Top 5 Reasos Why I Won’t Get A Job

Entrepreneurship is not for everybody. It is not for the lazy or the faint of heart. That doesn’t mean that those of us who are in the thick of it don’t need to be reminded why we chose to go it alone and be our own boss. Disappointing sales, difficult clients, writer’s block, unsuccessful collaborations, and fatigue will eventually strike us all. For those of you who wonder why I, or anybody else for that matter, would bypass a cushy job with a corner office, a salary, and retirement fund, this list is for you.

I am a Millenial. We are inherently distrustful of the corporate world. We watched the banks, the auto industry, and the real-estate market go boom. We have seen the cyber bubble burst, several times, and watched big money wittle away at our political process. While some of us have been enticed by the lure of money and power, most of us have realised that the game is rigged. Only a select few will ever be able to get access to those positions, regardless of talent or hard work. For the rest of us the cost to achieve the kind of financial freedom we are seeking is entirely too high. We want to work AND play. We have redefined freedom and success so that it has less to do with dollar signs and more to do with the quality of our lives. Ruined marriages and kids you never see don’t look like success to us. Not willing to spend life in a cubicle, we have decided to come up with a way to make a living that enhances our life, not just our bank account.
I have a family. More importantly, I want to see my family. Everyday. I don’t want to rely on a patchwork of educators, caregivers, and cable TV to guide my children. I don’t want to be informed about all of the precious moments that happen during the course of the day. I don’t want to stop having dinner with my family every night. Unfortunately, Wall Street doesn’t offer a family friendly career option, so I opted out.
I am a terrible employee. No really, like a HORRIBLE employee. I don’t like being told when, where and how to complete tasks. I don’t want to feel forced to comply with a corporate culture that I don’t agree with. I resent being forced to do things that are redundant, illogical, ineffective or tedious. I have very little respect for authority, hierarchies, or antiquated motivational policies (see point 1). I like being in control of my schedule. Start work at 11 AM? Sure, why not. Ninety-minute lunch break? Great. I do what WORKS for me. And when it stops working or I find something better I can make changes. I don’t have to clear it with the boss, or try to make my life fit into a corporate structured work week. Maybe I don’t work on Tuesday? Maybe I need to take a walk and clear my head before tackling a task. I couldn’t do that if I was punching a clock or on somebody else’s dime. And you know what? I do my best work when I work my way.
I’ve got a big ego. I look at the world and say, “I could do that”. I see other people living their dreams, traveling, launching cool start-ups, going green, and I say “me too”. I can do something cool too. I can live my dreams as well. Okay, maybe I’m not Beyonce or even Michelle, but being Sakura is pretty awesome as well. There is nothing that they have (except millions of dollars) that I don’t have. My generation is full of women who started with little or nothing and have carved out their place in the world as Vloggers, Bloggers, Web Series Developers, writers, singers, web developers, designers, etc. If they can do it, why can’t I?
The Internet. The internet made everything I need accessible. I barely have to leave my house. I am writing this right now in my underwear. Business meetings happen via skype. Clients chat with me whenever they have a concern. Banking, shopping, education, filing legal documents, even tutorials on how to write engaging content are all available online. Since the barrier to entry has been lowered, the risks associated with starting a business have become more manageable. I don’t need a small business loan (although a credit card is useful). I don’t need a business degree. I don’t have an accountant (hello H&R Block). And guess what? I don’t need one! I can learn the skills I need, access the agencies I need, and hire the help I need all from the comfort of my own bathtub.

I am sure you could come up with your own list of reasons why you won’t be submitting resumes or filling out on-line applications any time soon (other than that you just hate doing it). And if you can’t, here, use mine. Whether you are freelancing, self-publishing, working from home, or starting a small business, never forget why you decided to skip the cubicle and take the road less travelled.