In the modern education system, we are taught the only way to live is to go to college and get a high-paying job. This idea is taught to us in small ways in primary and middle school. This idea is reinforced throughout high school and some people even hold this misconception for their entire lives. The reason that a high-paying job is not the best way to go is that there is a lot of commitment to getting a high-paying job, college, and another school like medical school or law school. For example, if you want to become a doctor, you need to go to college for 4 years, then medical school for another 4 years before you start working. You could get a lower-paying job and get a degree at a trade school or right out of high school.
But, there is another way to live your life, you can start a business to live. Most people turn down this idea because everyone talks about how hard it is to start and run a successful business. They taunt you with the fact that only 50% of businesses stay open after five years. Those statistics and that you are very fearful of starting to make this one of the hardest decisions. It is so much easier to just get a job and do that because you do not need the courage to do that if you start a business. In addition, certain businesses do not require too much capital to start and you could save 10s of thousands of dollars in the process. In school, this is taught to us by seeing what we want to do and finding a job that pays high. But, in business, you can do anything you want to start.
Although, I am not saying if there is a job that you want to work in, do it. If you want to become a lawyer or a doctor, I am not saying don’t do that. But, if you are trying to become a lawyer or doctor only because those careers can make a lot of money, I would try to find something you would want to do more with your life. Another way to approach it is you don’t have to choose between working as a business owner or working a job. You can find small ways to implement business into your daily life until your business makes enough money to quit your job. Or if you would like to continue working you could help with your financial life.
Another thing is if you have a niche that you like, there is a way to monetize it. You can start a YouTube channel on things you like about it, you can sell products or services related to it, and you can turn ideas into actionable steps. Then once you make enough money to cover your expenses, you can quit your job and live off your business revenue. This can be very helpful when you get older because it allows you to have some passive income when you retire.
There are also so many different side hustles you can do while still working at a job you enjoy. You could design websites for businesses or manage social media accounts for businesses. The reality is that schools will not tell you this. Up through high school, they do not tell you about how starting a business is one of the best ways to make a living. But, there are good ways to learn about these different kinds of ideas.
In Summary, you need to be aware that getting a job is not the only way to live your life. It is the simplest way to make money and have a career. You could start a business as well and that has changed a lot of people’s lives. There are also plenty of books devoted and guides on how to start a business and overcome your fears. I am still working on creating my own business and I think if you are reading this, you should try too!
Thanks so much for reading this article and thanks so much for subscribing. If you have anything to say or want to ask me a question. Email me or add a comment to this post. Look forward to seeing you next week!
Jacob Gans,
Friday Finance