The other day I asked my 13-year old why she never wanted to be at home anymore. Her response was, “Why should I? We don’t do anything, you’re always working.”
Ouch.
The truth is, I do work a lot. More than I should in fact. But that’s the role of the entrepreneur.
I’ve been an entrepreneur for 10 years now. I love it. I can’t imagine ever going back to a regular job. But being your own boss isn’t as glamorous as people like to think it is.
Myth: You can work whenever you want.
Fact: Sure, you can work whenever you want, but remember if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. When I had my Virtual Assistant business, someone had to manage the team, make sure projects were done, find new clients, etc. It’s demanding and if it doesn’t get done, I lose money.
Daring Woman is brand new. There is so much to be done and if I want this company to take off and start making money, well, I must sacrifice time with my family in order to do that.
Myth: If you’re working from home, you’re not really working.
Fact: I call total BS on that one. I bust my butt on a daily basis for my clients and my family. It’s so hard to hear someone say that I don’t have a real job because I work from home. It’s the opposite…I work more hours in a week than most people do in their 9-5 jobs.
My day doesn’t end at 5. It doesn’t start at 9. Here it is 6am on a Saturday and I’m writing this article.
I could be sleeping in all snuggled up to my handsome husband.
Sacrifices.
As entrepreneurs, we work hard to create the life we want. As women, it’s doubly hard.
Not only do we have a business to run, but we have a household to run as well. As an entrepreneur, sacrifices have to be made, especially in the beginning. I’ve given up family time. I’ve given up money in order to have more family time.
Myth: It’s an easy way to get rich.
Fact: Ha! This is not a get rich quick scheme. It’s not a matter of, “If you build it they will come.” Building a business takes time, effort, money, determination. I have cried numerous times over the years. I have almost given up at times.
In fact, just yesterday I was telling my business manager that I feel defeated and like a failure because an online event I was launching wasn’t doing well.
It took me 8 years to reach 6 figures. Now sure, had I known in the beginning what I know now, I would have easily cut that time down, but I did not have mentors in the beginning. I had no clue what I was doing and had to learn by trial and error.
But determination to succeed is what has kept me going over the years.
Being an entrepreneur is extremely rewarding. Not everyone has the right mindset to work from home.
It’s a very taxing, lonely role.
Others don’t understand the long hours, the emotional drain that running a business brings. The uncertainty of knowing how much money we are going to make each month because we don’t necessarily have a steady paycheck to rely on.
It can be downright terrifying at times.
But that’s why I do what I do. I do understand the emotional rollercoaster. I understand the financial fear.
I understand the long hours, the sacrifices. And I’m doing what I do because I am passionate about helping other women turn their dreams into realities.
That’s what keeps me going through the good times and the hard times.
Passion.
Originally published at daringwomaninc.com