Why do you want to start your own company?
A developer wrote to me: “Why do you encourage students to start their own company? Are there other reasons beside the desire to make money?
Answer: There are several good reasons to start your own company but making money is NOT one of them. Startup is not something for everybody. Students, who just want to have a job, build a stable career should not start their company. Students who could not find a job and think that startup maybe another choice also should not start their company. However, students who like to be innovate, who want to pursue a passion, who do not like being told what to do. They want to follow their own way of doing things and starting a business can let them do that. They can create their own destiny by following their own interests and operate the way they think it should be done. They can be flexible with their daily working hours, when to start and when they stop. Most prefer to work long hours to achieve their goals.
By starting your own company, you can pursue what you think is best for you in what you are interested in. This is your career and you can pursue what you are really passionate about. Starting your business can also be helpful to others. You have the ability to create jobs for those in need. You can select who do you want to hire, whether people that have been laid off, just graduated, or someone you know. As the owner you can choose who you work with. You can surround yourself with people who share your passion, who care about your company and want to succeed. You have many people who share your dream and are willing to support you no matter what.
You will enjoy greatly when your company achieves its goals or accomplish something you have been working so hard for. You will be proud of what you build and see other people are using it. Starting your own business will pushes you to become creative. You have to learn many new things that no school can teach and make sure things are working the way you want. You will be able to apply what you learned to make things happen and be able to learn from your mistakes.
Starting your own business can be a great way to inspire others. Young people always need inspiration, and seeing you living your dream can be an inspiration for other students as they see you as their role model. The more people follow you, the stronger a startup movement you can inspire. Finally you will contribute to the development of a knowledge society in your country.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
