Comments on: Why I Quit Entrepreneurship and Got a Real Job

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:28:44 +0000

I know I’m late in reading this – but it’s all true. I learned and went through the same exact thing. I am now working in the corporate world, but I still have plans to work for myself again sometime in the future. Great post!

By: i

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:27:45 +0000

An excellent article. I’m an year old entrepreneur and the quit word is humming in my head. Reason: too much of personal debt. So I agree very much with you when you say that one needs to save. I had just like to add to it: save sufficiently. almost two years of not being in job and personal EMIs have wiped off my savings. Now I’m left with a company which is on the verge of take off but I’m having to call it quits.

By: Miguel Palma

Miguel Palma — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:19:12 +0000

I’m a bit behind (read the article on January 2007), but it was, nonetheless, a very interesting read!

Currently, I’m reading Peter Drucker’s book “Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” and did it change my understanding on what entrepreneurship “is” (which doesn’t say much, being that I’m only 20 years old). In any case, I found that many of Drucker’s principles were closely related to your observations and experiences.

By: Petkinson

Petkinson — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 19:25:55 +0000

There are more of them than there are Starbucks shops! And by the way, running an online business requires skills. Or to have the patience it takes to get somewhere or the financial management skills.

By: alfredo

alfredo — Thu, 18 May 2006 16:08:31 +0000

Specially difficulttoself-evaluate.
At the end of the day, how much you can earn is a good measure of how smart you are money-wise business-wise. Ok… there is always the luck element but if you are smart, you´ll make it. Ciao ciao

By: Tramky

Tramky — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 01:23:04 +0000

Someone else wrote regarding what he learned about entrepreneurship: You aren’t your own boss – Your customers are way more demanding than any corporate boss could ever be.

I don’t know where this guy has worked, but in my view that is categorically untrue. I’ve had enough hours and weekends and stultifying commentary & demands from corporate managers to last a lifetime. Perhaps I’ve been in the wrong companies, but my experience has discovered untold numbers of arrogant schmuck managers who will run you through the mill because they think they can and they want to. Compared to these stupid dirtbags, my worst customers are pussycats.

By: tramky

tramky — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 01:11:49 +0000

It seems amazing that anyone can make any money in the online business because there are so many people doing it. A lot of people who have lost or quit IT & Web design jobs go into starting their own online business; there’s a zillion of them out there. There are more of them than there are Starbucks shops!

And by the way, running an online business requires skills. Running a successful online business requires skills and talent, and there is a difference.

By: mark strek

mark strek — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 21:55:40 +0000

Sounds more like someone who failed as a businessman and has spent a great deal of time trying to justify his failures. You should be a corporate drone; it’s where you belong. Enjoy your cubicle life…MS

By: Corby Simpson

Corby Simpson — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 18:01:27 +0000

Excellent Article! I’m in the process of starting my own web business/freelance and am maintaining a blog over at http://www.realmoneywebdesign.com

A major difference is that I’m keeping a running total of HOW MUCH $ I earn freelancing in 2006.

By: m3mnoch

m3mnoch — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 20:27:03 +0000

laurence. before bashing, you may actually want to take some time and understand what it is you are bashing.

comparative talent to run (NOTE: NOT START!) and work for an offline business if microscopic compared to online. the reason is the disproporionate distribution of fast-moving, intellectual powerhouses online.

if you want to call the guy who runs (not started or even necessarily owns) the mid-sized, successful vending machine service in your town just as talented as some of the mid-sized, successful online entreprenuers? go right ahead. we’ll all laugh right along side of you.

by your reasoning, every business making a buck takes great talent. i’m not necessarily disagreeing with that. i’m just saying it takes GREATER talent to run an online business.

ergo, the use of the adverb “comparatively.”

there’s a reason they call it “internet speed” and not “brick-and-mortar speed.” speed and agility are key. you even say that yourself.

it’s a numbers game. numbers and low hanging fruit.

maybe it’s not as fun as online, but, if you have 3 or 4 small, successful offline businesses that you own (not operate) then, you can do all the online bootstrapping you feel like you need without fear of repercussions or your family starving.

tho, you’ll have to pardon my jaded opinion of someone who has written a couple of books with such innovative “me too!” pearls of wisdom like “it’s what you do, not what you say” or “being a fast agile company is better than being slow.”

i’d like to say i’m sorry about that 214,665 amazon sales rank — but, i’m not.

m3mnoch.