Be in Business, Rock the Boat

Getting There

I am not really a business woman.

At least I did not start out thinking that I could be one.

All I know is how to be an employee.  I was trained to think that way in school.  I was not really aware but I was being groomed to become a top employee, the crème de la crème so that top companies will fight for me come graduation.  My grades were my mirrors, and they were supposed to mirror me in top form so at least I will be considered.  I was taught to follow all the rules, to take it all in and not ask, to be gracious and grateful, because I need these companies more than they need me.

It was my destiny.

I could not help it.  I was the child of employees and my parents showed me that it is more or less a blissful, worry-free life.

The Husband

It was him who taught me that there was another way to think and to be, that there was a better way and that there are more potentials in that other way.

Before him, I did not really think much of businessmen or self-employed persons.  As a matter of fact, they scare me, or their status in life scares me.  I could imagine them scrounging up for the next money to spare for the bills that are sure to come and then turning white because, well, there’s just no work that came their way for that month.

And oh I could imagine the stress.  I do not do stress (if I can help it).

So the words “businesswoman” or “freelancer” did not appeal to me much.  I would think of them as persons who had the choice but did not want to fit in a corporate set-up, or who were fired and could not get any stable job, or have minds of their own that get them in trouble one way or another.  In my life, I have met many who assume the name but could not play the game (or are playing it quite poorly).

And then I married my husband who, at the start, dabbled in employment, then freelancing, and then eventually, set up his own business, which became businesses (I helped, uhrm). 

His father is to blame.  He inculcated in my husband a sense that he could be more than what he thinks he could be.  He inculcated in him potential and the wonderful, limitless possibilities that came with it.

And it is better.

Is it harder?  Sure.  During the early days, we had many a fight about money (and where to get it).  Sure did rock the boat.  Because in business, “okay” is not okay.  You have to be the best.  The key word is “over-delivery”.  And vigilance, having your eye out for the next deal, the people to have the next deal with, marketing, compromising, taking care of your own people, giving, floating.

And it is not easy (let me count the ways another time).

But then you do enjoy the fruits.  And the fruits are much more than that received by the employed.

I should know.

Two years ago, I joined him and went over to the other side and started to dabble in a business of my own (well, he is still partner, of course).  Sure it is a the ‘fraidy cat kind of crossing over because my other foot is still on the employed side (which our financial planners recommend just to cover the what ifs).  But I am finding out that there are rewards in the B zone that the E-zoners cannot even dream about (it was different when I was in it than when I was just heckling the hubby for the money).

But it was a hard conversion.  Because more than anything, it is mental and emotional and it challenged long-held beliefs.

But it was worth it.

Rock the boat.

Be rich,

Issa

Article by Issa. Art by D. Copyright 2010.
Website: www.YouWantToBeRich.com
Email: issa@youwanttoberich.com

[ad name=”HTML-2 Blogher Before Comment”]

[ad name=”HTML-3 Logolopolis”]

[ad#Google Adsense-1]