Entreprenuers: False Assumptions People Make About Business Owners and "Work From Home"

                   

What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence.

~Samuel Johnson~

I believe in business. I believe in small business. I believe in the Mom & Pop business. I believe in 'start-ups' that start anywhere. I am a small business owner and entreprenuer myself and I find great joy in what I do. I also find great encouragement from fellow small business owners. Until you are in business for yourself, leading yourself, guiding and directing and organizing people and schedules, you may not realize some of the challenges that entreprenuers face...and some of the false assumptions that can be quite frankly, insulting to someone's goals, purpose in life, motivation and drive. In talking to some fellow entreprenuers and through a few lack luster experiences of my own, let me share a few of the false assumptions that many of us have faced, are facing, and are also overcoming as we continue to make impact in our chosen fields. Our diligence and determination, our "stick-to-it-ness" are mowing down these assumptions. Hopefully after reading, you will have re-thought your own impressions if you work for someone else, and as an entreprenuer, you can share this article to enlighten 9-5 ers. Although, with the economic policies rolling out, a whole new class of "work-at-home" businesses may need this boost. In this life, you might come to realize that some people see kindness as a doormat in business, not a courtesy. Here we go!

False Assumptions People Make About Entreprenuers and those who Work from Home:

1. That you are not "really working"- We love what we do, but if we have chosen to do it we are working often times 200% percent at our craft.

2. That you have "flexible time" or "time on your hands"- Most entreprenuers are spending time working, networking, researching, or gaining further knowledge in their field.

3. That you can afford to do "free work" and "quite frequently"- If time is money, and we do every project for free as a for-profit company, how can you expect us to earn money or increase earning or hire additional staff?

4. That you have no overhead costs to consider- There are always overhead costs to consider. If you work from home, you may not have the overhead cost of a building, but there are soft costs involved with keeping a business running.

5. That you're not "really busy" so their "small project" can fill time for you- This can be seen as insulting to a small business owner. Time is money.

6. That your time does not cost. Again, time is money. If a business volunteers Pro-Bono work, sign off on their in-kind work, time, and man-hours, as well as materials they are donating to you. This helps that business during tax time.

7. That you should be willing to be late with paying clients to "fit them in" or "do favors" for family and friends - If you are not willing to compensate for services rendered, do  not demand to be first in line.

8. That you have no social life or any other obligations- We work hard and we need time away to spend with family, go to trainings and conferences to stay current in the field, and simply regroup.

9. That you spend a lot of time sleeping (true entreprenuers will LAUGH at this one)- Just don't insinuate this to any business owner you want to remain friends with. Period.

10. That you're not a "real Business" or a "true" Professional.- Most entreprenuers carry a degree or certfication in the services they provide and have gone through proper legal channels. If there is a question about qualifications, ask. You might be surprised how qualified they really are, and that could be the reason they struck out on  their own. Ask Bill Gates and Warren Buffet (who worked from home for years, according to his interview).

11. That you are available at the beck and call of any "emergency service need"- Assuming that anytime you want something done, your friend or family member who has a business can drop everything and do it, is not good. Treat them like the professional they are.

12. That you are recieving support, encouragement, or supplemental income.- This is an area that rubs raw with a few. Most entreprenuers are not recieving supplemental income unless they hold a full-time or part-time job. Some are blessed enough to get small biz loans or have private investors, but most do not gain that until 3-5 years into their business or more. A lot of personal income goes into starting a business. This makes it bittersweet to be celebrated on the tail end, and have people wanting to borrow money from what they never invested in.

13. That you are paid on time or at a fair rate for contracts. - Many entreprenuers give initial discounts as a way to get in the door or network, so they many times may be working for less.

14. That you must be "rolling in the dough" now that you work for yourself (another Laughable Point)- Self explanatory.

15. That you have no "real bills" or responsibilities with your business. - Every one has bills and people they need to pay on-time. The greatest favor you can do an entreprenuer is pay them fairly and on-time for services rendered.

16. That volunteering a service demands that you should offer the same level of time you would a paying client.- Entreprenuers may have to scale down what they are offering you simply to avoid cost that you as a volunteer cannot afford.

As an Entreprenuer

What I learned and re-learned recently:

1. Never volunteer for what you do not have time to give your best to.

2. Never repeat volunteer service for those who are ungrateful.

3. Never repeat volunteer service with people who do not respect your time, your boundaries, the word NO, your deadlines, or the fact that they are recieving FREE what costs you time and money to produce.

As Les Brown would say, You Deserve! (so much more than that)

You probably have more to add. I would love to hear your thoughts! Post a comment below.