Picnics, fireworks, sparklers, and red, white, and blue-themed decorations every Fourth of July. Many of us pull out all the stops to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy here in the U.S.A—and rightly so! We have a lot to be thankful for.
As my family celebrated this weekend, I also thought about how fortunate we are to be small business owners. In a way, every day is Independence Day for entrepreneurs who have taken charge of their own destinies. So what better time than this week to take pause to reflect on your freedom as a small business owner?
Small Business Freedoms Worth Celebrating
Autonomy to make your own decisions about the direction of your company – YOU steer the ship! As a small business owner, you decide which products and services you’ll provide. You also determine how small or large you want to grow your company and what type of business structure you want it to have. You might start out as a sole proprietor, or form an LLC, or register as an S-Corporation, or establish a C-Corporation. You have the freedom to pursue what makes the most sense for you. Flexibility with your schedule – For me, this is among the biggest advantages of being a business owner. With our four children, having the ability to adjust my work schedule when needed—especially during the summer months when school is out—is invaluable. Free will to create your own path to professional development – As a small business owner, you get to decide which skills and knowledge you want hone and perfect. Whether you opt to register for webinars, travel to attend conferences, or pursue an industry certification, you don’t have to ask permission to up your game. Choice of whom you work with – Ah, this is a BEAUTIFUL thing. When you own your own business, you get to choose who will be on your team. That’s powerful, because you can work with people who have the right skills, work ethic, and attitude to propel your business forward and make work seem, well, less like work.Starting and running a business may not be easy most of the time, but it gives you a lot to celebrate! As entrepreneurs, we have a lot of freedom to navigate where our companies will go and what our futures will hold. And that’s something to embrace and appreciate all year round.