By Valencia • 7 Comments
After graduating college, your parents might expect you to get a full-time job. But working a traditional 9-to-5 job might not be your cup of tea.
This might be your classmates’ plans. But there's no rule that says you have to follow the crowd. Consider whether you absolutely need to get a job right now, and if you don't, consider entrepreneurship. Here are good reasons and benefits of being your own boss and not being a slave to a time clock.
Some young adults rush to get a full-time job because they're tired of living under their parents’ roof. If your parents have strict rules or don't respect your personal space, your frustrations are understandable. But if you have a good living relationship with your parents and you don't mind living at home, why not stay a little longer and grow your own business? If you don't have a large rent payment or mortgage hanging over your head, you can spend the majority of your resources building a company from the ground up.
If you’ve been pretty good with saving your money and you’ve built a comfortable savings account, why not take this money and invest in yourself? Growing a company from the ground up takes money. Rather than getting a high-interest bank loan, borrow from yourself. Depending on the success of your company, you'll be able to rebuild your bank account and possibly surpass your previous savings balance.
If you don’t have a lot of expenses, this is another good reason to avoid getting a job and doing your own thing. Being your own boss and starting a business is a lot harder when you need a full-time job in order to make money. If you don't have a car payment or credit card debt and you have manageable student loan debt, there’s no reason to rush into a full-time job.
You might also skip getting a full-time job if you like your freedom. You might like being able to travel without clearing time off with your boss, and if you're not a morning person, being your own boss lets you set your own schedule and work at your own pace.
Additionally, when you work a full-time job, your boss pretty much controls how much you earn. But when you're your own boss, you don't have to wait for your boss to promote you or give you a higher salary. You have the power to control your income. As your business grows and takes on new clients, so will your income.
If you have an idea that's unique (and there's a need in your area), turning your idea into a business can be profitable. Even if your idea has been done in the past, offering a unique approach and giving customers something new can take your company to the next level.
After informing friends and family that you're skipping full-time work to start a business of your own, some might be supportive, but others might discourage this move. Naysayers can have good intentions, but their concerns shouldn’t change your mind. Let the naysayers fuel your desire and motivation to succeed.
Some people might say you need a traditional job in order to buy a house, pay off debt and save for retirement. However, many people are making money without a traditional 9 to 5, and some earn more than people who spend their life working behind a cubicle. What are other reasons to skip a full-time job?