October 08, 2009

Start-Ups: The Temptation to Go It Alone




"In business for yourself, not by yourself."



Ray Kroc

McDonald's Founder




Ironically, many who go into business for themselves, do so thinking they will finally be free of having to work with others.


Often they are, at least for the short time it will take most of them to go out of business as a result.


Ready to break out?

On your own or alone?

2 comments :

  1. I've been "my own boss" for 10 years now. Initially I remember thinking how good it would be not to report to anyone.

    Quickly I came to realize, I report to everyone including my bank, the phone company, my landlord, my two employees, the utility company and oh yes, my clients.

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  2. Boy do I know that.

    At the peak of my company, The Verity Group, I "reported" to around 400, not counting banks, accountants, insurance agents, etc.

    Someone once told me that being in charge of a company is like running along side a snowball that is going down hill, picking up speed, getting bigger as it goes. You are the CEO, in "charge" of making sure it doesn't hit the village at the bottom of the hill. You have a stick you can poke it with but nothing else and the faster it goes, the faster you must go.

    In charge but the snowball pretty much goes where it wants to.

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