| Although I spend most of my time evangelizing | | | | paralyzed trying to figure out what to get |
| about the benefits of entrepreneurship, I do | | | | done in which order. Should you develop your |
| want to throw a little reality out there for | | | | product? Start talking to prospects? Invest |
| those who may look at it only through | | | | in infrastructure? Build a website?#5: You |
| rose-colored glasses. Here are ten reasons | | | | can't pass off irate customers to Customer |
| why you may NOT want to start your own | | | | Service. The buck stops with you, and you |
| business:#10: You can't blame your lame boss | | | | have to deal with all conflict related to |
| for your problems. As much as you might have | | | | your business.#4: No paid sick days. For |
| complained about your boss or "Management" in | | | | many businesses, if you don't work, money |
| your corporate job, you might find yourself | | | | doesn't come in. If you wake up with a |
| missing the person who takes the heat for big | | | | stuffy nose and a headache, you can't tap |
| decisions. Whichever success or failure your | | | | into one of your 20 days of paid sick leave |
| company experiences is squarely on your | | | | and sleep in.#3: Self employment tax. Or |
| shoulders.#9: YOU are all the departments in | | | | just taxes in general. Instead of delighting |
| your business. You must take care of product | | | | at a refund most tax years, as a |
| development, sales, marketing, accounting, | | | | self-employed person you have to pay |
| customer service, information technology, | | | | self-employment tax. You also must keep |
| legal, procurement and shipping. Most of us | | | | excellent accounting records to make sure you |
| do not have strengths in all these areas, so | | | | run a clean operation and in case that you |
| you must quickly learn what is necessary to | | | | are audited by the IRS.#2: Self-funded |
| stay within the law and in business.#8: No | | | | benefits. You must piece together and pay |
| free office supplies. Did you really ever | | | | for a decent benefit package to ensure you |
| think about how much a paper clip or manila | | | | and your family are protected against risk. |
| folder costs? How about a desk, no-glare | | | | You don't have the volume discount afforded |
| monitor or printer toner? All of a sudden | | | | by large corporate programs, so often they |
| you will become aware of all the "hidden" | | | | are more expensive.#1: No zone-out weeks. |
| expenses when you have to do it all yourself. | | | | Although most of us would never admit it, we |
| And no, I don't suggest sneaking out the | | | | have all had weeks (some months!) of "zoning |
| back door of your corporate job with a big | | | | out" where we act like we are busy and doing |
| box of supplies. Bad karma! (I will | | | | important things, but in reality are shopping |
| sheepishly admit to taking a pad or two of | | | | online, or planning a wedding or playing |
| post-it notes in my time, and I am sure I | | | | fantasy sports. If you zone out in your own |
| paid for it somehow)#7: No safety net of a | | | | business, nothing gets done and no money |
| regular paycheck. Even if you do well in | | | | comes in. Simple as that.If you are still |
| your business, most orders do not come in an | | | | charged up to become an entrepreneur after |
| orderly, timely manner as your paycheck does. | | | | reading this list, you may just have what it |
| Paying bills can be much more of a juggling | | | | takes to succeed.Copyright 2006 Pamela |
| act when you first start your business, | | | | SlimPamela Slim is a seasoned corporate |
| unless you are sitting on a huge cash reserve | | | | consultant with a new mission in life: help |
| for expenses.#6: No one gives you goals and | | | | corporate warriors to become thriving |
| objectives. Many new business owners can get | | | | entrepreneurs! |