A friend and former colleague recently asked me if I would give up my home business if the “right job” came along. It was an interesting and provocative question as I haven’t really thought of what I would do if I was offered a fabulous, high-paying, perfect job—could I be tempted to give up the home business I’ve been working so hard to build?
As I’ve mentioned before, I started work as a freelancer in reaction to a couple years’ worth of job insecurity in my career as a nonprofit fundraising and development professional. I’d operated a business before with a business partner (the business was dissolved when she moved out of state after the death of her spouse) so I was a little knowledgeable about the risks associated with working as a freelancer and consultant, and I was determined to make myself a little less “job-dependent” and diversify my income streams. At this point, even if I was offered a pretty good job, I’d probably try to keep the freelancing alive no matter what. My experiences have taught me that nothing is a “sure thing”—particularly jobs and I really want to continue growing the flexibility and opportunities that my own business affords.
An interesting thing happens once a person realizes that he or she can actually do MORE than originally assumed. I think, for many of us, once we branch out and take the risk of starting our own businesses; it would be quite hard for us to give them up. Of course, other people see their home businesses as something temporary while the kids are younger or for a specific time period and would gladly give it up for the right job. How about you? Could you be tempted away from your home business for the right job offer?
See Also: What’s Your Business Style? and What Are the Characteristics of the Ideal Freelancer?