That Lonely Feeling

Any entrepreneur will probably tell you, its lonely at the top.

An entrepreneur, is, by definition "one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise" someone who undertakes a new direction, in business.

Risk, whether it is at the expense of time, or money or both, is an uncomfortable position for most people. They tend to admire risk takers when they see the positive results of their efforts. They particularly like entrepreneurs when they start needing to employ other people. It rather reminds me of the story of  The Little Red Hen, who asks for help, doesn't get any, continues plodding away, and when she is about to enjoy the fruits of her labour, then others are interested in "helping" her, by also reaping the rewards of her labour.

Working from home is usually an entrepreneurial venture. It is by its very nature lonely, solitary work. Even when you work from home  for an established company as an employee, you are somewhat isolated. I do part-time work for a company that does surveys over the phone. Except for a chat box, there is no contact with anyone, and the chat is only to be used between worker and supervisors to deal with any issues that arise while working.

When those around you don't understand what it is you are trying to accomplish, their negative response to your work can be discouraging. Like any job, a new business, work from home or other wise, has a learning curve. That learning curve can involve many tedious hours of research. Hours of poring over books and manuals. The results, the MONEY, comes after much effort and time has already been expended.  If results were instantaneous, everyone would be jumping to the cause and supporting you whole heartedly.

No business venture is like that. All successful businesses had their period of set up. Slog in the trenches, unglamourous, tedious and not profitable. For the time being.

You kind of have to put up with the "concern" of others, that you're getting involved in a scam, do you really believe you can make money doing this? Who's going to pay you? Do you have to invest any money? As if being in business meant one safe big "employer" is going to ensure you have a paycheque this week. I guess, since most people have never been in business, they don't understand that SOMEONE along the line had to start their business from scratch, build it, invest their own time and money in it. Their big secure company, that provides their cheque, came from somewhere.

That is, until THEY get laid off.

I have been in business before, and my sister said she admired my ability to work for myself. She thought it was a great idea to work from home. She felt she couldn't do it. I said, the only difference between you and me is that you don't HAVE to. When you are out of work, again, and still needing to pay those bills, you find a way. If there are no jobs to be had, you have to find a niche and a clientele that wants what you are selling. I can understand the angst of those who have never done anything else but work for an employer.

If I hadn't had to, I'd have stayed in that safe place myself.