Mind Your Own Business by Linda S. Amstutz

When I tried to imagine what I would be when I grew up, all I knew is that I wanted to have files and folders and papers and be my own boss. Presto! Flash forward 50 years later, and here I am!

Well, almost. I have files and folders, but they are on my computer screen ….with paper back-ups (cause no matter how hard we try, we Boomers cannot 100% trust the digital methods.)

And am I my own boss?

Depends how you look at it. As any entrepreneur will tell you – after a drink or two, when their inhibitions are quieted and the truthtalk takes over – when you own your own business it seems like EVERYONE ELSE is your boss. You are at everyone’s beck and call, 24 hours a day. The client is your boss. The potential client is your boss. Your crashing computer is in charge. The post office clerk slowly moving down the long line directs your work flow. The cellphone demands your immediate attention. The next project drives your dreams. Holidays? Forget it. Paid vacations? A thing of the past. Sick pay? Take 2 aspirin and get your behind out of bed. You are a boomerpreneur. All day. Every day.

So, why do we do it?

Was it all those television dads and moms with their own businesses? Ricky Ricardo owned his own night club. Mike Brady was
an architect and had a home office. The Cartwright family owned and operated a ranch. And wasn’t Mr. Sea Hunt a freelance diver?

Did they make being an entrepreneur look so glamorous that we wanted to be one, too?

Or, is it the excitement? I mean, everyone knows that designing your own business cards is more fun that building a resume.
Just ask VistaPrint.

Is it our competitive nature that drives us? We see that our peers are following their dreams and we are not going to be left
behind …..even if the behind is a little room over the garage with a fax machine and a printer.

What is the payoff? What do we get out of it? Why are we doing it?
Is having your own business the new golf course? Instead of putting and driving are we wheeling and dealing?
Instead of buying an RV and discovering new states and natural wonders, are we exploring our skills and talents and turning
our ideas into our own wonders? After decades of working for others, literally and figuratively, are we looking inward and finally deciding to work for our selves. Our kids are grown, are nests are empty, our careers have bloomed, our retirement looms near and we set new goals.

Our own business.
Our own little piece of the pie.
For us. Something for us.

Maybe the reason is as simple as the mountain climber’s answer when asked, “Why climb Mt Everest?’ He said, “Because it’s there.”
Maybe boomers become entrepreneurs for almost the same reason: Because they can.

You can read more from Linda at www.anotherlinda.com or email her at anotherlinda@earthlink.net