Why being the boss may not always be the most desirable option.
Everyone in business generally aspires to be the boss, running the company and making the big decisions. That’s why they work hard and hope for promotion up the corporate ladder, one rung closer to the top. There’s not only nothing wrong with that but it’s also very healthy competition that can push people to excel.
But, believe it or not, that top rung may not be for everybody. Some have reached the pinnacle and discovered, much to their surprise, that they were happier beforehand… less pressure, better work-life balance, etc. The old saying goes “heavy is the head that wears the crown” and that idiom is never truer than in the business world. Whether you’re the entrepreneur who founded the company or you’ve reached management status through your own efforts (and congrats on both if you have!), nonetheless the responsibility of maintaining that company as a viable commercial endeavor rests very much on your shoulders, and you’ll very definitely feel the full weight of that responsibility at times.
But being an entrepreneur vs being an employee isn’t necessarily an either-or scenario, there are middle ground options wherein you can combine employee status with decision-making responsibilities that are not as consequential as senior management positions. Some people – this author included – have had management experience and subsequently discovered that their true calling in the commerce field did not lie there but rather as a humble team member contributing rather than controlling.
There are some very sound reasons why employee status has distinct advantages over being a fully-fledged entrepreneur and for this article, we will list 5 pertinent reasons why we believe that to be so.
Strap yourself in, fire ‘em up, and let’s go…
1. Steady Income
While there is a definite appeal – practical, financial, etc – to being an entrepreneur, nonetheless self-employment comes with certain inherent risks and oftentimes you may not start seeing a stable revenue stream for a while after startup. On the other hand, being a ‘lowly’ worker bee employee, that’s not a problem you need to worry about as you are contractually paid for your services to the company on a regular basis, meaning a sense of certainty and stability. For some people, especially those with a family for example, that might be the better option.
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2. Benefits
One of the better progressions in workers’ rights of late have been the contractually guaranteed benefits that many companies offer their workforce. Compared to even a couple of decades ago, the range of practical and financial benefits now included with employment is something that previous generations would have killed for (metaphorically speaking!); healthcare plans, pension and retirement options, maternity/paternity leave, paid time off, salary review, etc, the list continues to grow year on year as companies realize the benefit – no pun intended – of creating a flexible and accommodating environment for their team. Being an employee and having these incentives locked in to your working status is definitely a plus.
3. Work-Life Balance
It’s important to have fundamental structures in your life that create stability and normality. Without them, we can easily lose our bearings – practical, moral, or whatever – and our lives can become more unnecessarily complicated as a result. Entrepreneurs tend to live for the ‘organized chaos’ that comes with founding and running a company, very often they thrive on the challenge. But not everyone is suited to an all-consuming 24/7 lifestyle and being an employee allows you a much more formalized and structured working regimen that frees you up for a better equilibrium between work and life wherein you can easily disseminate your different ‘modes’ and ensure both are given adequate time.
4. Personal & Professional Development
In recent years, companies have discovered the advantages of both furthering and encouraging the personal and professional development of its workforce. Many companies now provide training schemes and seminars to expand the knowledge, experience, and skill set portfolios of their team members, which in turn brings advantage to the company with motivated employees. Being such an employee, you have the distinct advantage of having these development courses available to you at zero cost to yourself. There is a lot to be gained from such seminars and it does bring a definite positive to being part of the general workforce as opposed to higher management.
5. Risk Mitigation
If you’re the founding entrepreneur of a business, you necessarily share the full burden of that company’s financial health. The decisions you choose can make or break the company, financially speaking, and that is definitely a heavy responsibility, especially if you are operating from investors’ money and have the livelihoods of your workforce on the line. For some, that responsibility is not for them, the pressure of such a position is not something they care to have on their shoulders every day. But as an employee, that’s a responsibility you need not worry or fret about. As a result, that frees you up to enjoy and focus solely on your respective job requirements and leave the heavy lifting to management. Less stress, set responsibilities, a more structured work-life ratio, and a schedule that works for you… who could argue against that!?
