[thea_kronborg]

On the one hand, I feel like I'd be good at running my own business because of my anxiety. I am always ON. I don't ignore problems, which is bad in some ways, but you'd think would be good for keeping a business together.

I haven't done it yet because I don't officially have the money, and it just generally takes time to get things going. But I don't know if I'm just kidding myself. Maybe the anxiety of really being out there without a net would be too much. Maybe this is just my obsessive thinking patterns tricking me into quitting a solid if boring job. I don't know if I can trust my judgment about myself.

What do you think?

ps. "starting" not "start", sorry

My experience in running a business is that you are accountable for everything all of the time. something goes wrong, you have to be available to fix it no matter what time or day...
some people love not having to work for someone else...
I would definitely do some research and talk to business owners about their experiences.

[thea_kronborg]

yes, I think you're right. But that is okay with me. I just really don't like having to work for other people, mostly because I generally don't like the other people. Or, they're not as smart as me, or they're too slow. I know that sounds arrogant but believe me I know there are plenty of people who are smarter than me, I just don't seem to be working for them.

[pgrundy]

I have a small online copy writing business that I set up in 2007. The first couple of years I made close to what I made at my last 'real' job and was able to work out of my home. This year I've scaled back and taken a part-time outside job. I still write for a few clients but don't look for any new work.

I don't know what kind of business you want to start, but I can tell you for sure that when you have a service-oriented business like writing or landscaping (I did that on my own one summer too), you don't have one boss, you have lots of bosses. Every client is your boss to some extent, and while you can 'fire' clients who annoy you, at first you won't want to do that because you want good word-of-mouth so you can get more clients. Even once you are established, you never want to burn a bridge if you can help it.

I guess what I'm saying is, compared to working for an employer, working for yourself requires more people skills and a higher tolerance for BS and aggravation. Some weeks you make no money, other weeks you have so much work you want to scream--and you don't want to ever drop the ball because it's your good name (and $$$) at stake.

If I were you I'd talk to other people who have run businesses similar to the one you are thinking of starting. Most of them will be flattered to be interviewed. Ask them what their life is like--what is hardest, what they like most, what the prospects for the future are in their opinion, etc.

Last but not least, if you decide to go ahead with it, hire a good accountant before you do even the first thing and listen to him/her. It's worth every cent. Good luck!

[thea_kronborg]

Thank you pgrundy for this advice. It's really helpful for me.

[lostmyfuture]

Originally Posted by thea_kronborg

On the one hand, I feel like I'd be good at running my own business because of my anxiety. I am always ON. I don't ignore problems, which is bad in some ways, but you'd think would be good for keeping a business together.

I haven't done it yet because I don't officially have the money, and it just generally takes time to get things going. But I don't know if I'm just kidding myself. Maybe the anxiety of really being out there without a net would be too much. Maybe this is just my obsessive thinking patterns tricking me into quitting a solid if boring job. I don't know if I can trust my judgment about myself.

What do you think?

ps. "starting" not "start", sorry

Well I ran my own web dev business for many years. I actually never had a career-type job, though I had many summer and term jobs. And I would say do NOT quit a solid if boring job. Solid and boring means stability and less to worry about. Working for yourself means a whole new set of worries. After you're done with the client work there is the rest of it: taxes, bills, and marketing/sales to get new clients. And if you get bigger a whole new headache in managing your staff. Plus, the biggest worry of all: not getting enough work to pay all those bills and people.

If you want to try it, though, start small with some side projects. If it really takes off then consider making the transition. But do keep in mind the risk of flat-out failure. I had many good boss-free years of high income and flexible schedule and interesting projects etc. It was great. But it ended in a big meltdown that's left me with no clear future, a lot of regrets about the past, and a whole lot more gray hair than I ever had before.