The Value of a Startup

The culture of today celebrates the successful entrepreneur and is quick to praise those who have made it big. We all know the names of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, how their drive and determination have forever changed our world. By celebrating these entrepreneurs we are showing people that with hard work and determination individuals (along with their highly capable team) can make a lasting impact and become fabulously rich in the process.

What is often lost in this celebration of success is the fact that the mere fact of starting a business is something that should be celebrated. You do not have to be the next multi-billion dollar company to be successful, you simply need to make a positive impact in the world.

Do not get me wrong, I am all for everyone building a large business and achieving every ounce of success they desire, but it is important to realize that even just starting is a major feat. Today, I want to focus on all the reasons that (in my opinion) everyone should start an entrepreneurial venture at some point in their career.

Learning

Starting a small business is a great opportunity to learn. Not only do you get to learn more about the technical side of starting a business (taxes, payroll, recruiting, etc.) but you get to learn so many soft skills. One skill that I myself have been learning (and am still working on) is professional writing. The ability to write professionally and convey your ideas in a meaningful way is no easy feat and can take years of practice. Another wonderful skill to build when starting a company is the ability to talk with customers. We all tend to overestimate our ability to speak with people and listen to what they have to say. You learn quickly how to listen to your customers and colleagues while building your business as well as how to talk with them. A good example can be seen in how when an entrepreneur is just starting out they will often hear what they want to hear and ask questions in a way that confirms their current assumptions. As you progress you find ways to ask potential customers about their needs in a way that they lead you to the solution they need as opposed to the one you want for them.

Community

The entrepreneurship community is a strong and diverse group of people who all love to engage with one another. By starting a business of your own you are joining a close knit family of people who want to help you succeed.

Some of the most supportive and engaging people I have met are entrepreneurs, they understand your struggle and are there for you. This community does an excellent job pushing each other to grow and push the limits of what is possible. If you decide to stick with entrepreneurship that is great, and if not, that is ok as well. The relationships you build and the collaborative community you experience while building your business will stick with you as your life evolves.

Joy

One of the most important things that entrepreneurship can add to your life is joy. The excitement, challenge, and learning that comes with starting a business can be a great source of joy for many people. Knowing that you have built a business that is supporting yourself, your family, and possibly other families is an incredibly valuable feeling. If nothing else, this is the reason you got into entrepreneurship in the first place. You get immense joy in creating something new and doing that with a community of fellow entrepreneurs, who understand why you love it, makes the journey even more enjoyable.

There are a lot of reasons someone chooses to become an entrepreneur. A lot of the time, the media claims the reason is simply that the person wants to get rich or conquer the world. Don't get me wrong, I am sure we would all love to be rich and rule the world, but that isn’t the true value of entrepreneurship.

The true value, and main reason, so many people in the world are entrepreneurs is the simple fact that being an entrepreneur brings them joy. They enjoy the learning, community, and thrill of being a business owner and that is something that should always be celebrated.