Lifestyle
Is Entrepreneurship for Me?
❓ Why would someone choose to leave the security of a traditional 9-5 job to pursue the uncertainties and challenges of entrepreneurship?
/ / / / / / / /
Pursuit of Freedom
Let's start with defining what entrepreneurship is. It is:
Starting a Business: Creating and starting a new business venture.
Innovation: Developing new products or services, or finding better ways to do things.
Risk-Taking: Assuming financial risks in the hope of profit.
Management: Overseeing the business operations and making decisions.
Growth-Focused: Working towards expanding and sustaining the business.
But more importantly, entrepreneurship is fundamentally a pursuit of freedom. It's a journey which enables you to choose and shape your life in alignment with your values and aspirations. There are many kinds of freedom:
Freedom of Time: Choose where to spend your time – how will you balance professional endeavours and personal interests?
Freedom of Money: Choose what financial objectives you pursue – what returns are you aspiring to gain?
Freedom of Relationship: Choose whom you collaborate with – who are the people you want to work with?
Freedom of Purpose: Choose what you want to work on – where do you want to make an impact?
Freedom of Approach: Choose how you realise your ideas – how will you build and develop your concepts?
💡 Entrepreneurship is the freedom of choice, where you steer your journey and create your own rules.
Which Game Fits You Best?
There are many ways of approaching your entrepreneurial journey. Each "game" has a unique path, filled with its own set of rewards and challenges, influencing both your professional and personal life:
1. The Artist Game:
You have a particular set of skills (which may or may not come in handy to find people). It is your primary focus and you want to spend as much time as possible doing that. Ideally, you are able to delegate the mundane, to immerse yourself fully in creativity.
"Do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." - Confucius
2. The Lifestyle Game:
Work is primarily a means to an end – funding your lifestyle. The aim is to work as little as necessary, so you have time for other pursuits and pleasures – be it travel, hobbies, or relaxation. This approach limits business growth and financial potential to enjoy hobbies, travel, and relaxation.
"Making a *living* is not the same thing as making a *life*.” - Maya Angelou
3. The Performance Game:
Your ambition drives every decision. You want to achieve great things, whether it's making a significant impact, generating substantial income, or scaling a business. Yes, it might mean less time for leisure, but the thrill of achievement is your true reward.
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." - Nelson Mandela
4. The Innovator's Game:
You're not just playing the game; you're changing it. Innovation is your playground, and disruption, your tool. You want to challenge the status quo and introduce new ways of thinking and doing. Venture the unknown regardless of risk to make a mark on the world.
"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." - Steve Jobs
Each game places value on different aspects of freedom:
Artist Game: values purpose and approach over money
Lifestyle Game: values time over money
Performance Game: values money over everything else
Innovator's Game: values impact over time
Each game is a choice – a reflection of what you value most. Whether it’s the deep dive into creativity, the balance of life and work, the pursuit of lofty goals, or the path of innovation. Understanding what you value and prioritise in life will enable you to choose which journey you want to pursue. So, which game will you choose?
💡 Finite and Infinite Games - James P. Carse
Regardless of which game resonates the most with you, consider approaching it as an "infinite" game. Whether it's your business or your life, it's not about winning or losing; it's about sustaining, growing, and thriving in an ever-changing environment.
Read More