Most Entrepreneurs Don’t ‘Get Rich.’ But Here’s 4 Reasons to Become an Entrepreneur Anyway

We've all heard the success stories about entrepreneurs that “made it.”

They're like cultural legends, larger than life narratives that embody the goals of many aspiring startup founders and solopreneurs around the world.

The rise to fame and fortune of people like Mark Zuckerberg and Richard Branson captures the minds and imaginations of all of us, giving us something to strive for.

But not everyone is going to be the next Zuckerberg.

In reality, the successes of the vast majority of entrepreneurs are quite a bit more modest than something like Google or Facebook.

Most entrepreneurs don't “get rich,” although quite a few can support themselves and their families quite comfortably. Entrepreneurship is not a golden ticket to multimillionaire status.

But accumulating a massive amount of personal wealth is far from the only reason to go into business for yourself. There are other things that motivate us to carve our own destinies and create a company of our own, rather than working 9-5 for someone else.

This article from Entrepreneur sums things up quite eloquently.

If you become an entrepreneur just because you see it as a shortcut to “getting rich,” you may need to rethink your priorities.

However, entrepreneurship does offer significant potential for those willing to work for it.

What Entrepreneurship Does Give You

Fulfillment

For many, entrepreneurship is about fulfilling an inner desire to build something, lead a team, or leave behind a legacy for one's children. Whatever the case, entrepreneurship can lead to inner fulfillment, rather than just a big paycheck.

Freedom

As your own boss, you’ll have the freedom to create and capitalize on whatever you want. You can create the work culture you want and hire your own workers. You can take days off when you feel like it, and set your own schedule. For some, that’s far more valuable than just money.

Experience 

Even if your business fails, you’ll walk away with more experience to use in your next endeavor, whether that means starting another business from scratch or returning to the professional world.

Contacts 

You’ll also get more visibility as an entrepreneur, which can lead to stronger connections for future endeavors, whether that means finding a new full-time position, or knowing which partners to work with in creating future businesses.

Being an entrepreneur is more than an occupational status. It's a lifestyle unto itself, something that reflects a deep need for self-sufficiency and self-direction, and a need to create something that makes a difference in the world.

You can read more about the benefits of entrepreneurship over at Entrepreneur.