50 Reasons To Be An Entrepreneur

I think everyone should become an entrepreneur. Here are just a handful of the reasons:

1. Because building your own company is the best fun you can have with your clothes on;

2. Because it's still the best way to get rich;

3. Because working for yourself is not just about becoming rich - it's also about making things happen and making a difference;

4. Because if you work for yourself you control your destiny;

5. Because jobs for life and final salary pension schemes don't exist any more;

6. Because if you're the boss you make the rules;

7. Because if you build a company and sell it you pay tax at just 10% on the gain;

8. Because thanks to the internet it's never been easier to set up in business;

9. Because as an entrepreneur you get the rewards for your efforts;

10. Because entrepreneurs are the main source of new jobs and growth;

11. Because being an entrepreneur can be a highly creative endeavour;

12. Because entrepreneurs are cool - just look at the success of TV shows like Dragons' Den, The Apprentice, and now Make Me a Million;

13. Because there is no hierarchy in your own firm - anything is possible;

14. Because building a team and developing talent is really satisfying;

15. Because you don't want to wake up one day when you're too old and say, "I wish I had gone for it with that idea I had;

16. Because the competition out there isn't really that good and you know you can do better;

17. Because there are more entrepreneurs in Thailand per head of population than anywhere else - if they can do it, so can you;

18. Because there are more sources of business funding - debt and equity - than ever before;

19. Because there are more start-up websites, guidebooks, advisors and other forms of help than ever before;

20. Because the worst that can happen is that you waste some time and lose some money - the world is full of nastier things than that, like illness and death;

21 Because nothing beats overcoming the sceptics and making a new venture a roaring success;

22. Because there is never a shortage of good business ideas;

23. Because economics is not a zero sum game - the more entrepreneurs there are, the wealthier society becomes;

24. Because independence and freedom makes people happy;

25. Because you can tell your boss when you walk out that one day you'll buy his or her business;

26. Because you can moonlight to begin with, and leave employment when you're ready;

27. Because you can build a business with your family and work together for a common cause;

28. Because you can explore your dreams in a way that's impossible to do as an employee;

29. Because you only live once - life is not a rehearsal;

30. Because lots of really successful entrepreneurs started with no qualifications or capital and still made it big - so why not you?

31. Because there are more management buy-out opportunities than ever before;

32. Because creating a lasting enterprise is the best form of legacy;

33. Because it means you can provide for your family;

34. Because it allows you to pursue your passion and make money at the same time;

35. Because it gives you a reason to jump out of bed on Monday mornings;

36. Because the inevitable setbacks are all part of the learning experience;

37. Because if you're a capitalist, you make the world go round - without you there would ultimately be no taxes for any public services;

38. Because creating a virtual business from your bedroom is simpler than ever before;

39. Because flexible, innovative and hungry small firms can beat the complacent big boys every time;

40. Because when you meet other entrepreneurs you'll talk to them as equals;

41. Because we speak English - the global language of commerce;

42. Because despite our system's flaws, the law works, the state is basically honest and property rights are respected;

43. Because privatisation, PFI and PPP projects, and contracting out are creating lots of new areas for entrepreneurs within the public sector;

44. Because interest rates and thus financing costs are low - and likely to remain so;

45. Because banks and other funders have more techniques to back small firms than ever before;

46. Because there are more government grants and initiatives like the Loan Guarantee Scheme than ever before;

47. Because life is not about excuses - it's about seizing the day;

48. Because it might be the only way you can create a decent enough pension to retire;

49. Because if you're an entrepreneur you'll be enjoying yourself too much to retire;

50. Because whatever happens, you'll learn more than by doing anything else.

So what the hell are you waiting for?