hand is a different story altogether – and as the boss is one that you will have the power to put an end to permanently.

9. You can remain healthy
One of the hardest things about working 9 to 5 is that after it’s time to call it a day, you don’t always feel like hitting the gym. If you’re the boss, you will have no such problem – you can either create a huge workout complex like they have at Google, or more simply just cancel your afternoon meetings to go rock-climbing or whatever else you feel like.

10. You will be the boss
Think about it – you’re making the decisions, you’re making the money, you’re hiring and firing… you’re the boss! Starting up on your own is not a decision to be taken lightly, but nothing is better than waking up in the morning with a feeling of being in complete control of your own destiny.