What Do You Love About Being An Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs have had to overcome countless challenges to get where they are today. They earned the support of investors, partners, customers, and communities – no small feat!

Now that they’ve reached their goals, this doesn’t mean the work is done. It’s simply the next phase of life that has its own demands.

Still, living the entrepreneur life is something worth celebrating, so we asked a few of them what it’s like. Here’s how they responded.

Growing up, we all endure those tough jobs that we call “dead-end” for a reason. We hope to find a career that suits our abilities and doesn’t feel like a daily grind.

People who start businesses take this mindset to the extreme by creating an entirely new reality for themselves. That tenacity and vision are to be admired.

“Being an entrepreneur is great because you mold your own potential,” said Steve O’Dell, CEO and Co-Founder of Tenzo Tea. “The business is yours and you can control any operation that occurs in it. The freedom that comes with running a business is something that many people do not get the opportunity to experience and I am grateful for that chance. Molding your own business plan and seeing results from ideas you craft are huge things that I love to see and produce.” 

Freedom doesn’t equal a lack of responsibility, of course. Business leaders are always under pressure, but they handle it with confidence.

You can get a sense of satisfaction from any job that pays the bills – that’s the great thing about working for a living.

However, starting a business is an entirely different animal, and it requires a lot more personal risk to get things off the ground. If everything works out, the reward could be monumental.

“Being an entrepreneur gives you a sense of appreciation that you never feel before,” said Andrew Pires, Owner of The Maskie. “Seeing how a business works from the inside out is a crazy experience that many do not get to see. It makes you appreciate all the operations of all companies and thankful when you see yours succeed so well. The feeling of satisfaction when something goes right is blissful knowing that you were in the forefront of the operation that led to success.” 

Even if you aren’t set on starting a business, learning about the inner workings of an operation can be a fascinating way to level up your career.

Speaking of learning, education never ends for entrepreneurs. All the degrees and coursework in the world can’t prepare you for the lessons of running a real business day in and day out.

The tough part is that many of these lessons are learned the hard way – through failure, mistakes, and repetition.

Some argue that this is the best way to learn anything, even if it isn’t the most pleasant or comfortable experience.

“Becoming an entrepreneur requires learning on so many levels from strategy, sales, marketing, and service,” said Public Speaking Expert Linda Ugelow. “Each one of these areas is a universe unto itself with endless choices and possibilities. As I build and grow my business, I am challenged to grow my mental, emotional and spiritual capabilities in a myriad of ways learning time management and productivity, communication with clients, mentors, and peers, resilience from dead ends and mistakes, and overall persistence and optimism.” 

Constant growth and self-development sound like the optimal way to live one's' life, but it’s not for everyone.

The entrepreneur journey goes in phases. At first, you might have support from your friends and family, but their optimism may fade after a while. Then, it’s all up to you. Eventually, when you gain some momentum, you’ll have lots of new support behind you – but you need to be discerning.

By the time you reach the top, you have a community built around your brand that some say is even more valuable than the products themselves.

“Being an entrepreneur gives a sense of community more than you could ever imagine,” said Jack Klauber, Founder and CEO of Everyday Dose. “Working on products and finding your niche in a community is a great feeling, especially when you hear feedback from your customers. It is a great feeling to know that your product has some sort of impact in someone's life and I push to gain more feedback from everyone about what this product means to them.” 

Connecting with other people and improving lives has to be one of the best parts of the experience.

Building a business is very different from obtaining a degree or being employed by a large company out of college. Everyone has a unique journey, and while there might be similarities to other stories, nobody can replicate your own experience.

“I started out as the ‘bargain barber’ in my neighborhood outside of Boston - giving out haircuts for whatever money I could get in my garage to anyone who was willing,” said Timmy Yanchun, Co-Founder of LTHR Shaving. “That garage business eventually grew to what is now a Los Angeles chain of barbershops with a product line and our newest venture, which is the first wireless hot lather machine (a modern take on the old barbershop shave machines). So, what I love about being an entrepreneur is the ability to dream big - and then take the necessary steps to achieve those dreams.”

You’ll find that only a handful of entrepreneurs actually set out to be business owners from the start – they simply followed their passion and found success down the road.

For someone who grew up in a restrictive environment with limited support, the road to business ownership can be a powerful journey in self-actualization.

On this journey, people realize what they’re really made of, and how important it is to follow a dream, even if those in your immediate circle don’t have the same vision of your future.

“Being an entrepreneur has taught me the possibility of creating and accomplishing whatever I set my mind to,” said Olivia Young, Head of Product Design at Conscious Items. “Throughout the high and lows of owning a business, there has been no other space in my life that has pushed me as far as entrepreneurship has. Because the fate of your business is largely on your shoulders, being an entrepreneur has allowed me to be persistent which spills over into other realms of my life.”

It's not always the valedictorians and high-achievers best suited for business leadership, but the people with a strong sense of spirit and vision for a better tomorrow.

There’s no doubt that business is an exciting endeavor, and some folks just have that innate sense of anticipation that always has them on track for the next thrill.

Measuring risk and reward, playing the odds, rooting for your side to win – it’s not unlike a team sport where everything is on the line.

“One of the things I love is the anticipation,” said Dave Popple, Founder and CEO of Psynet Group. “It is like watching a soccer match where you wait and wait for your team to score. You have no idea if it will be early or late and possibly not at all. However, when you do score and your company catches on, there is no better feeling.”

Wins and losses are going to happen and that’s okay – the key is bouncing back stronger and staying the course for success.

We are fascinated by stories of leadership and courage, and there are entire industries built on teaching people how to be better leaders. These are valuable resources, but there’s no teacher quite like experience.

When starting a business, founders find themselves in leadership positions whether they like it or not – this forces them to adapt to the pressure and become amazing leaders in their own right.

“I enjoy being able to guide others,” said Daniel Shapiro, Founder & CEO of Fourlaps. “Entrepreneurs are naturally solution-oriented people so being the source for solutions and leadership for my team grounds me and gives me a sense of purpose.”

There are no boundaries to a leadership role, and new challenges are always around the corner. Constant learning and adaptation are a necessity.

The monetary rewards of business ownership can be a compelling reason to get started, but the desire for compensation can only take someone so far.

If you’re gearing up for a new venture, you need to figure out a deeper meaning in your mission that goes beyond a paycheck and embrace that passion to make big strides forward.

“Being an entrepreneur is a rewarding venture because you get to create something out of nothing and watch it grow,” said Benjamin Smith, Founder of Disco. “Entrepreneurship has provided me with a unique perspective on the importance of believing in myself and the significance of determination. Working on projects and innovations for business keeps me creative and eager to create more.”

Like anything in life, it’s a matter of momentum. Getting started is the hardest part, but eventually, the work becomes a reward in itself.

Many of us hit the pillow at the end of the day with a sense that we could be doing more with our lives. Rather than allowing this feeling to persist, some people harness that emotion and turn it into a viable business that gives them a much greater sense of satisfaction.

“Knowing your dream brings others happiness has been incredibly fulfilling,” said Assaf Kostiner, Founder of Paint Your Life. “I wanted to bring a creative and timeless element to special occasions which provides countless families tremendous amounts of joy which is more than I can ask for as an entrepreneur.”

Not every business needs to be a Microsoft or Amazon to make a difference in peoples’ lives. The products and services simply need to add value and make lives better in some small way.

The traditional 9-to-5 lifestyle has its perks. You clock in, get the job done, and clock out at the end of the day with nothing much to worry about.

That might be the ideal gig for some people, but others want to have a more flexible lifestyle that they can design to match their preferences.

Responsibilities are greater for business leaders, but they also have more control over their daily lives that makes it all worthwhile.

“I love the flexibility and versatility of being an entrepreneur,” said Roy Ferman, Founder & CEO of Seek Capital. “Nothing frightens me more than the idea of a simple job that presents me with no challenges and that keeps me in one place all day. As an entrepreneur, I get to wear many hats and delegate myself to different tasks that I do not always foresee as the clearest path to completion. I invite the challenges and the variables entrepreneurs face as it helps me hone my talents.”

Starting a business might take more time and effort upfront, but the long-term rewards include more control over our lives and the ability to call the shots.

For better or worse, the daily grind at an average job is pretty predictable. You know what’s coming, for the most part, and the challenges you face usually have a formulaic solution.

This is fine for people just getting started in the business world, but eventually, they want to level up and start a venture of their own. From that point, nothing is predictable, and the challenges require highly creative solutions.

“Entrepreneurship is most definitely akin to a rollercoaster ride,” said Nik Sharma, CEO of Sharma Brands. “There are so many moving parts and varying outcomes which can feel very exhilarating. There is some uncertainty of what’s going to happen but at the same time, when you are a boss you have full control of your direction and the security in that control is unmatched.”

When you land your first job or get that first promotion, it’s a great feeling. You want to replicate that sense of accomplishment again and again, but it wears thin when you work for someone else.

This is what drives many people to start their own businesses from scratch – the feeling of accomplishing something out of the ordinary that very few people get to experience.

“An entrepreneurial journey includes many fulfilling moments and conveniences,” said Brent Sanders, CEO of Wicksly. “The flexibility is ultimately the greatest attractor to being an entrepreneur, however, there is a lot of pride in creating jobs for others and seeing them succeed on their own. Creating an environment where others can grow and thrive is incredibly rewarding.”

All that pressure and multiple mistakes starting out? It’s just part of the journey.

If you’re working a stable 9-to-5, it can feel like you aren’t fully in control, even though you’ve followed all the steps set out for you by society.

Layoffs can happen at any time, you could be replaced by technology, or a number of other random events could derail your efforts in the blink of an eye. By starting your own thing, you take back control and full responsibility for your future.

“The ability to be in control of my destiny and freedom to seek opportunities I want to pursue,” said Grant Hosking, Co-Founder of Total Hydration. “I have found I have learned more being an entrepreneur than in school or any corporate job. It forces you to constantly problem solve and you have to continue to motivate yourself and others.”

Maybe you take a pay cut or risk your social status by starting a business of your own, but the only way to take full control of your destiny is to take that chance.

Here’s the weird paradox of entrepreneurship – many people say that you cut off opportunities by pursuing a venture of your own, but the reality is that this prepares you for so much more in life!

People who start their own businesses show a huge amount of courage and confidence in their own abilities, which is attractive to people in all situations. You might not hit a bullseye with your first business, but those skills will pay off big in other, unexpected ways.

“My favorite thing about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity for growth,” said Artie Baxter, CEO of Paperclip. “Growing Paperclip has been something that is constantly evolving. Some consider this change. Change is a natural process of life that happens with or without consent. It’s a part of life that will always exist and can be for the better or for the worst. Some changes may be difficult to accept, while other changes can be exciting and fun. It is the things that will always change that advances humans further into knowledge, wisdom, evolution, and growth.” 

By simply stepping foot in the entrepreneur arena, you create amazing new opportunities to thrive in a world built by business leaders.

The lessons of business leadership can’t be learned in a book or video course from the internet. They need to be experienced up-close-and-personal, and they’re often going to push you outside your comfort zone.

Unfortunately, these hard lessons are what keep many people from overcoming their own limitations, but those that face them head-on are on the fast track to victory.

“In order to become an entrepreneur, a lot of learning is required,” said Michael Scott Cohen, CEO of Harper and Scott. “Learning is required on so many levels from strategy, sales, marketing, and service. Each one of these areas is a universe unto itself with endless choices and possibilities. As I build and grow my business, I am challenged to grow my mental, emotional, and spiritual capabilities through a number of methods.”

It's something almost every entrepreneur agrees on: as their business flourishes, so do they.

Everyone thinks they’re a hotshot when they read business news and claim they have the perfect plan for a company on the rocks. This “armchair quarterback” mindset is common, but how many of these people actually have what it takes to call the shots at a real company?

Business founders realize early on that these challenges are much more difficult at the moment, requiring quick thinking and a high degree of risk tolerance.

“I love the fact that I have the freedom to do what I would like to with the business, sales, and delivery,” said Sean O'Brien, CMO of Modloft. “I am able to bring my own innovative thoughts into action. I also enjoy making real things that are beneficial to the world and can be used.” 

If you start your own business and sit in the driver’s seat, comments and critiques from the masses start sounding awfully quiet.

We don’t often think of business as a creative endeavor, but startup founders actually have quite a bit in common with artists who make something out of nothing.

They start with a vision, make it real, and craft it in accordance with the world to help it grow and improve people’s lives in a tangible way. Small, daily challenges must be overcome to stay the course and strengthen that creative ability.

“The ability to express creativity is the greatest reward afforded to any entrepreneur, in my opinion,” said Tyler Giroud, VP of Operations at Reason to Smile. “Most people think of creativity as a traditional art ,but it’s important to recognize creativity in business and the thrill of success after implementing a creative solution to solve a problem. It sounds somewhat cliche, but the feeling of overcoming some issue and finding success on the other side is really one of the greatest highs that an entrepreneur can feel.” 

Learning more about how businesses work shows us just how important creative solutions are.

All of us get some satisfaction by breathing life into our ideas. Some thoughts seem totally unfeasible until we actually put pen to paper and start mapping out the possibilities.

Before we know it, we have an idea that might work in real life.

This is the process that so many business founders followed to launch their products. They simply had the focus and drive to push past barriers and try something that nobody else

“I love creating new products and bringing them to market,” said Jay Shah, CEO of Auris, Inc. “There is nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your idea come to fruition and then seeing it in the hands of the customer. It is rewarding to help our customers have the magical experience of convenience and musical pleasure.”

Some ideas will flop, others will never quite materialize. The goal is to keep pushing until something sticks.

The daily life of a business leader isn’t all poolside cabanas and sparkling water. Entrepreneurs deal with difficult clients, technical problems, legal issues, and intrapersonal issues in the office.

One thing is for sure – the challenges never stop. Leaders simply become more comfortable in their roles and expand their toolkit to deal with tough situations.

“The ability to take creative solutions to problems and make them a reality,” said Sarah Morgan, CEO of Even. “I love the challenge, the flexibility, the growth and people I meet and work with.” 

As their businesses grow, leaders become mentally and emotionally stronger, which allows them to level up and accomplish feats they never thought possible.

Ask any entrepreneur about the first steps of starting their business. It’s going to be a wild story involving very little downtime or relaxation.

Founders make serious sacrifices when starting companies, but they do so in hopes of one day taking some pressure off themselves and enjoying the lifestyle they’ve created. It may take a few months, it may take several years – but the payoff is amazing.

“I love the freedom it gives me,” said Ben Cook, Jr., Vice President and General Counsel of Cook Capital Group which owns Printed Kicks. “Yes, becoming an entrepreneur means many sleepless nights, huge amounts of risk, and boundless uncertainty, but it also gives wonderful freedom. You become less worried about working certain hours and instead focus on the project at hand. If a family member needs help or has an event, I’m there. It doesn’t matter the day or time, because as an entrepreneur, you make your schedule.”

Some business founders like to step back from the fray, while others prefer to lean in 100%. It’s all about personality, priorities, and what they value most in life at the time.

There is never a dull moment in the life of an entrepreneur. You might deal with investors on a crucial meeting in the morning, then have to sign off on a new product launch in the afternoon.

In the meantime, you’re dealing with angry clients or employees that want to renegotiate their contracts.

Talk about a stressful experience!

However, the more of these high-pressure situations you encounter, the stronger you become as a person and as a leader. Before long, you can manage an incredible amount of pressure with ease, and inspire those around you to do the same.

“Being an entrepreneur is so unique, and incredibly rewarding,” said Omid Semino, CEO of Diamond Mansion. “It’s all about wearing many hats. You have to be flexible, adaptable, quick, and creative. When you see your vision coming to life, it is truly the best feeling. A lot of work has gone into creating and building a business, but nothing is more fulfilling. You end up surprising yourself every day.”

With your nose to the grindstone for months at a time, it’s tough to gauge the progress of your business as a whole. Your goal is to cross off everything on the to-do list each day, and this slow and steady progress eventually shines bright for everyone to see.

You won’t necessarily experience that “I made it” moment for a while, but small victories can add up to a great sense of accomplishment as you build on your own.

“One of the best parts of being an entrepreneur is watching what was once just an idea grow into a company,” said Lauren Bosworth, CEO of Love Wellness. “We have gone from being 5 products on a website I made to carrying multiple product lines and being in major retailers across the nation. Our team has gone from just one person, to then three, and now over twenty people. It has been a wild ride and I am always so excited to do it again every day.” 

Think you’ve got what it takes to start a business and live the entrepreneur lifestyle? Real business founders tell us that maybe it’s more attainable than we thought.

Keep these quotes in mind as you follow your path and push yourself to new levels of achievement, no matter what your goal may be.