Choosing entrepreneurship/self-employment/starting your own business over getting a “job” and being an employee of a company, is an extremely risky decision to make. Yes, it is exciting and the potential rewards can be amazing (this is why those of us who chose this path did so, right?), but it is very scary, too.

As exciting as it is, and as enjoyable as it can be (and should be, assuming you’ve chosen something you’re passionate about), running your own business comes with very hard work, all of which must be initiated by you and you alone. Your success (or the rate at which you move towards success) depends very much so on how much effort you put in; what resources you have to help you, and how much (and what kind of) support you have.

Moral support and encouragement from loved ones - family and friends - helps a ton if you are lucky enough to have that. Sadly, many have family and friends who are unsupportive or even actively discouraging (I think most often this is down to jealousy). Things are so much easier (by no means easy, just easier), when you have a supportive and encouraging environment. Try to socialise with fellow entrepreneurs/business owners, if possible, in your local area perhaps, or heck even online, so you can be around people who are likeminded and who you can relate to - and, ultimately, will support and encourage you.

Many non-entrepreneurs just don’t “get it”. Let’s be honest, life is much easier to be in traditional employment, where you have “a job” or a career working for someone else; where you can clock-out at the end of the day, go home and switch off from your work until the next day or next week. When you’re an entrepreneur, particularly an early-stage entrepreneur, you don’t have that luxury, you have to be focussed on your business day, evening and night.

Many people just cannot understand why you would choose that over a job or career that would give you an easier life. They see you struggling, often financially, and fighting constant challenges and obstacles in those early stages and just cannot fathom why you would put yourself through that, when there is the option to go work for someone else and not have to go through all of that.

Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint-hearted, and only a (albeit large) minority of people are, in reality, really suited to it. But even those of us who have chosen this path, and believe we are among the few truly suited to it, need support and also encouragement along the way. To those who are able to crack on and succeed without that - I salute you.