Personal Goals

Money isn't the whole story, at least for most people. There's a certain satisfaction in "doing it yourself" that may not be quantifiable, but that is nevertheless important. Typical reasons that people choose to start a business include:

• Freedom — Some people just don't like working for others, and they want the freedom to make their own decisions. Owning your own business is a way to achieve personal freedom on many levels.
• Career change — Most people change jobs or even careers several times during the course of their lives. Sometimes, it's by choice; other times, existing jobs simply disappear.
• Satisfaction — Some people feel trapped in a field they don't enjoy, and they want a chance to work at something they find more interesting.
• Recognition — Being an expert or authority in a particular field is also an important factor for many people. They don't just want to start a business; they want to be recognized for the quality of their work and their expertise.
• Flexibility — Self-employed people have more freedom to choose businesses allowing them to satisfy personal preferences, such as working outdoors, maintaining hours other than 9 to 5, having seasonal vacations, etc.
• Responsibility — Some feel lost in a corporate setting, and they want the chance to play a bigger role in their chosen field.
• Professional growth — Some people believe their ideas are being ignored or not being used properly in a corporate setting, and they want the chance to do it the "right" way.
• Benefits and security — With corporations looking for ways to control costs, the benefits offered to employees aren't as plentiful as they once were. Many people feel the traditional advantages of working for a large employer are gone. Retirement plans are increasingly less generous, corporate health plans are costing employees more each year, and the job security corporate workers once enjoyed has been greatly reduced.