Today a good number of persons opt to work for themselves instead of
finding a job. This article will try to explore the reasons for and discuss
the drawbacks of this phenomenon.
There are two possible explanations as to why people favor
self-employment over being hired by a company: money and dreams;
many people doing nine to five jobs are often heard complaining about
their pay and how they can not achieve their dream doing what they
happen to be doing. Among them, the more ambitious ones may quit
their jobs and seek to start their own businesses to change the situation
for the better. But it could be much harder than they thought and a lot is
at stake in doing so.
First and foremost, being self-employed involves great financial risks.
Statistics show that nearly eighty percent of start-ups fail within the first
two to three years, which means most entrepreneurs and business
owners end up losing money, going bankrupt, or being in debt. Being a
freelancer may sound less risky, but it does not provide a stable income.
In comparison, working for a company offers job and financial security.
Second, being a boss could also lead to health problems, physical and
mental. Self-employment, more often than not, entails a greater
workload than working for others. With more time dedicated to working,
less time is left to follow an exercise regimen, which is vital to one’s
physical health. Furthermore, mental issues could also stem from being
self-employed. Having to constantly work around the clock can result in
chronic problems such as anxiety, insomnia and etc, and may eventually
cause a nervous breakdown.
In conclusion, people prefer being a boss to being an employee because
of various reasons; and financial risks and deteriorating health might be
some of the downsides of being self-employed.