The Difference Between Self-Employment and a Business Owner

Stupid Business Story:
I’m gonna keep this real simple. When I was 22 I started a telecommunicatons company. Turn it into a million dollar business in 9 months. Over the next 3 years grew it by 50% each year. Then I was diagnosed (completely unexpectedly) with a life-threatening illness and could no longer physically work within several days. Unfortunately 95% of the business revolved around me and when I couldn’t physically work, the business no longer worked. And that’s when I learned my lesson…

Lesson From the Story:
There is a major difference between being self-employed and being a business owner. I was self-employed. I now own over a dozen businesses and in each one I’m a business owner. If I’m not there the business does just fine. In fact, in most cases it actually does better when I’m not there.

Credit for the Story:
Greg Hartle
ghartle@hotmail.com

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