Men and Women as Entrepreneurs
Starting one’s own business is definitely not the easier way compared to looking for a job, but it might be the best way to business success and satisfaction at the job. For people who prefer flexible working hours to a typical nine to five job, becoming an entrepreneur could be worth considering. Especially in fields such as translating, where it is extremely difficult to find a full time position in a company and where one is usually called in only for certain projects but occupies no fixed position, entrepreneurship might be an idea.
Entrepreneurship primarily means being your own boss and making your own choices – the when and where of a job, the number employees, which projects are taken on and so forth. Having no boss who tells you what to do and how to do it can give you a sense of freedom and power, but it also means responsibility. As an entrepreneur, you are the one responsible for all choices made. Entrepreneurs face higher risks, especially in a time of economical crisis, and starting your own business requires financial means.
For men and women alike, being an entrepreneur can be an advantage for one’s family and private life. Since there is flexible time management, also considering holidays, you can choose when and where to work, even from home or during nighttime or weekends. This means you can plan your day as it suits you best. While men might be attracted by entrepreneurship mostly by the independence it grants, women will predominantly value the flexible time management and the possibility of working from home and hence being able to look after their children themselves.
Of course, being your own boss also means a lot more work than simply working in employment: you have to do your taxes, take out adequate insurance, finance your business and workplace, keep records of everything you do, and generally involves more paperwork. When working in a company as an employee, there are people to do all these things for you, but as an entrepreneur you will mostly do all this yourself unless you are willing to pay for other professionals to perform these tasks.