../ Motivation to start a business

'If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start' - Charles Bukowski

Ever thought of starting a business? It seems fun, right? Being your own boss and all that? I often have conversations with friends about it, and I've been thinking about it heavily lately, specifically the motivations people have to start a business. I wanted to write something about it.

A façade?

Entrepreneurs aren't constrained by a traditional schedule, which can seem quite glamorous from the outside. Having a flexible schedule is indeed a significant benefit. However, it's easy to overlook the work they do on a Saturday from 7 PM to 4 AM and instead focus on the three-hour lunch they had on a Tuesday at 2 PM. Business is simple, for the most part: the more you put in, the more you get out. So, although someone may be able to work 15-hour weeks, they will most likely be outperformed by someone working 80+ hour weeks.

Motivation

There are two types of people who decide to start a business, whether it's a startup or just a small side hustle. The first type wants to emulate the 'ecom guru' lifestyle: bottle service five times a week in the club, driving a Lamborghini, etc. They wish to work two hours a day to make their millions per year. The second type is genuinely passionate about whatever business they want to start. They want to put in 80-hour weeks because they love what they do. Knowing both types of people, including some of the 'gurus' seen on social media (who lie about their lifestyle), I can say that only the second type will be successful.

Afterthought

I'm actually writing this while waiting for some data collection to be finished. After re-reading it, I really want to stress the quote at the top. If you decide to start a business, be ready to go all the way. Forget the money, material success, and focus on building something you're passionate about. Business should be about shipping great products, not about the 'perceived' lifestyle that comes with it.