the startups.com platform about startups.comCheck out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University
Education
Planning
Mentors
Funding
Customers
Assistants
Clarity
Categories
Business
Sales & Marketing
Funding
Product & Design
Technology
Skills & Management
Industries
Other
Business
Career Advice
Branding
Financial Consulting
Customer Engagement
Strategy
Sectors
Getting Started
Human Resources
Business Development
Legal
Other
Sales & Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Public Relations
Branding
Publishing
Inbound Marketing
Email Marketing
Copywriting
Growth Strategy
Search Engine Marketing
Sales & Lead Generation
Advertising
Other
Funding
Crowdfunding
Kickstarter
Venture Capital
Finance
Bootstrapping
Nonprofit
Other
Product & Design
Identity
User Experience
Lean Startup
Product Management
Metrics & Analytics
Other
Technology
WordPress
Software Development
Mobile
Ruby
CRM
Innovation
Cloud
Other
Skills & Management
Productivity
Entrepreneurship
Public Speaking
Leadership
Coaching
Other
Industries
SaaS
E-commerce
Education
Real Estate
Restaurant & Retail
Marketplaces
Nonprofit
Other
Dashboard
Browse Search
Answers
Calls
Inbox
Sign Up Log In

Loading...

Share Answer

Menu
Entrepreneurship: What's the best part about being an entrepreneur?
JR
JR
John Ramey, Multi-exit founder, angel, top mentor. answered:

There are lots of 'symptoms' that are great about being an entrepreneur, but I think they are all a result of Self-Actualization (and maybe Self-Transcendence) from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

For me, this manifests as:
* Creating change for the world outside of personal gain.
* Learning the limits of what I can and can't do. Nothing like jumping in the deep end to learn how to swim.
* Getting fulfillment that I wouldn't get elsewhere. E.g. amazing people, satisfaction in work, creativity, and bringing meaning where there would be none.

There are some commonly cited but wrong answers. It's highly unlikely you "have no boss" as an entrepreneur (fiduciary responsibility to shareholders). You don't get to do whatever you want. You don't get to slack off and take vacations.

There's also the "E-Myth" - if you like baking pies, don't open a pie bakery, because you'll spend barely any time making pies and you might come to hate it.

I believe some people are meant to be entrepreneurs. In other words, just like how you don't choose to be gay, you don't choose to be an entrepreneur. So the best thing about having an entrepreneurial job is that it lets you be who you truly are.

... or as I put in some of my social profiles: "I learn by pushing boundaries until something pushes back. So I landed in one of the few jobs that rewards such silly behavior ;)"

Talk to John Upvote • Share
•••
Share Report

Answer URL

Share Question

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+
  • Share by email
About
  • How it Works
  • Success Stories
Experts
  • Become an Expert
  • Find an Expert
Answers
  • Ask a Question
  • Recent Answers
Support
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
Follow

the startups.com platform

Startups Education
Startup Planning
Access Mentors
Secure Funding
Reach Customers
Virtual Assistants

Copyright © 2025 Startups.com. All rights reserved.