I got a call from a young man I know well this weekend asking me why
it is I routinely recommend business as a career for young people. 
Like most people, my opinions are forged by my experiences and after
awhile, they become the “truth” to me.

Here’s why I like business.

1.  I get an opportunity to help people. I provide
jobs (which in turn provides food, shelter, self esteem and
satisfaction) to hundreds of people every year.  I suppose there are
other fields where you could do that but I can’t think of any that have
such a direct impact.

2.  I get the opportunity of building something from nothing.
Architects and contractors do that, to some degree.  But with a
business the thing you are building is a living, breathing constantly
evolving and changing organism.

3.  You are free to do it your way. Of course there
are rules, and constraints, but by and large you have a lot of latitude
to get creative on how you do things and why.  You don’t have to follow
a blueprint.  You don’t have inspectors making inspections every step
of the way (with the exception of the yearly IRS inspection.)  You
don’t have someone watching over your shoulder all the time telling you
how you have to proceed.

4.  You take responsibility for your own life. I
love that!  If the business succeeds, it was because of me.  If it
fails, it’s because of me.  I am truly the captain of my own destiny in
business.  I succeed or fail based on my own ability.  I don’t have to
make excuses.  I control my life.

5.  The rewards are unlimited. Literally,
unlimited.  Since you are in control, you can make the rewards be
whatever you want them to be.  Time, money, things, etc.  You are in
control.  You need do nothing more than decide what you want and go
after it.

6.  Size doesn’t matter. I can have it be as much
(or as little) as I want it to be.  If I want to grow my company into a
fortune 500 company, I can.  On the other hand, if time with the family
is more important to me, I can run a small business.  No matter the
size, all the benefits listed here still accrue.

7.  I get to watch / help others grow. As the owner
of my own business, I can teach, train, and mentor my employees and
(like my own children) watch them grow and develop into managers and
future business owners I can be proud of.  Outside the family, there is
nothing that will bring such satisfaction.

8.  I get to learn to play well with others.
Business will teach you a whole new way of interacting with others. 
You’ll learn how to act in difficult situations.  You’ll learn how to
be gracious in both victory and defeat.  You’ll learn how to treat
others with dignity and respect.  And most importantly, you’ll get
almost immediate feedback on how well you do those things.

9.  You can choose to get your education as you go.
Sure, it’s nice to have a business degree (even an advanced degree) and
those things help.  But for those who can’t wait to get going, you can
start your own business and be off and running today, letting the
school of hard knocks teach you what you need to know.  (NOTE:  There’s
a reason they call it the school of hard knocks.)  But at the end of
the day, you get to choose.  The beauty is you can do it today, without
attending 15 years of higher education and racking up hundreds of
thousands of dollars in student loans.  You gotta like that.

10.  Everyone can play. It doesn’t matter if
you’re black or white, bond or free, young or old, rich or poor.  You
can start your own business.  You don’t have to be “juried in.”  You
don’t have to have a certain credential or meet a specific set of
criteria.  All you have to do is want it.  Most people start their
business career at the age of about 7 - 8 years old, selling lemonade
on the sidewalk (further proof that anyone can do it at any age in any
location, etc.)

Now, I know there are many careers you can think of that offer one
or two of these benefits.  Some careers might even offer 4 - 5 of
them.  But I can’t think of any other thing you could do for your
career that offers all these benefits.  The sense of freedom in all of
this is what really sets me on fire.  I’m absolutely free to fly as
high, as fast and as far as I want.  I’m free to do what I want, when I
want, how I want without someone else controlling my destiny.  I’m free
to insert my own values and ideals into the business.  I’m free to help
others to whatever extent I decide to help them.  I’M FREE IN EVERY
WAY.  Can I shout that from the rooftop?  Where else can I go and get
that kind of freedom?

As far as I’m concerned, this is the American dream of freedom. 
That’s why our forefathers came here.  That’s why we stay.  That’s why
we’re the greatest country on the earth.  In the words of a former
business associate, “If that doesn’t light your fire, your wood’s all
wet!”