I always wanted to own a business. So when I left the rat race in 2015, I set up my own consulting company not really sure how to go about doing it apart from being cock sure that I didn’t want to get involved with office politics and the pressure at the office. I also wanted to spend a lot more time with my family and having the freedom to decide on how I was going to shape my career.

One of the demands of running a business was doing everything on my own, and it would take god-like grit just to make it on the next few years or so. Its been 6 years now, and it was a hell of challenge, not only for me, but also to my whole family. Coupled with the pandemic that Covid-19, it took longer for me to realize that the it requires more than just stamina but also the belief that things are going to get better someday.

Many time family members would nag me to go back to a salaried position, but I know that it wasn’t something I wanted in my life anymore. I had been offered many good positions since quitting my job that pays well, but I wanted more. I wanted to build something to leave behind for my kids. I wanted to control of the career path and I wanted the freedom of doing what I was passionate about.

In my corporate job, I had some structure; I knew exactly when to wake up, when to go to work, follow my superior’s instructions, communicate clearly and perhaps get a promotion by the end of the year, which comes in quite regularly.

I don’t want to play that game anymore. But running a business taught me some very harsh lessons. Here’s some of them.

Lesson 1

One of the first tough lesson that I learned was that was money dries up quickly. My savings went dry within a few months. I was lucky that I had managed to sell a property just in time before it got really depressing. But that too went dry within a few months.

In a job, you work on a specific task, someone tells you exactly what to do, and you get paid a fixed amount on a set day: most of the time, your performance will not affect how much you earn.

When you run a business, you have to create a value-generating machine: no one pays you a salary. You have to serve someone else, and create value for them so that they pay you money for it: the more value, the more money. In a job, you are given the blueprint for generating money; in a business, you have to create that blueprint (hint: it’s a lot easier if you follow what already works).

Lesson 2

I was working with my friends on a new concept of measuring engagement levels at work. We were so excited when the product was finally ready. But finding our first client was ridiculously difficult.

We were unsure of our footing in the market, but misled ourselves to think that everyone would want waht we have regardless of who they are. We were flailing in our pitches to some of our potential leads. we didn’t have track records to prove our product works and it was hard to convince anyone that we had any value to their organization.

Don’t start a startup, start a business

Over time, we managed to repositioned our value. One of the key learnings we had was that, in running a business, don’t start a startup, start a business. Instead of focusing on a “great idea” that you came up within the shower, go straight to the market. Research forums, contact your target customers, study your competitors. You want to create a machine that generates value for others and money for yourself as a consequence: it’s much easier to do so if you focus on who you’re serving, rather than keeping the spotlight on yourself.

Lesson 3.

Realize that once you leave your job to start a business, your lifestyle choices and path will stray from what the majority chooses. And that’s ok.

Actually, that’s why you started a business in the first place. Remind yourself that you chose to play a different game, and surround yourself with people that have the same ambitions, values, and goals as you do.

Leaving my job to start a business has been one of the best decisions of my life.

• It’s allowed me to face my challenges and grow as a person.
• It’s allowed me to create value for others and collect thank-you notes.
• It’s allowed me to craft my lifestyle and spend months lock-up at home at least in the last two years (lol).
• It’s allowed me to connect to inspiring entrepreneurs with massive businesses.
• It’s allowed me to be in charge of my own choices and take control of my income.

The journey had been worthwhile. The challenges gave me an education that I would never have gotten anywhere else if in the world. Quitting my job to start a business is the best terrible decision I’ve ever made: do it wisely.