The Great Recession had several lasting impacts on the lives, consciousness, and outlook of the American people. Like the ripple effect of a tsunami, the Recession saw wave after devastating wave of hard hits. First it was nationwide layoffs, then it was foreclosures, then it was widespread unemployment. The list goes on. This created a job market so fierce many job seekers began questioning if it was all worth it. What did all of this really mean?
It’s always been said that when one door closes, another door opens. This positive sentiment can be applied to the ingenuity of the American people. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of its own brutal destruction, American job seekers began looking inwards to redefine what a having a job really meant and also to rediscover their passion. Not only did they have families to feed, but they also had lives to live and enjoy. Born out of this creative reinvention came the modern entrepreneur.
Thousands of once desperate Recession job seekers have now become highly successful owners and operators of lucrative businesses. This has inspired thousands if not millions of others to do the same.
Are you one of them?
Being an entrepreneur takes a certain kind of mind set. You can’t just work hard. Sure, working hard makes up a fairly large portion of what it means to be a successful entrepreneur, but really, you have to learn the value of working smart. That’s right, working hard just ain’t good enough in this arena.
Starting out as an entrepreneur takes courage. For the first few years — if not longer — you might be pretty broke. But just think, you have no boss. Well, you’re your own boss, so all that talk of managing employee benefits, paperwork for group health insurance plans, understanding part tie employee benefits and even having benefits administration tools is all on you. That takes a lot of discipline!
While you may not have to worry about managing employee benefits for quite some time, if at all, you have plenty of other things to worry about. During this time, it’s important to create a solid support system of positive, uplifting friends, family members, and mentors.