Entrepreneurship isn’t for Everyone and that’s OKAY

Dear Young People,

In a world where we’re constantly inundated and swamped with numerous messages via the internet, largely social media, it’s easy to assume that one size fits all and that you should be on the exact path that your favourite creator or influencer is on. While inspiration is a necessary good, it’s oftentimes taken too far where we fall into these false ideological cultures that don’t serve us. One toxic balloon that we need to deflate expeditiously is this notion that ‘everyone should/could be an entrepreneur’ and ‘working a 9-5 is akin to slavery’. It infuriates me to see so many young people moving around with this idea that they’re not ‘popping’ or excelling in life because they don’t own a 6-figure business or whatever entrepreneurial archetype they’ve come to idealise.

Logically, it’s virtually impossible for a vast majority of people on the Earth to become entrepreneurs or even business owners. If we were all to become entrepreneurs, who would actually work in these businesses? Who will we sell to? What would that society set up look like? Now, I can be quite non-conformist in my thinking about societal structures sometimes but one thing I shan’t do is let good sense dissipate into nothingness. Businesses are run by PEOPLE. People are employed to fulfil the daily operations that allow businesses to churn a profit and hopefully benefit society in meaningful ways. There are entrepreneurs and there are employees and neither is superior to the other. Each category has levels to it and can both be equally rewarding financially and in many other aspects of life.?

Moreover, being an employee can be a very satisfying life setup that I think we as young professionals have been failing to recognize. There are so many people out here across varying industries that get so much satisfaction and fulfilment out of their jobs daily and are genuinely excited to turn up to work. While the traditional work structures may not be for everyone, it is quite a viable option for the masses to not only take care of themselves but also their families and live a very comfortable life. What and where would we be without our teachers, engineers, doctors, nurses, professors, truck drivers, pilots, custodians, police officers and so many other valuable professions? Like the entrepreneur, these professions also play a pivotal role in our societies.

While some may glamorise the life of an entrepreneur (and there are many benefits), most neglect to speak about the realities of running your own enterprise and working for yourself. For most, it’s a lot of long hours, missed milestones with family and friends, lack of set structure, struggle to find work/life balance, fluctuating seasons of income, constant imposter syndrome and so many more factors especially when you’re now getting started on that path. Obviously, this isn’t a broad brush and representative of the lives of all entrepreneurs but for a vast majority this holds true especially in the early stages.

To the eager beavers, be guided accordingly. It’s truly not a path for the faint-hearted or those who are uncomfortable working without a structure or system setup for them or those who cannot fathom the idea of not having a steady paycheck. I’ve known so many people who were once entrepreneurs, had the full gamut of that experience and then went back happily to the corporate world where they feel more aligned for a myriad of reasons. In the same vein, I’ve also met many individuals who felt constrained by the corporate world and have found their calling and purpose through traditional entrepreneurship and even social entrepreneurship.

Additionally, there are millions of people who find satisfaction in having a 9-5 that pays them religiously on fixed schedules while also maintaining streams of passive income and/or side hustles that they enjoy doing to supplement the flow of income into their coffers. If the issue is income accumulation, know that there are many solutions (especially nowadays with digital technology) that can aid you in this pursuit rather than running straight into full-time entrepreneurship. If you feel called to be a full-time entrepreneur, that’s one thing, but doing it just because it’s the new “IN” thing is WACK and can lead to great dissatisfaction with life and unnecessary turmoil.

In the same breath, life is an adventure that is meant to take you from strength to strength if you’re really paying attention to what’s going on. In our youth (and honestly throughout life), I believe in constant reinvention and exploration to find the things that deeply resonate with you and support the next chapter of life. You can try entrepreneurship and revert to the 9-5 and vice versa as many times as you wish. It’s your life and you’re living it but never feel pressured to choose one or the other. Follow the path that feels most aligned to you as a person and the purpose that you’re trying to fulfil in this life. Great purpose can unfold working for an organisation that you believe in as much as it can spew out of the act of creating your own enterprise that supports human progress.

Whatever your decision, ensure that it reflects who you are and who you want to become. And don’t let anyone shame you for either choice! There are a lot of people who have taken paths for the aesthetic but are deeply lacking in true contentment and fulfilment with life. Don’t be one of them! Truly content people have no bandwidth to criticise or shame. Let that sink in for a bit.

Wishing all my employees, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs a great week ahead!

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Welcome to 'Dear Young People'—your go-to source for actionable advice, inspiring stories, and practical tips designed to empower Gen Z to navigate life's twists and turns with confidence and resilience. Join our vibrant community of dreamers, innovators, and changemakers as we explore topics ranging from personal growth and career development to mental wellness and making a positive impact in the world. Let's embark on this journey together and unlock the endless possibilities of youth!